An SN ratio of light to be received is improved. A polarizing filter (150) that is arranged in a light path extending from an object (11) to a light receiving unit (154) of a ToF sensor (153) and allows transmission of light polarized in a direction vertical to a direction of scanning is provided.

Various implementations of the invention, improve an optical efficiency of an optical path comprising a polarizing beam splitter and a quarter wave plate. In some implementations of the invention, where an additional optical component introduces a phase retardance into the optical path, the quarter wave plate may be adjusted away from its nominal orientation relative to the optical path to improve an optical efficiency of the optical path.

Various implementations of the invention, improve an optical efficiency of an optical path comprising a polarizing beam splitter and a quarter wave plate. In some implementations of the invention, where an additional optical component introduces a phase retardance into the optical path, the quarter wave plate may be adjusted away from its nominal orientation relative to the optical path to improve an optical efficiency of the optical path.

A zoned time-of-flight (ToF) arrangement includes a sensor and a steerable light source that produces an illumination beam having a smaller angular extent than the field of view (FoV) of the sensor. The illumination beam is steerable within the sensor's FoV to optionally move through the sensor's FoV or dwell in a particular region of interest. Steering the illumination beam and sequentially generating a depth map of the illuminated region permits advantageous operations over ToF arrangements that simultaneously illuminate the entire sensor's FoV. For example, ambient performance, maximum range, and jitter are improved. Multiple steering alternative configurations are disclosed, including mechanical, electro optical, and electrowetting solutions.

A zoned time-of-flight (ToF) arrangement includes a sensor and a steerable light source that produces an illumination beam having a smaller angular extent than the field of view (FoV) of the sensor. The illumination beam is steerable within the sensor's FoV to optionally move through the sensor's FoV or dwell in a particular region of interest. Steering the illumination beam and sequentially generating a depth map of the illuminated region permits advantageous operations over ToF arrangements that simultaneously illuminate the entire sensor's FoV. For example, ambient performance, maximum range, and jitter are improved. Multiple steering alternative configurations are disclosed, including mechanical, electro optical, and electrowetting solutions.

A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a transmitter, a receiving pixel, a rotating mirror, and a beam displacement apparatus. The transmitter is configured to emit a transmit beam. The receiving pixel is configured to receive a returning beam. The rotating mirror is configured to direct the transmit beam to a target and direct the returning beam to the receiving pixel. The beam displacement apparatus is disposed between the receiving pixel and the rotating mirror. The beam displacement apparatus is configured to introduce a displacement to the returning beam to compensate for a spacing between the transmitter and the receiving pixel.

A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a transmitter, a receiving pixel, a rotating mirror, and a beam displacement apparatus. The transmitter is configured to emit a transmit beam. The receiving pixel is configured to receive a returning beam. The rotating mirror is configured to direct the transmit beam to a target and direct the returning beam to the receiving pixel. The beam displacement apparatus is disposed between the receiving pixel and the rotating mirror. The beam displacement apparatus is configured to introduce a displacement to the returning beam to compensate for a spacing between the transmitter and the receiving pixel.

A laser radar and an intelligent vehicle are provided, and may be specifically applied to the field of intelligent vehicles. The laser radar may include: a laser, configured to generate a laser signal; a beam shaping module, configured to perform collimation on the laser signal (step 300); a beam splitting module, configured to perform beam splitting on a laser signal to obtain a sounding signal and a local-frequency signal (step 301); a receiving module, configured to receive echo information and transmit the echo signal to an optical frequency mixing module (step 302); the optical frequency mixing module, configured to perform optical frequency mixing on the local-frequency signal and the echo information to obtain a first beat frequency signal and a second beat frequency signal (step 303); and a differential receiving unit, configured to differentially receive the first beat frequency signal and the second beat frequency signal.

A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) pixel includes a splitter, a grating coupler, and a phase shifter. The grating coupler is configured to emit a transmit beam that is based on a combination of a first portion of light and a second portion of light received from a laser. One or more first interconnects and one or more second interconnects couple the splitter to the grating coupler. The phase shifter is coupled to the one or more first interconnects and configured to vary a phase of the first portion of the light relative to a phase of the second portion of the light.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a micro shutter array, an optical sensing system, and an optical sensing method. The optical sensing system includes a laser emitter configured to sequentially emit a series of laser beams and a steering device configured to direct the series of laser beams in different directions towards an environment surrounding the optical sensing system. The optical sensing system further includes a receiver configured to receive the series of laser beams at a plurality of time points returning from the environment. The receiver includes a micro shutter array configured to sequentially open a portion of the micro shutter array at a specified location at each time point, to allow the corresponding laser beam to pass through the micro shutter array at that time point and to reflect the ambient light by a remaining portion of the micro shutter array at that time point. The receiver further includes an image sensor configured to receive the ambient light reflected by the remaining portion of the micro shutter array.