A detector for object authentication includes first and second illumination sources. The first illumination source projects an illumination pattern including a plurality of illumination features onto a surface of an object. The second illumination source projects an illuminating light beam onto the object. The detector also includes an image capture device for determining a first image including a plurality of reflection features generated by the surface of the object in response to the illumination pattern and for determining a second image including two dimensional information associated with the surface of the object generated in response to the illuminating light beam. The detector also includes an evaluation device for evaluating the first image and the second image, identifying a geometrical feature of the object, determining a material property of the object, and comparing the two dimensional information to data stored in a database for authentication of the object.

A detector for object authentication includes first and second illumination sources. The first illumination source projects an illumination pattern including a plurality of illumination features onto a surface of an object. The second illumination source projects an illuminating light beam onto the object. The detector also includes an image capture device for determining a first image including a plurality of reflection features generated by the surface of the object in response to the illumination pattern and for determining a second image including two dimensional information associated with the surface of the object generated in response to the illuminating light beam. The detector also includes an evaluation device for evaluating the first image and the second image, identifying a geometrical feature of the object, determining a material property of the object, and comparing the two dimensional information to data stored in a database for authentication of the object.

A method to compensate for phase impairments in a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes transmitting a first optical beam towards a target, receiving a second optical beam from the target to produce a received optical beam; and generating a digitally-sampled target signal using a local oscillator (LO) beam, a first photo-detector and the received optical beam. The method also includes generating a digitally-sampled reference signal using a reference beam transmitted through a fiber delay device and a second photo-detector, and estimating one or more phase impairments in the LiDAR system using the digitally-sampled reference signal to produce one or more estimated phase impairments. The method also includes performing a first correction on a first phase impairment introduced into the digitally-sampled target signal by the LO beam; performing a second correction on a second phase impairment introduced into the digitally-sampled target signal by the received optical beam.

A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technique that includes dividing the field of view into a grid including a plurality of cells. The technique also includes generating a baseband signal based on a returned optical beam. The baseband signal includes a plurality of peaks corresponding with up-chirps and down-chirps in the transmitted signal. A plurality of points are computed based on the peaks. Each point includes information describing a range and a velocity and corresponds to a respective cell. A point confidence score is computed for each point, and a cell confidence score is computed for each cell based on the point confidence scores of the points within the cell. Each point can be accepted or rejected for inclusion in a point cloud based on the point confidence score for the point and the cell confidence scores for the plurality of cells.

A light detection and ranging system can have an optical sensor connected to an alias module. The optical sensor can have an emitter along with a first detector and a second detector. The alias module may be configured to characterize a detected return photon as an alias. The configuration of the detectors allows light beam walk to be corrected by the alias module.

A light detection and ranging system can have an optical sensor connected to an alias module. The optical sensor can have an emitter along with a first detector and a second detector. The alias module may be configured to characterize a detected return photon as an alias. The configuration of the detectors allows light beam walk to be corrected by the alias module.

A light detection and ranging system can have a camera sensor connected to an optical sensor and a controller with the optical sensor consisting of a light source coupled to a emitter and a detector for identifying downrange targets with photons. The camera sensor consisting of a lens for capturing a downrange image. The controller can track downrange targets with the camera sensor at a different frame rate than the optical sensor.

A light detection and ranging system can have a camera sensor connected to an optical sensor and a controller with the optical sensor consisting of a light source coupled to a emitter and a detector for identifying downrange targets with photons. The camera sensor consisting of a lens for capturing a downrange image. The controller can track downrange targets with the camera sensor at a different frame rate than the optical sensor.

A light detection and ranging system can have a sun module connected to an optical assembly configured to detect downrange targets by emitting a light beam and detecting returning photons. The controller having an inertial measurement circuit and a positioning circuit collectively configured to identify a location of a sun and ignore photons received from the sun's location.

A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) apparatus includes one or more optical elements configured to direct incident light in one or more directions, and a detector array including a plurality of detector pixels configured to output detection signals responsive to light provided thereto by the one or more optical elements. The light includes scattered light that is redirected relative to the one or more directions. A circuit is configured to receive the detection signals and generate corrected image data based on the detection signals and an expected spread function for the light. Related devices and methods of operation are also discussed.