The disclosure relates to a demodulator including a pinned photodiode; at least one storage node; at least one transfer gate connected between the storage node and the pinned photodiode. The pinned photodiode includes a p-doped epitaxial semiconductor layer; a n-doped semiconductor region formed within the epitaxial semiconductor layer; a p+ pinning layer formed on top of said semiconductor region. The pinning layer is split into at least two separate regions spaced apart by electrical insulating element, each region being arranged for being biased independently by a respective biasing signal for creating a gradient of potential within the semiconductor region.

The light wave distance meter is disclosed, including: a distance measuring light-emitting unit; a light-receiving signal generating unit; and a control arithmetic unit. A light-receiving signal includes a first intermittent light-receiving signal corresponding to a first distance measuring light, a second intermittent light-receiving signal corresponding to a second distance measuring light, a third intermittent light-receiving signal corresponding to a third distance measuring light, and a fourth intermittent light-receiving signal corresponding to a fourth distance measuring light. The control arithmetic unit executes an error determination control to acquire a shift signal generated by shifting at least a phase of any one of the first to fourth intermittent light-receiving signals by 2π.Math.n−π/2 or 2π.Math.n+π/2, and compares the phase of the shift signal and the phase of the intermittent light-receiving signal at least between either the first frequencies or between the second frequencies.

A LIDAR device performs an emission process of emitting the laser light to surroundings of a vehicle. The emission process includes a scanning process and a resolution adjustment process. The scanning process includes a process of scanning with the laser light a predefined direction that is one of vertical and horizontal directions. A plurality of emission directions include, as four directions, a first direction and a second direction adjacent to each other in the predefined direction, and a third direction and a fourth direction adjacent to each other in the predefined direction. The resolution adjustment process includes a process of making an angle difference between the third and fourth directions less than an angle difference between the first and second directions, and a variably setting process of variably setting the angle difference between the third and fourth directions according to a state variable of the vehicle, as an input.

A LIDAR device performs an emission process of emitting the laser light to surroundings of a vehicle. The emission process includes a scanning process and a resolution adjustment process. The scanning process includes a process of scanning with the laser light a predefined direction that is one of vertical and horizontal directions. A plurality of emission directions include, as four directions, a first direction and a second direction adjacent to each other in the predefined direction, and a third direction and a fourth direction adjacent to each other in the predefined direction. The resolution adjustment process includes a process of making an angle difference between the third and fourth directions less than an angle difference between the first and second directions, and a variably setting process of variably setting the angle difference between the third and fourth directions according to a state variable of the vehicle, as an input.

The present invention is directed to lidar systems and methods thereof. More specifically, a lidar receiver converts received light signal to electrical signal. The electrical signal is converted to digital signal. Fast Fourier transform is performed on the digital signal to generate n channels of data. Constant false alarm rate detection is performed to generate n data sets, which is grouped into m clusters of data. Maximum likelihood detection is performed on the m clusters of data.

There is provided a distance measurement device including a light source, a light detector, a time control circuit and a processor. In first measurement, the time control circuit controls the light source to illuminate at a low modulation frequency, and the processor calculates a rough flying time according to a first detection signal of the light detector to determine an operating phase zone and a delay time. In second measurement, the time control circuit controls the light source to illuminate at a high modulation frequency and causes a light driving signal of the light source and a detecting control signal of the light detector to have a difference of the delay time, and the processor calculates a fine flying time according to a second detection signal of the light detector.

There is provided a distance measurement device including a light source, a light detector, a time control circuit and a processor. In first measurement, the time control circuit controls the light source to illuminate at a low modulation frequency, and the processor calculates a rough flying time according to a first detection signal of the light detector to determine an operating phase zone and a delay time. In second measurement, the time control circuit controls the light source to illuminate at a high modulation frequency and causes a light driving signal of the light source and a detecting control signal of the light detector to have a difference of the delay time, and the processor calculates a fine flying time according to a second detection signal of the light detector.

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.

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.

Daylight visible laser rangefinders and multi-spectral laser rangefinders that emit one or more continuous wave lasers for the purposes of generating a distance measurement are disclosed, along with methods, systems, and devices including laser rangefinders in utility locating and mapping systems and underwater systems.