A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device including a laser source configured to provide a transmit beam, the laser source being positioned with a first offset relative to a reference line, a transmit/receive (T/R) interface configured to pass the transmit beam and reflect received light towards a detector, the T/R interface being positioned with a second offset relative to the reference line, and a lens positioned between the laser source and the T/R interface, the lens being positioned with a third offset relative to the reference line, wherein the laser source and the lens, as positioned, are configured to steer the transmit beam.

A sensor lens cleaning system for a cylindrical sensor having a sensor lens surface includes an extended member having a first end coupled to the cylindrical sensor and a second end opposite the first end, a nozzle coupled to the second end of the extended member, an actuator coupled to the extended member and configured to control the extended member, and a controller in electronic communication with the actuator and configured to communicate an actuator control signal to the actuator. The nozzle generates an air stream directed at the sensor lens surface.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide receivers for light detection and ranging (LiDAR). In an example, a receiver includes a beam converging device and an EO beam deflecting unit. 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 EO beam deflecting unit is configured to generate a non-uniform medium having at least one of a refractive index gradient or a diffraction grating, receive the input laser beam such that the input laser beam impinges upon the non-uniform medium, and form an output laser beam towards a photosensor. An angle between the input and the output laser beams is nonzero.

A light detection and ranging system can have a controller connected to a plurality of light energy emitters arranged as a solid-state optical phase array. The controller can be configured to adjust an optical element to change a light beam angle from at least one light energy emitter of the plurality of light energy emitters. The optical element can be physically separated from, and positioned downrange from, the plurality of light energy emitters.

A multi-line Lidar is provided. The multi-line Lidar includes: a multi-line ranging laser emission module comprising one or more lasers; a multi-line ranging laser reception module comprising one or more photodetectors and adapted to detect a laser echo generated when a measurement laser emitted by the laser emission module is incident to an obstacle and is diffusedly reflected; a ranging information resolution module in electrical signal connection with the multi-line ranging laser emission module and the multi-line ranging laser reception module, and designed to calculate the distance, in each direction, to the obstacle by means of calculating the time difference between the emission of the measurement laser and the receiving of the laser echo; and a control circuit and an optical system correspondingly configured for the multi-line ranging laser emission module and the multi-line ranging laser reception module.

The present invention refers to a fog detector for a vehicle, with a specially shaped lens, comprising: a light emitter (1) configured to emit at least one light pulse; a first optical element (2) configured to direct light of the at least one light pulse along a first optical path; a second optical element (4) configured to direct scattered light of the at least one light pulse along a second optical path to a focal spot of a light receiver (3) of the fog detector, wherein the focal spot is spatially offset from an axis extending along the first optical path; the first optical element (2) and the second optical element (4) being arranged and constructed such that the first and the second optical path at least partially overlap with each other and the first optical element (2) and the second optical element (4) being arranged and constructed such that the light emitter (1) and the light receiver (3) are operable on a common optical axis.

The present invention also refers to a method for fog detection and a driving support system comprising the fog detector. Furthermore, the present invention refers to a vehicle comprising the driving support system. Furthermore, the present invention refers to a computer program, a data carrier signal, and a computer-readable medium.

There is provided a Q-switched semiconductor light-emitting element, including a comb electrode that has at least two or more gain regions and two or more absorption regions, the regions including an active layer and being continuous on a semiconductor substrate, separation regions being provided between the gain regions and the absorption regions, the longest region of the gain regions being located on a rear end surface side; and an optical waveguide that staddles the gain regions, the absorption regions, and the separation regions.

In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit multiple optical signals directed into a field of regard of the lidar system. The optical signals include a first optical signal and a second optical signal, where the second optical signal is emitted a particular time interval after the first optical signal is emitted. The lidar system also includes a receiver configured to detect a received optical signal that includes a portion of the emitted first or second optical signal that is scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The received optical signal is detected after the second optical signal is emitted. The receiver includes a first detector configured to detect a first portion of the received optical signal and a second detector configured to detect a second portion of the received optical signal.

A LIDAR system for ranging an object using primary and secondary light reflected at the object, includes a laser, arranged to emit the primary light along a transmit beam towards a scanning element of the system, wherein at least a part of the transmit beam adjacent to the scanning element defines a center line, a detector, arranged to detect the secondary light along a receive beam, wherein the receive beam includes a first part aligned with the center line and a second part having an inclination with respect to the center line, wherein the second part of the receive beam is in-between the first part and the detector, and a segmented lens, positioned on the center line in-between the first part of the receive beam and the second part of the receive beam, wherein the receive lens segment is designed to focus the receive beam onto the detector.

The LIDAR chip includes a utility waveguide that guides an outgoing LIDAR signal to a facet through which the outgoing LIDAR signal exits from the chip. The chip also includes a control branch that removes a portion of the outgoing LIDAR signal from the utility waveguide. The control branch includes a control light sensor that receives a light signal that includes light from the removed portion of the outgoing LIDAR signal. The chip also includes a data branch that removes a second portion of the outgoing LIDAR signal from the utility waveguide. The data branch includes a light-combining component that combines a reference light signal that includes light from the second portion of the outgoing LIDAR signal with a comparative light signal that includes light that was reflected off an object located off of the chip.