A photodetector includes a plurality of cells each configured to detect light and including: a light receiving element configured to output an electrical signal upon receipt of the light, a resistor connected to the light receiving element, and first and second switches connected to the resister. Either the first switch or the second switch is turned on according to a selection signal. The photodetector further includes a first output terminal connected to the first switch of each of the cells and through which a first output signal is output based on the electrical signal that has been output from the first switch, and a second output terminal connected to the second switch of each of the cells and through which a second output signal is output based on the electrical signal that has been output from the second switch.

A photodetector includes a plurality of cells each configured to detect light and including: a light receiving element configured to output an electrical signal upon receipt of the light, a resistor connected to the light receiving element, and first and second switches connected to the resister. Either the first switch or the second switch is turned on according to a selection signal. The photodetector further includes a first output terminal connected to the first switch of each of the cells and through which a first output signal is output based on the electrical signal that has been output from the first switch, and a second output terminal connected to the second switch of each of the cells and through which a second output signal is output based on the electrical signal that has been output from the second switch.

An image capturing system includes a light source configured to emit light toward an object or scene that is to be imaged. The system also includes a time-of-flight image sensor configured to receive light signals based on reflected light from the object or scene. The system also includes a processor operatively coupled to the light source and the time-of-flight image sensor. The processor is configured to perform compressive sensing of the received light signals. The processor is also configured to generate an image of the object or scene based at least in part on the compressive sensing of the received light signals.

An image capturing system includes a light source configured to emit light toward an object or scene that is to be imaged. The system also includes a time-of-flight image sensor configured to receive light signals based on reflected light from the object or scene. The system also includes a processor operatively coupled to the light source and the time-of-flight image sensor. The processor is configured to perform compressive sensing of the received light signals. The processor is also configured to generate an image of the object or scene based at least in part on the compressive sensing of the received light signals.

A beam generating device includes a semiconductor substrate, having an optical passband. A first array of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) is formed on a first face of the semiconductor substrate and are configured to emit respective laser beams through the substrate at a wavelength within the passband. A second array of microlenses is formed on a second face of the semiconductor substrate in respective alignment with the VCSELs so as to transmit the laser beams generated by the VCSELs. The VCSELs are configured to be driven to emit the laser beams in predefined groups in order to change a characteristic of the laser beams.

A beam generating device includes a semiconductor substrate, having an optical passband. A first array of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) is formed on a first face of the semiconductor substrate and are configured to emit respective laser beams through the substrate at a wavelength within the passband. A second array of microlenses is formed on a second face of the semiconductor substrate in respective alignment with the VCSELs so as to transmit the laser beams generated by the VCSELs. The VCSELs are configured to be driven to emit the laser beams in predefined groups in order to change a characteristic of the laser beams.

An optical measuring device having a base for placing the measuring device and a targeting unit that is rotatable with respect to the base and defines a target axis for targeting a target object that is to be measured. The targeting unit has a first beam path for emitting optical measurement radiation in the direction of the target object that is to be measured. The targeting unit furthermore has a diffractive optical element (DOE), which is arranged or arrangeable in the beam path such that the optical measurement radiation is homogenized.

An optical measuring device having a base for placing the measuring device and a targeting unit that is rotatable with respect to the base and defines a target axis for targeting a target object that is to be measured. The targeting unit has a first beam path for emitting optical measurement radiation in the direction of the target object that is to be measured. The targeting unit furthermore has a diffractive optical element (DOE), which is arranged or arrangeable in the beam path such that the optical measurement radiation is homogenized.

A laser detection and ranging system and method for operating thereof. In some embodiments, the method includes: transmitting a plurality of laser pulses, each at a respective one of a plurality of pulse transmission times; detecting a plurality of return pulses, each at a respective one of a plurality of return pulse times; and estimating a range or a range rate of a target based on the pulse transmission times and the return pulse times. Each of the pulse transmission times may be offset from a corresponding nominal pulse transmission time by a respective pulse position modulation offset, the nominal pulse transmission times being uniformly spaced with a period corresponding to a pulse repetition frequency, the pulse repetition frequency being greater than 500 kHz.

A method for providing a detection-signal for objects to be detected—at least a first and second light-beam including different frequencies being generated with a first optical non-linear 3-wave-process from a light-beam of a light-source including an output-frequency, and the first light-beam including a reference-frequency being detected, and the second light-beam including an object-frequency being emitted and received after reflection on an object, and the light-beam including the output-frequency and the second light-beam including the object-frequency being superposed, and a reference-beam including a reference-frequency being generated with a second optical non-linear 3-wave-process from the two superposed light-beams including the output-frequency and including the object-frequency, and a detection-signal being generated so that the object-distance is determinable due to the aforementioned superposition based on the time-difference between the detection of the first light-beam including the reference-frequency and a detection of a change of the reference-beam including the reference-frequency.