Disclosed is a laser radar device having a wide two-dimensional field of view, a large receiving aperture, and responsivity to short pulse light. Specifically disclosed is a laser radar device provided with a laser light source which generates pulse laser light, a scanner which transmits a transmission pulse to a target while two-dimensionally scanning a pencil-shaped transmission beam and outputs scan angle information, a reception lens which receives reception light that has arrived, a long light-receiving element array which converts the reception light to reception signals and outputs the reception signals, a transimpedance amplifier array which amplifies the reception signals, an adder circuit which adds the reception signals from respective elements of the transimpedance amplifier array, a distance detection circuit which measures the light round-trip time to the target of an output signal from the adder circuit, and a signal processing unit which obtains the distances to multiple points on the target on the basis of the light round-trip time and the light speed by causing the scanner to perform a two-dimensional scan operation while associating the two-dimensional scan operation with the scan angle information to thereby measure the three-dimensional shape of the target.

Laser radar device

The present invention pertains to systems and methods for the capture of information regarding scenes using single or multiple three-dimensional LADAR systems. Where multiple systems are included, those systems can be placed in different positions about the imaged scene such that each LADAR system provides different viewing perspectives and/or angles. In accordance with further embodiments, the single or multiple LADAR systems can include two-dimensional focal plane arrays, in addition to three-dimensional focal plane arrays, and associated light sources for obtaining three-dimensional information about a scene, including information regarding the contours of the objects within the scene. Processing of captured image information can be performed in real time, and processed scene information can include data frames that comprise three-dimensional and two-dimensional image data.

Systems and methods of scene and action capture using imaging system incorporating 3D LIDAR

Methods and systems for adaptively controlling the illumination of a scene are provided. In particular, a scene is illuminated, and light reflected from the scene is detected. Information regarding levels of light intensity received by different pixels of a multiple pixel detector, corresponding to different areas within a scene, and/or information regarding a range to an area within a scene, is received. That information is then used as a feedback signal to control levels of illumination within the scene. More particularly, different areas of the scene can be provided with different levels of illumination in response to the feedback signal.

Electronically steered flash lidar

Multi-level navigation monitoring and control is provided. A system includes a lane marking manager determining a first boundary line, a second boundary line, and a centerline of a current lane of travel. The system also includes a confidence level determiner assigning a first confidence level to the first boundary line, a second confidence level to the second boundary line, and a third confidence level to the centerline. Further, the system includes a user interface outputting representations of the first boundary line, the second boundary line, and the centerline based, at least in part, on the first confidence level, the second confidence level, and the third confidence level.

Multi-level navigation monitoring and control

A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device scans through a scanning zone while emitting light pulses and receives reflected signals corresponding to the light pulses. The LIDAR device scans the emitted light pulses through the scanning zone by reflecting the light pulses from an array of oscillating mirrors. The mirrors are operated by a set of electromagnets arranged to apply torque on the mirrors, and an orientation feedback system senses the orientations of the mirrors. Driving parameters for each mirror are determined based on information from the orientation feedback system. The driving parameters can be used to drive the mirrors in phase at an operating frequency despite variations in moments of inertia and resonant frequencies among the mirrors.

Light steering device with an array of oscillating reflective slats

A device for recording a geometry of an environment of a device in a detection field with the aid of laser scanning may include a laser beam controlled by an oscillating micromechanical mirror. The detection field is specifiable in the vertical and horizontal directions by adapting an amplitude of oscillation of the micromechanical mirror. Driver-assistance systems are used for tasks both in the near field, such as a parking function, and in the distant field of the vehicle, such as a distance control or the detection of obstacles on the roadway. If the amplitude of the oscillation of the micro-mirror is then reduced in the horizontal direction and/or vertical direction, the spatial resolution for the reduced detection range is improved. Moreover, the higher intensity of the laser radiation impinging on the smaller detection region improves the signal-to-noise ratio of the detected signal.

