A distance measurement apparatus includes: a light projector; a sensor to receive light projected from the light projector and reflected from a target object, photoelectrically convert the received light to an electrical signal, and obtain a plurality of phase signals from the electrical signal; and an interface to output distance data indicating a distance to the target object, the distance data being obtained based on the plurality of phase signals. The light projector includes: a plurality of light emitters that are arranged two-dimensionally; and circuitry configured to cause the plurality of light emitters to emit light a plurality of times while shifting positions of the plurality of light emitters.

A distance measurement apparatus includes: a light projector; a sensor to receive light projected from the light projector and reflected from a target object, photoelectrically convert the received light to an electrical signal, and obtain a plurality of phase signals from the electrical signal; and an interface to output distance data indicating a distance to the target object, the distance data being obtained based on the plurality of phase signals. The light projector includes: a plurality of light emitters that are arranged two-dimensionally; and circuitry configured to cause the plurality of light emitters to emit light a plurality of times while shifting positions of the plurality of light emitters.

An optical sensing device includes a light source, which emits one or more beams of light pulses toward a target scene at respective angles about a transmit axis of the light source. A first array of single-photon detectors output electrical pulses in response to photons that are incident thereon. A second array of counters count the electrical pulses output during respective count periods by respective sets of one or more of the single-photon detectors. Light collection optics form an image of the target scene on the first array along a receive axis, which is offset transversely relative to the transmit axis, thereby giving rise to a parallax shift as a function of distance between the target scene and the device. Control circuitry sets the respective count periods of the counters, responsively to the parallax shift, to cover different, respective time intervals following each of the light pulses.

The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, systems and methods that enable lidar devices capable of detecting and processing multiple optical modes present in a beam reflected from a target object. Different received optical modes can be spatially separated and electronic signals can be generated that are representative of a coherence information contained in various optical modes. Multiple generated electronic signals can be amplified, phase-shifted, mixed, etc., to identify signals, individually or in a combination, that can be used for identification of a range and velocity of the target object with the highest accuracy.

The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, systems and methods that enable lidar devices capable of detecting and processing multiple optical modes present in a beam reflected from a target object. Different received optical modes can be spatially separated and electronic signals can be generated that are representative of a coherence information contained in various optical modes. Multiple generated electronic signals can be amplified, phase-shifted, mixed, etc., to identify signals, individually or in a combination, that can be used for identification of a range and velocity of the target object with the highest accuracy.

An imaging system includes a light source, an image sensor and a processing unit. The image sensor alternatively captures a first bright image, a first dark image, a second bright image and a second dark image, wherein the first bright image is captured with a first exposure time corresponding to activation of the light source within a first time interval, the first dark image is captured with the first exposure time corresponding to deactivation of the light source within the first time interval, the second bright image is captured with a second exposure time corresponding to activation of the light source within a second time interval, and the second dark image is captured with the second exposure time corresponding to deactivation of the light source within the second time interval, wherein the second exposure time is longer than the first exposure time. The processing unit adjusts the second exposure time according to an object image size in the second dark image, and controls the image sensor to stop capturing the first bright and dark images with the first exposure time when no object image is contained in the second dark image.

In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source, a receiver, and a controller. The light source is configured to emit an optical signal. The receiver is configured to detect a received optical signal that includes a portion of the emitted optical signal that is scattered by a surface of a target located a distance from the lidar system, where the surface is oriented at an angle of incidence with respect to the emitted optical signal. The receiver is further configured to produce an electrical signal corresponding to the received optical signal. The controller is configured to determine, based on the electrical signal, the angle of incidence of the surface of the target.

The present disclosure relates to an adaptive, free-space optical system. The system may have a controller and a digital micromirror (DMM) array responsive to the controller. The digital micromirror may include a plurality of independently controllable micromirror elements forming a receiver for receiving optical signals from an environmental scene. At least two of the plurality of independently controllable micromirror elements are steerable in different directions to receive optical signals emanating from two or more locations within the environmental scene. A beam steering subsystem forms a portion of the micromirror array and is in communication with the controller for receiving control signals from the controller. A detector is used to receive an incoming free space optical signal imaged by at least one of the micromirror elements.

The present invention is directed to lidar systems and methods thereof. More specifically, a lidar receiver converts received light signal to electrical signal. The electrical signal is converted to digital signal. Fast Fourier transform is performed on the digital signal to generate n channels of data. Constant false alarm rate detection is performed to generate n data sets, which is grouped into m clusters of data. Maximum likelihood detection is performed on the m clusters of data.

The present invention is directed to lidar systems and methods thereof. More specifically, a lidar receiver converts received light signal to electrical signal. The electrical signal is converted to digital signal. Fast Fourier transform is performed on the digital signal to generate n channels of data. Constant false alarm rate detection is performed to generate n data sets, which is grouped into m clusters of data. Maximum likelihood detection is performed on the m clusters of data.