A laser scanner can include a light source to output laser pulses, and an optical sensor to generate analog signals, having a first dynamic range, from light of the laser pulses that is reflected by an object. A logarithmic amplifier can amplify the analog signals to have a second dynamic range that is smaller than the first dynamic range. An analog to digital converter can convert the analog signals to digital signal samples having a signal sample rate. A template can represent an expected return reflection signal, and can have a template sample rate that is higher than the signal sample rate. A processor can perform a cross-correlation between the digital signal samples and the template, determine a time-of-flight value based at least in part on the cross-correlation, and determine a distance to the object based at least in part on the time-of-flight value.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for a systems and methods for intra-shot dynamic LIDAR detector gain. One example method my include emitting, by an optical ranging system at a first time, a first light pulse. The example method may also include increasing, after the first time, a sensitivity of a photodetector of the optical ranging system from a first sensitivity at the first time to a second sensitivity at a second time. The example method may also include decreasing the sensitivity of the photodetector of the optical ranging system from the second sensitivity at third time to the first sensitivity at a fourth time, wherein the fourth time is after the photodetector receives return light based on the first light pulse. The example method may also include emitting, by the optical ranging system at the fourth time, a second light pulse.

A lidar receiving apparatus, a lidar system, a laser ranging method, a laser ranging controller and a computer readable storage medium are provided. The lidar receiving apparatus includes a photodetector (11), which is configured to receive a reflected laser signal and to convert the reflected laser signal into a current signal when a bias voltage of the photodetector (11) is greater than a breakdown voltage of the same; a ranging circuit (12), which is connected with the photodetector (11) and configured to calculate distance data according to the current signal; and a power control circuit (13), which is connected with the photodetector (11) and configured to control the bias voltage applied to the photodetector (11) according to a predefined rule, wherein the predefined rule includes: at a receiving time of a stray reflected signal, the bias voltage of the photodetector (11) is smaller than the breakdown voltage; and the receiving time of the stray reflected signal is a time at which a transmitted laser signal reaches the photodetector (11) through a stray light path other than a ranging light path. The lidar receiving apparatus may be employed to decrease a short-range blind area.

A lidar receiving apparatus, a lidar system, a laser ranging method, a laser ranging controller and a computer readable storage medium are provided. The lidar receiving apparatus includes a photodetector (11), which is configured to receive a reflected laser signal and to convert the reflected laser signal into a current signal when a bias voltage of the photodetector (11) is greater than a breakdown voltage of the same; a ranging circuit (12), which is connected with the photodetector (11) and configured to calculate distance data according to the current signal; and a power control circuit (13), which is connected with the photodetector (11) and configured to control the bias voltage applied to the photodetector (11) according to a predefined rule, wherein the predefined rule includes: at a receiving time of a stray reflected signal, the bias voltage of the photodetector (11) is smaller than the breakdown voltage; and the receiving time of the stray reflected signal is a time at which a transmitted laser signal reaches the photodetector (11) through a stray light path other than a ranging light path. The lidar receiving apparatus may be employed to decrease a short-range blind area.

An electromagnetic wave detection apparatus (10) includes a separation unit (16) configured to separate and propagate incident electromagnetic waves in a plurality of directions, a first detector (17) configured to detect separated first electromagnetic waves at a first frequency, and a second detector (20) configured to detect second electromagnetic waves separated in a different direction than the first electromagnetic waves at a second frequency lower than the first frequency and to change an amplification factor of a detection signal in accordance with a detection result of the first detector.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a receiver in an optical sensing system. The exemplary receiver includes a movable detector configured to receive optical signals reflected or scattered from an object scanned by the optical sensing system. The receiver further includes an actuator configured to move the movable detector. The receiver also includes a controller configured to determine a plurality of target positions of the movable detector for receiving the optical signals. The controller is further configured to control the actuator to move the movable detector to the plurality target positions according to a movement pattern.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a receiver in an optical sensing system. The exemplary receiver includes a movable detector configured to receive optical signals reflected or scattered from an object scanned by the optical sensing system. The receiver further includes an actuator configured to move the movable detector. The receiver also includes a controller configured to determine a plurality of target positions of the movable detector for receiving the optical signals. The controller is further configured to control the actuator to move the movable detector to the plurality target positions according to a movement pattern.

A camera device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: an light output unit which outputs output light signals to be emitted to an object and includes a plurality of light sources arrayed according to predetermined rules; a lens unit which includes an infrared (IR) filter and at least one lens disposed on the IR filter, and focuses input light signals reflected from the object; an image sensor which generates electrical signals from the input light signals focused by the lens unit; an image processing unit which acquires depth information about the object by using phase differences or time differences between the output light signals and the input light signals received in the image sensor; and a control unit which controls the light output unit, the lens unit, the image sensor, and the image processing unit, wherein the plurality of light sources are divided into at least two light source groups, the control unit controls the output light signals to be output sequentially for each light source group, the image sensor includes at least two pixel groups divided for each of the light source groups, and the control unit controls the input light signals to be focused sequentially for each pixel group.

A camera device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: an light output unit which outputs output light signals to be emitted to an object and includes a plurality of light sources arrayed according to predetermined rules; a lens unit which includes an infrared (IR) filter and at least one lens disposed on the IR filter, and focuses input light signals reflected from the object; an image sensor which generates electrical signals from the input light signals focused by the lens unit; an image processing unit which acquires depth information about the object by using phase differences or time differences between the output light signals and the input light signals received in the image sensor; and a control unit which controls the light output unit, the lens unit, the image sensor, and the image processing unit, wherein the plurality of light sources are divided into at least two light source groups, the control unit controls the output light signals to be output sequentially for each light source group, the image sensor includes at least two pixel groups divided for each of the light source groups, and the control unit controls the input light signals to be focused sequentially for each pixel group.

Lidar and method for generating repeatable PPM waveforms to determine a range to a target include: a processor for a) creating a modulation pool, based on a maximum nominal PRF and a specified final PPM code length of N; b) obtaining a seed code; c) eliminating bad modulation levels from the modulation pool to generate a good modulation pool, d) selecting a modulation level from the good modulation pool; e) concatenating the selected modulation level to the seed code to generate an i-element modulation sequence; f) repeating steps c to e N times to generate an N-element modulation sequence; g) selecting a PRF less than the maximum nominal PRF; and h) generating a repeatable PPM waveform by applying the N-element modulation sequence to the selected PRF.