Abstract

In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit local-oscillator (LO) light and pulses of light, the emitted pulses of light including a first emitted pulse of light, where an optical frequency of the first emitted pulse of light is offset from an optical frequency of the LO light by a first frequency offset. The lidar system further includes a receiver configured to detect the LO light and a first received pulse of light, the first received pulse of light including light from the first emitted pulse of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The receiver includes a detector, where: the LO light and the first received pulse of light are coherently mixed together at the detector, and the detector is configured to produce a photocurrent signal corresponding to the coherent mixing.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01S 7/4861 - Circuits for detection, sampling, integration or read-out
• G01S 7/487 - Extracting wanted echo signals

Abstract

A system for detecting boundaries of lanes on a road is presented. The system includes an imaging system configured to produce a set of pixels associated with lane markings on a road. The system also includes one or more processors configured to detect boundaries of lanes on the road, including: receive, from the imaging system, the set of pixels associated with lane markings; partition the set of pixels into a plurality of groups, each of the plurality of groups associated with one or more control points; and generate a first spline that traverses the control points of the plurality of groups, the first spline describing a boundary of a lane on the road.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06V 10/426 - Graphical representations
• G08G 1/04 - Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• G06V 10/764 - Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding using pattern recognition or machine learning using classification, e.g. of video objects
• G06V 10/50 - Extraction of image or video features by summing image-intensity values; Projection analysis
• G06T 7/11 - Region-based segmentation
• G06N 20/00 - Machine learning
• G08G 1/01 - Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled
• G06T 11/20 - Drawing from basic elements, e.g. lines or circles
• G06V 20/56 - Context or environment of the image exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
• G06V 10/77 - Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding using pattern recognition or machine learning using data integration or data reduction, e.g. principal component analysis [PCA] or independent component analysis [ICA] or self-organising maps [SOM]; Blind source separation
• B60W 40/072 - Curvature of the road
• G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude, or attitude of land, water, air, or space vehicles, e.g. automatic pilot
• B60W 60/00 - Drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles

Abstract

In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source, a receiver, and a controller. The light source is configured to emit an optical signal. The receiver is configured to detect a received optical signal that includes a portion of the emitted optical signal that is scattered by a surface of a target located a distance from the lidar system, where the surface is oriented at an angle of incidence with respect to the emitted optical signal. The receiver is further configured to produce an electrical signal corresponding to the received optical signal. The controller is configured to determine, based on the electrical signal, the angle of incidence of the surface of the target.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01S 17/42 - Simultaneous measurement of distance and other coordinates
• G01S 7/481 - Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements
• G01S 17/931 - Lidar systems, specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes of land vehicles

Abstract

A receiver of a lidar system configured to receive one or more scattered light pulses from a target in a field of regard of the lidar system. The receiver includes a detector that emits an electric signal representative of the received light pulse in response to detecting the received light pulse. The receiver further includes one or more analog circuits configured to receive the electric signal from the detector, sample one or more voltages of the electric signal, and determine the energy of the received light pulse based at least on the one or more sampled voltages. The lidar system may further calculate a reflectivity and/or other characteristics of the target based at least on the energy of the received light pulse.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01S 17/10 - Systems determining position data of a target for measuring distance only using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves
• G01S 7/481 - Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements
• G01N 21/55 - Specular reflectivity
• G01S 17/89 - Lidar systems, specially adapted for specific applications for mapping or imaging
• G01B 11/22 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring depth
• G01S 7/4865 - Time delay measurement, e.g. time-of-flight measurement, time of arrival measurement or determining the exact position of a peak