A light emitting element (151) is configured to emit detecting light (L1). A first lens (152) is configured to allow passage of the detecting light (L1). A first optical fiber (153) is configured to guide the detecting light (L1) to the first lens (152). A second lens (154) is configured to allow passage of reflected light (L2) that is the detecting light (L1) reflected by an object (200). A second optical fiber (155) is configured to guide the reflected light (L2) having passed the second lens (154) to a light receiving element (156). A processor (157) is configured to calculate a distance to the object (200) based on a time length from time when the detecting light (L1) is emitted from the light emitting element (151) to time when the reflected light (L2) is incident on the light receiving element (156).

To provide a light receiving element including: a photoelectric conversion unit (PD) that is provided in a semiconductor substrate and converts light into a charge; a first charge accumulation unit (MEM) to which the charge is transferred from the photoelectric conversion unit; a second charge accumulation unit (MEM) to which the charge is transferred from the photoelectric conversion unit, in which each of the first and second charge accumulation units includes a stack of an electrode, a first insulating layer, and a semiconductor layer.

An input interface is configured to receive at least one sensor signal corresponding to information of the exterior of the vehicle sensed by at least one sensor. A processor is configured to, based on the sensor signal, generate: a first data corresponding to first information sensed in a first area; and a second data corresponding to second information sensed in a second area located outside the first area. An output interface is configured to output the first data and the second data independently from one another.

Provided is an optical phased array including a light injector, a first splitter connected to the light injector, a first phase shifter connected to the first splitter, a plurality of waveguides connected to the first splitter, portions of the plurality of waveguides being connected to the first splitter via the first phase shifter, an antenna array connected to the plurality of waveguides, a single mode filter provided in each of the plurality of waveguides, and a first photodetector connected to the first splitter and configured to detect a portion of light radiated onto the antenna array.

An integrated hybrid rotary assembly is configured to provide power, torque and bi-directional communication to a rotatable sensor, such as a lidar, radar or optical sensor. A common ferrite core is shared by a motor, rotary transformer and radio frequency communication link. This hybrid configuration reduces cost, simplifies the manufacturing process, and can improve system reliability by employing a minimum number of parts. The assembly can be integrated with the sensor unit, which may be used in vehicles and other systems.

Aspects for an on-chip or integrated continuous-wave Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) are described herein. The aspects may include one or more laser light sources configured to generate one or more light beams and multiple light engines configured to respectively receive the light beams. The light frequency is modulated in a predefined pattern. A light transmitter of each light engine may be configured to receive a first portion of one of the light beams and transmit the first portion of the light beam at a predetermined angle. A light receiver of each light engine may be configured to receive the first portion of the light beam reflected from an object and transmit the reflected first portion of the light beam to a balanced detector. The balanced detector may be configured to detect a beat between the reflected first portion of the light beam with a second portion of the light beam.

An optical coupling device is described herein. The optical coupling device comprises a first waveguide and a second waveguide that are formed on a common substrate, and a resonator that is positioned out of plane with the two waveguides. The resonator and waveguides are positioned such that light traveling in each of the waveguides evanescently couples to the resonator but not to the other of the waveguides. The optical coupling device can be used in connection with improving linewidth of a laser source for a lidar sensor. In another example, the optical coupling device can be used in connection with wavelength division multiplexing.

Systems and methods herein provide for Laser Detection and Ranging (Lidar). One Lidar system includes a laser operable to generate laser light. The system also includes a transmitter operable to rotate at a first rate, and to transmit the laser light along a first path from the Lidar system to a target. The system also includes a receiver operable to rotate at the first rate, and to receive at least a portion of the laser light along a second path from the target. The first and second paths are different. The system also includes a processor operable to calculate a range and an angle to the target using an angular displacement between the second path and the receiver that arises from the first rate of rotation for the transmitter and the receiver.

A distance measurement device according to the present disclosure includes: a laser irradiation unit that irradiates a measurement target with laser light; and a laser light receiving unit including a light receiving element that receives the laser light reflected by the measurement target on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Furthermore, the pitch of the unit pixels of the light receiving element varies with location in a light receiving pixel area. A mobile apparatus according to the present disclosure is equipped with a distance measurement device having the above configuration.

A method includes generating, using a transmitter, an optical signal for each fiber incoherently combined in a fiber bundle. The method also includes transmitting the optical signal from each fiber as pulses at a target. The method further includes receiving, using a receiver array, the pulses of the optical signals and identifying one or more parameters of the target based on the pulses of the optical signals.