Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide apparatus and methods for generating a three-dimensional (3D) representation of a scene (also known as 3D sensing) using a time-of-flight imaging system. In particular, the present techniques provide an apparatus comprising a time-of-flight imaging camera system that emits illumination having a spatially-nonuniform intensity over afield of view of the sensor that is moved across at least part of the field of view of a sensor using an actuation mechanism.

A laser marking system for marking a product comprising a laser source for providing a laser beam, a marking head for projecting the laser beam on to the product, a housing comprising an extraction device configured to generate a flow of extraction fluid for extracting matter generated by an interaction between the laser beam and the product, and a controller for controlling the laser source and the marking head. The laser marking system further comprises an umbilical assembly connecting the housing to the marking head.

Systems and methods are disclosed for a LIDAR system with a mirror housing and a window. The LIDAR system may include a light deflector, a mirror housing encasing the light deflector comprising a window for transmitting light between the light deflector and an exterior of the mirror housing, and a sensor positioned outside the mirror housing for detecting light signals from an environment of the LIDAR system. The light signals may propagate from the environment through the window to the light deflector, and from the light deflector through the window to the sensor. The window may be configured such that light arriving from outside of a field of view of the LIDAR system is deflected by the window away from the sensor. The LIDAR system may also include a processor for processing the light signals detected by the sensor to determine a distance to an object in the environment of the LIDAR system.

A system to develop a light detection and range determination (LIDAR) application by a rotation of optical elements embedded on a rotating disk in a spherical geometry is provided. The system further enables to conduct a fastest possible spatial scanning mechanically and to determine flight times of light beams by adaptive elements according to a distance and a size of a target region.

A hybrid LIDAR system 100 includes a flash-based LIDAR detector array. A broad laser emitter is operatively connected to the LIDAR detector array for flash-based LIDAR sensing. A first beam steering mechanism is operatively connected with the broad laser emitter for scanning a scene with a broad beam from the broad laser emitter. A second beam steering mechanism is operatively connected with the LIDAR detector array for directing returns of the broad beam from the scene to the LIDAR detector array.

An apparatus for optical pointing is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a telescope, a transmission prism rotatably coupled to the telescope, and a rotatable mechanism operatively coupled to the telescope. The transmission prism is configured to rotate around a first rotation axis, and the rotatable mechanism is configured to rotate around a second rotation axis that is different than the first rotation axis.

A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a first optical source to generate a first optical beam, a first collimating lens to collimate the first optical beam, a first prism wedge of a first prism wedge pair to redirect the first optical beam, and a first focusing lens to focus the first optical beam on a front surface of a second prism wedge of the first prism wedge pair, the second prism wedge to direct the first optical beam toward an output lens.

A ranging apparatus includes an emitter, a scanner, a detector, and a controller. The emitter is configured to emit a light pulse sequence. The scanner is configured to change a transmission direction of the light pulse sequence to transmit in different directions in sequence to form a scan field. The detector is configured to receive a reflected light pulse sequence formed by an object reflecting the light pulse sequence and determine at least one of a distance or an orientation of the object relative to the ranging apparatus according to the reflected light pulse sequence. The controller is configured to control the emitter to emit the light pulse sequence at a first emission frequency when scanning the first region and at a second emission frequency higher than the first emission frequency when scanning the second region.

The present disclosure provides Raman spectrum detection apparatus and method. The Raman spectrum detection apparatus includes: a laser configured for emitting excited light; an optics assembly configured to guide the excited light along a first light path to a sample to be detected and to collect a light signal from the sample along a second light path; and a spectrometer configured to process the light signal collected by the optics assembly so as to generate a Raman spectrum of the detected sample. The optics assembly includes a first optical element configured to move, during irradiation of the excited light onto the sample, so as to change a position of a light spot of the excited light on the sample.

A laser scanner determines the direction and distance of one or more targets by emitting two substantially parallel beams and receiving respective return beams. Components for handling the received beams are affixed to a monolithic block to ensure fixed relative placement. The direction of the target is determined using an optical encoder to reduce the timing window for interpolation to a fraction of the time it takes for the scanner to make a full revolution. A PLL trained by recent segment timing further improves accuracy and precision. A detection algorithm adapts detection thresholds for the different signatures of return signals depending on the distance to the target. Distance calculations are also adjusted for thermal expansion of the scanner components by including a temperature-variant thermometer output signal in the distance calculation algorithm.