Systems and methods for three-dimensional (3-D) imaging enabled by natural range-dependent processes. Multiple lasers are configured to independently flash illuminate a target object to 3- D image a resultant “scene” onto a focal plane array (FPA). The first laser produces a wavelength non-resonant with an atmospheric absorption line along the illumination path. The second laser produces a wavelength resonant with the atmospheric absorption line, and closely spaced with the non-resonant wavelength. A ratio of the respective intensities recorded at the FPA for the two wavelengths calculates a range to the target object.

Systems and methods for three-dimensional (3-D) imaging enabled by natural range-dependent processes. Multiple lasers are configured to independently flash illuminate a target object to 3- D image a resultant “scene” onto a focal plane array (FPA). The first laser produces a wavelength non-resonant with an atmospheric absorption line along the illumination path. The second laser produces a wavelength resonant with the atmospheric absorption line, and closely spaced with the non-resonant wavelength. A ratio of the respective intensities recorded at the FPA for the two wavelengths calculates a range to the target object.

An improved non-line-of-sight camera provides for real-time evaluation of a relay wall with respect to illuminated points and sensing areas for higher accuracy and practical field use. Gated sensing allows improved recovery of faint photon signals and higher resolution. The system allows an operator to a find virtual camera from looking around multiple corners.

In an embodiments, a method for operating a time-of-flight (ToF) ranging array includes: illuminating a field-of-view (FoV) of the ToF ranging array with radiation pulses; receiving reflected radiation pulses with a plurality of single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) in a region of interest (ROI) of the ToF ranging array, the plurality of SPADs arranged in a plurality of SPAD clusters; determining an ambient count of ambient light events generated by SPADs of a first SPAD cluster of the plurality of SPAD clusters; and gating an output of the first SPAD cluster based on the ambient count.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide receivers for light detection and ranging (LiDAR). In an example, a receiver includes a beam converging device, an AO beam deflecting unit, and a beam sensor. The beam converging device is configured to receive a laser beam from an object being scanned by the LiDAR and form an input laser beam. The AO beam deflecting unit is configured to generate a diffraction grating along a propagating direction of an acoustic wave, receive the input laser beam such that the input laser beam impinges upon the diffraction grating, and form an output laser beam towards the beam sensor. An angle between the input and the output laser beams is nonzero.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide receivers for light detection and ranging (LiDAR). In an example, a receiver includes a beam converging device, an AO beam deflecting unit, and a beam sensor. The beam converging device is configured to receive a laser beam from an object being scanned by the LiDAR and form an input laser beam. The AO beam deflecting unit is configured to generate a diffraction grating along a propagating direction of an acoustic wave, receive the input laser beam such that the input laser beam impinges upon the diffraction grating, and form an output laser beam towards the beam sensor. An angle between the input and the output laser beams is nonzero.

The invention relates to the ascertaining of the maximum range of a LIDAR sensor (2). According to the invention, there is provision, to this end, for a method of operation for a LIDAR sensor (2) having the following steps: sending a LIDAR signal (4) at a predetermined normal power and receiving a back-scattered component of the LIDAR signal (4) with a predetermined normal sensitivity to ascertain the distance of objects (11, 12, 13, 14) present in the surroundings scanned by the LIDAR sensor (2) in a normal mode, characterized by repeated interruption of the normal mode by a test mode, wherein the test mode comprises the following steps: sending a LIDAR signal (4) at a test power, which is decreased by a predetermined amount in comparison with the predetermined normal power, and/or receiving the back-scattered component of the LIDAR signal (4) with a test sensitivity, which is decreased by a predetermined amount in comparison with the predetermined normal sensitivity, and ascertaining a value for the maximum range of the LIDAR sensor (2) that is available in the normal mode of the LIDAR sensor (2) on the basis of the distance, ascertained in the normal mode, of objects (13, 14) that are no longer detected in the test mode. This provides such an opportunity to ascertain the maximum range of a LIDAR sensor (2) as can be utilized simply, reliably and inexpensively.

Methods and systems for controlling illumination power of a LIDAR based, three dimensional imaging system based on discrete illumination power tiers are described herein. In one aspect, the illumination intensity of a pulsed beam of illumination light emitted from a LIDAR system is varied in accordance with a set of illumination power tiers based on the difference between a desired and a measured return pulse. In a further aspect, the illumination power tier is selected based on whether an intensity difference exceeds one of a sequence of predetermined, tiered threshold values. In this manner, the intensity of measured return pulses is maintained within a linear range of the analog to digital converter for objects detected over a wide range of distances from the LIDAR system and a wide range of environmental conditions in the optical path between the LIDAR system and the detected object.

A safety system, including a plurality of scanning lasers, with a master scanning laser and at least one slave scanning laser. The master scanning laser includes a first laser system adapted to emit a laser beam and a first optical system adapted to scan said laser beam within a field of view, the optical system driven by a first motor. The slave scanning laser includes a second laser system adapted to emit a laser beam and a second optical system adapted to scan said laser beam within a field of view, the optical system driven by a second motor. The master scanning laser and the slave scanning laser are connected to each other via a communication network adapted to support a network protocol wherein messages are sent according to said network protocol, including a synchronization message for clock synchronization of said master scanning laser and said slave scanning laser.

A safety system, including a plurality of scanning lasers, with a master scanning laser and at least one slave scanning laser. The master scanning laser includes a first laser system adapted to emit a laser beam and a first optical system adapted to scan said laser beam within a field of view, the optical system driven by a first motor. The slave scanning laser includes a second laser system adapted to emit a laser beam and a second optical system adapted to scan said laser beam within a field of view, the optical system driven by a second motor. The master scanning laser and the slave scanning laser are connected to each other via a communication network adapted to support a network protocol wherein messages are sent according to said network protocol, including a synchronization message for clock synchronization of said master scanning laser and said slave scanning laser.