This document describes techniques and systems to increase the dynamic range of time-of-flight (ToF) lidar systems. The described lidar system adjusts, based on the energy of a first return pulse, the bias voltage of a photodetector for other return pulses of the object pixel. The bias voltage can be adjusted down for highly-reflective or close-range objects. Similarly, the bias voltage can be increased for low-reflectivity or long-range objects. The ability of the described lidar system to adjust the bias voltage of the photodetector for each object pixel increases the dynamic range of the lidar system without additional hardware or a complex readout. The increased dynamic range allows the described lidar system to maintain a long-range capability, while accurately measuring return-pulse intensity for detecting close-range or highly-reflective objects.

Systems and methods described herein relate to reducing Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) target broadening. One embodiment acquires a frame including a plurality of points; identifies a first set of points for which the energy returned to a detector exceeds a predetermined energy threshold; identifies a second set of points adjacent to the first set of points that has a range differing from that of the first set of points by less than a predetermined range threshold; defines, as a border, an outline of the second set of points; iteratively reduces laser power for the first set of points, acquires a new frame, identifies the second set of points, and defines as the border, the outline of the second set of points until the border converges to a stable size; and outputs an estimated size of an object based, at least in part, on the stable size of the border.

A detecting system is provided for detecting distant objects. The system includes a light source configured to emit light pulses towards a distant object, the light pulses are being polarized at a predefined polarization angle; a detector configured to detect at least a portion of the light pulses reflected from the distant objects; and at least one linear polarizer configured for polarizing light at the polarization angle and being so disposed with respect to the detector such that the light reaching the detector passes through the linear polarizer and is polarized at the polarization angle.

An information processing apparatus (10a) according to the present disclosure includes a control unit (60). The control unit (60) detects a saturation region of light reception image information generated based on a pixel signal output from a light receiving sensor, the light receiving sensor being configured to receive reflected light being reflection, by a measurement object, of projection light projected from a light source. The pixel signal is used to calculate a distance to the measurement object. The saturation region is a region of light reception image information generated based on the pixel signal which is saturated. The control unit (60) corrects the light reception image information of the saturation region based on the pixel signal.

A distance measuring device includes a light emission portion configured to emit light; a light receiving portion configured to receive measurement light that is emitted by the light emission portion and reflected by the measurement object, the light receiving portion comprising a plurality of pixels configured to output light reception signals that depend on the received measurement light; a plurality of determination portions configured to receive the light reception signals and to determine characteristic values from the received light reception signals, and an evaluation portion that is connected to the plurality of determination portions, the evaluation portion being configured to calculate a distance from the characteristic values determined by the determination portions. Each of the plurality of determination portions is configured to receive the light reception signals only from a plurality of non-adjacent pixels.

A LIDAR transmitter system comprising an array of laser energy sources, each laser energy source comprising a corresponding photodetector. The laser energy sources are configured to emit laser energy towards a LIDAR target. Each respective photodetector is configured to detect the laser energy emitted by a corresponding energy source of the array.

An electronic distance meter comprises a coupler located between a laser source and a target and adapted to divert a portion of measurement light emitted by the laser source into a calibration portion connected to a photodetector and comprising an attenuator between said coupler and said photodetector for varying the luminance value of the light passing through the calibration portion, said calibration portion having a known length and said processor being configured to perform distance measurements through the calibration portion at a variety of luminance values achieved by said attenuator to derive calibration values from said distance measurements and said known length, said processor being further configured to use said calibration values for determining a target distance based on a return pulse signal.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods involving Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR or lidar) systems. Namely, an example method includes causing a light source of a LIDAR system to emit light along an emission vector. The method also includes adjusting the emission vector of the emitted light and determining an elevation angle component of the emission vector. The method further includes dynamically adjusting a per pulse energy of the emitted light based on the determined elevation angle component. An example system includes a vehicle and a light source coupled to the vehicle. The light source is configured to emit light along an emission vector toward an environment of the vehicle. The system also includes a controller operable to determine an elevation angle component of the emission vector and dynamically adjust a per pulse energy of the emitted light based on the determined elevation angle component.

Provided are a pulse laser ranging system and method employing a time domain waveform matching technique. The system comprises a software part and a hardware part. The hardware part comprises an optical collimation system, an FPGA, a filter, a photoelectric conversion system, an analog amplifier circuit, a laser transmitter, a signal combination system, an ADC sampling system and a narrow pulse laser transmitting circuit. When transmitting a control signal to control laser transmission, the FPGA sends a time reference pulse to the signal combination system. The signal combination system integrates the time reference pulse with a fixed amplitude analog echo signal to form an echo signal with a time reference. The echo signal with a time reference is quantified into a digital detection signal in the ADC sampling system. The digital detection signal is sent to the FPGA to undergo data analysis. The software part is used to perform time domain waveform matching analysis to obtain a ranging result. The ranging result is output by the FPGA.

An optoelectronic sensor, in particular a laser scanner, for detecting an object in a monitored zone is provided having a light transmitter for transmitting a light beam into the monitored zone; a light receiver for generating a received signal from the light beam remitted by the object; a moving deflection unit for a periodic deflection of the light beam to scan the monitored zone in the course of the movement; and having a control and evaluation unit that is configured to determine the time of flight between the transmission and reception of the light beam and to determine the distance from the object therefrom, wherein the sensor has a correction of the signal dynamics, i.e. of the relative reception power in dependence on the distance of the scanned object, The control and evaluation unit is here configured to correct the signal dynamics by adapting the sensitivity of the sensor.