Apparatus for collimating light in a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system. A light source outputs a light beam for transmission to a target, such as a multi-mode source which generates an elongated beam with a higher diverging fast axis and a lower diverging slow axis. A refractive lens assembly collimates the light beam using a concave first cylindrical surface extending in facing relation toward the light source along the fast axis and a convex, second cylindrical surface facing away from the light source and extending along the slow axis orthogonal to the first cylindrical surface. A second refractive lens assembly distal from and orthogonal to the second cylindrical surface has a convex third cylindrical surface to further collimate the light beam along the fast axis. The elongated beam may diverge at a greater angle along the fast axis as compared to the slow axis.

A light detection and ranging system can have a sun module connected to an optical assembly configured to detect downrange targets by emitting a light beam and detecting returning photons. The controller having an inertial measurement circuit and a positioning circuit collectively configured to identify a location of a sun and ignore photons received from the sun's location.

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 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.

To provide a signal generation apparatus that is used in a ToF camera system especially adopting an indirect system and can suppress occurrence of erroneous distance measurement caused by distance measurement of a same target by a plurality of cameras with a simple configuration. There is provided a signal generation apparatus including a first pulse generator configured to generate a pulse to be supplied to a light source that irradiates light upon a distance measurement target, a second pulse generator configured to generate a pulse to be supplied to a pixel that receives the light reflected by the distance measurement target, and a signal generation section configured to generate a pseudo-random signal for inverting a phase of signals to be generated by the first pulse generator and the second pulse generator.

The present disclosure generally pertains to time-of-flight circuitry configured to: apply a set of detection time intervals to at least one light detection event for determining a point of time of the at least one light detection event, wherein the set of detection time intervals has a predetermined detection pattern encoding predetermined points of time.

This application discloses a signal receiving method and device, a medium, and a radar system. The radar system includes: a window, a radar transmitter, a radar receiver, a processor, and a signal receiving circuit. The radar transmitter is configured to: transmit a radar detection signal to a front obstacle through the window. The radar receiver is connected to the signal receiving circuit, and receive a reflected signal generated by the obstacle, and transmit the reflected signal to the signal receiving circuit. The signal receiving circuit is connected to the processor, and when the radar transmitter transmits the radar detection signal, receive, after preset duration, the reflected signal where the preset duration is a sum of first duration required for the radar detection signal to arrive at the window and second duration required for the reflected signal to arrive at the radar receiver from the window.

A method may include obtaining sensor data from one or more LiDAR units and determining a point-cloud corresponding to the sensor data obtained from each respective LiDAR unit. The method may include aggregating the point-clouds as an aggregated point-cloud. A number of data points included in the aggregated point-cloud may be decreased by filtering out one or more of the data points according to one or more heuristic rules to generate a reduced point-cloud. The method may include determining an operational granularity level for the reduced point-cloud. An array of existence-based objects may be generated based on the reduced point-cloud and the operational granularity level.