Adaptive angle and power adaptation in 3D-micro-mirror LIDAR

The invention relates to a driver assistance system (15) for a vehicle (2), in particular a motor vehicle (3) having a display device designed as a head - up display (HUD) (16) for displaying information (17) on a windshield (5) of the vehicle Vehicle (2) and with an input device (14) having at least one manually operated control element for inputting data, or which is manually operable to input data, wherein it is provided that the operating element on the steering wheel (6) and / or in an area of a dashboard (7) lying in the immediate vicinity of the steering wheel (6), or in that the input device (14) has at least one non-contact sensor (10) having a vehicle interior area (13) for registering the hand of the data input - and / or finger trajectories of the driver (4) recorded. The invention further relates to a method directed to the operation of such a driver assistance system.

Driver assistance system for automobile, has input device including manually operated control element that is arranged at steering wheel and/or in area of instrument panel, where area lies in direct vicinity of wheel

The device (1) has an image generator (9) for producing images. A detection device (4) detects head- and/or eye- and/or pupil position and/or a viewing direction of a driver. An evaluation unit (5) changes positions of image objects of an object category independent of real objects in a field of view of the driver such that the driver receives an impression that the objects lie in a distance before a windscreen. The distance is smaller or larger than a distance of an image plane of a virtual image of the windscreen. An independent claim is also included for a method for displaying image information in a vehicle.

Display device i.e. augmented reality head-up-display, for use in motor vehicle, has evaluation unit changing positions of objects so that driver receives impression that objects lie in distance smaller or larger than that of image plane

The head-up display (1) has an imaging lens that is arranged between an imaging unit (3) and a display area. The imaging lens is formed to represent the virtual image of an image information in two different focus levels (7) in the display area. The focus levels are determined in different distances from an eye (18) of a viewer. The image information is derived from the imaging unit.

Head-up display for vehicles, particularly for use as display area for displaying information by imaging unit of lucent surface in vehicle, has imaging lens that is arranged between imaging unit and display area

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Vorrichtung zur Aufnahme der Geometrie der Umgebung der Vorrichtung in einem Detektionsfeld mittels Laserabtastung mit einem durch einen schwingenden mikromechanischen Spiegel gelenkten Laserstrahl. Erfindungsgemas ist vorgesehen, dass das Detektionsfeld in vertikaler und in horizontaler Richtung durch eine Anpassung der Schwingungsamplitude des mikromechanischen Spiegels vorgebbar ist. Fahrerassistenzsysteme werden sowohl fur Aufgaben im Nahfeld als auch im Fernfeld des Fahrzeugs eingesetzt. Beispielhaft ist eine Einparkfunktion eine Aufgabe im Nahfeld, eine Abstands-Kontrolle oder eine Erkennung von Hindernissen auf der Fahrbahn aber eine Aufgabe im Fernfeld. Wird erfindungsgemas die Amplitude der Schwingung des Mikrospiegels in horizontaler und/oder vertikaler Richtung verkleinert, wird hiermit die Ortsauflosung fur den verkleinerten Detektionsbereich verbessert. Weiterhin verbessert die auf den verkleinerten Detektionsbereich auftreffende hohere Intensitat der Laserstrahlung das Signal-Rauschverhaltnis des detektierten Signals.

Sascha Steinkogler

Papers

Adaptive angle and power adaptation in 3D-micro-mirror LIDAR

Driver assistance system for automobile, has input device including manually operated control element that is arranged at steering wheel and/or in area of instrument panel, where area lies in direct vicinity of wheel

Display device i.e. augmented reality head-up-display, for use in motor vehicle, has evaluation unit changing positions of objects so that driver receives impression that objects lie in distance smaller or larger than that of image plane

Head-up display for vehicles, particularly for use as display area for displaying information by imaging unit of lucent surface in vehicle, has imaging lens that is arranged between imaging unit and display area

Adaptive Winkel- und Leistungsanpassung bei 3D-Mikrospiegel-Lidar