A light detection and ranging system can have a spectral module connected to a light emitter and a detector as part of an optical sensor. The spectral module can be configured to adjust from a first wavelength of light to a second wavelength of light to classify a downrange target. The spectral module can customize a ratio of wavelengths over time to filter false positives in a field of view.

The invention pertains to a method for subtracting background light from an exposure value of a first pixel in an imaging array, said first pixel receiving a reflection of a spot from a scenery illuminated by a periodically pulsed pattern of spots, said periodically pulsed pattern comprising in alternation an illuminated phase and a non-illuminated phase, the method comprising: accumulating in said first pixel a charge in proportion to a first quantity of incident light, received in said first pixel while detecting said spot during a predetermined amount of time; and decreasing said charge in proportion to a second quantity of incident light received during said predetermined amount of time in absence of said spot. The invention also pertains to a pixel and an imaging array.

A range sensor and a method thereof. The range sensor includes a light source configured to project a plurality of sheets of light at an angle within a field of view (FOV); an image sensor, wherein the image sensor is offset from the light source; collection optics; and a controller connected to the light source, the image sensor, and the collection optics, and configured to simultaneously determine a range of a distant object based on direct time-of-flight (TOF) and a range of a near object based on triangulation.

A range sensor and a method thereof. The range sensor includes a light source configured to project a plurality of sheets of light at an angle within a field of view (FOV); an image sensor, wherein the image sensor is offset from the light source; collection optics; and a controller connected to the light source, the image sensor, and the collection optics, and configured to simultaneously determine a range of a distant object based on direct time-of-flight (TOF) and a range of a near object based on triangulation.

A LIDAR 1 includes: a scanner 55 that emits outgoing light Lo while changing the outgoing direction thereof; a reflection member 8 that is arranged in a first outgoing direction and reflects the outgoing light Lo; an absorption member 7 that is arranged in a second outgoing direction and absorbs the outgoing light Lo; an APD 41 that receives return light Lr; and a DSP16. The DSP 16 generates replica u representing a component reflected by the absorption member 7 on the basis of output signals of the APD 41 obtained at each time when the outgoing light Lo is emitted in the first outgoing direction and in the second outgoing direction.

A LIDAR 1 includes: a scanner 55 that emits outgoing light Lo while changing the outgoing direction thereof; a reflection member 8 that is arranged in a first outgoing direction and reflects the outgoing light Lo; an absorption member 7 that is arranged in a second outgoing direction and absorbs the outgoing light Lo; an APD 41 that receives return light Lr; and a DSP16. The DSP 16 generates replica u representing a component reflected by the absorption member 7 on the basis of output signals of the APD 41 obtained at each time when the outgoing light Lo is emitted in the first outgoing direction and in the second outgoing direction.

A frequency shift correcting unit (25) which corrects a frequency shift of a plurality of first signal spectra within the same time range with respect to a frequency of first laser light beam and corrects a frequency shift of a plurality of second signal spectra within the same time range with respect to a frequency of second laser light beam, and a spectrum integrating unit (26) which integrates a plurality of first signal spectra corrected by the frequency shift correcting unit (25) and integrates a plurality of second signal spectra corrected by the frequency shift correcting unit (25) are provided, and a molecular concentration calculating unit (27) calculates a concentration of molecules in the atmosphere from the first and second signal spectra integrated by the spectrum calculating unit (26).

[Object] Provided are a light receiving device and a light receiving circuit that are capable of performing highly accurate ranging with an increased field of view (FOV).

[Solving Means] A light receiving device according to the present disclosure includes a light detector array including a plurality of pixels each configured to output a pulse in response to a reaction of a light detector with a photon, a counter circuit configured to count the pulse outputted from at least one of the pixels of the light detector array, and a control circuit configured to select, from the light detector array, one of the pixels to be enabled and one of the pixels to be disabled, on the basis of the number of counts of the pulse from the counter circuit.

The invention relates to a detection device (4) for a motor vehicle (1) for detecting a distance (x1) of an object (O1) in a surrounding region (5) of the motor vehicle (1) from the motor vehicle (1), comprising an emitting unit (8), which is designed to emit a light beam (9) and to scan the surrounding region (5) by orienting the light beam (9) along predetermined emission angles (10), and comprising a receiving unit (11) having at least two receiving elements (16), which are designed to receive a part (12) of the light beam (9) reflected on the object (O1), to detect the distance (x1) on the basis of a duration between the emission of the light beam (9) and the reception of the reflected part (12) of the light beam (9), and to detect a reception angle (13), at which the reflected part (12) of the light beam (9) from the surrounding region (5) is incident on the receiving unit (11), wherein the receiving unit (11) is designed to detect a deviation (17) between the emission angle (10) of the light beam (9) and the reception angle (13) of the reflected part (12) of the light beam (9) corresponding to the emission angle (10). The invention additionally relates to a driver assistance system (2), a motor vehicle (1), and a method for detecting a distance (x1) of an object (O1) in a surrounding region (5) of a motor vehicle (1).

A distance measuring device includes a pulsed laser source, a light receiving unit and a computing module. The pulsed laser source emits a laser pulse to a target in accordance with a predetermined period. The light receiving unit has a photon receiving type of light receiving element that receives incident light and outputs a binary pulse, and the binary pulse is used to indicate whether a photon receiving event occurs. The computing module is configured to receive the binary pulse and determine whether an inter-period coincidence event occurs, and the inter-period coincidence event is defined by detecting a plurality of photon receiving events exceeding a predetermined count, on relative positions in a predetermined period number of the predetermined periods. If the calculation module determines that the inter-period coincidence event occurs, a distance of the target is calculated according to time information related to the inter-period coincidence event.