Patent ID: 9476980
Filing Date: 2016-10-25
CPC Classification: G01S

Claim Text:
1. A lidar system, comprising: a transmitter configured to output a pulse of polarized light to a target, the transmitter comprising a laser and a polarizer in optical communication with the laser; a receiver configured to collect scattered light from the target, wherein the scattered light comprises a received pulse; a first detector; a second detector, wherein the first detector and second detector are each configured to receive at least a respective component of the received pulse of the scattered light from the receiver; and timing electronics coupled to each of the first detector and the second detector, wherein an output of the timing electronics comprises a value indicative of a relative distance based on an amount of time elapsed between inner portions of the received pulse of the scattered light, thereby achieving a sub-pulse width resolution, optionally wherein the value is based on an optical separation of respective component portions of the scattered light.