Optics: measuring and testing – Range or remote distance finding – With photodetection
Patent
1974-07-29
1980-12-23
Buczinski, Stephen C.
Optics: measuring and testing
Range or remote distance finding
With photodetection
356 4, 356371, 358 96, 358107, 358108, 358109, G01C 308, G01B 1130
Patent
active
042407451
ABSTRACT:
Method and apparatus for showing the relative range from an active line scan sensor to a target, the changes in range being shown on a recording medium as an alternate series of bright and dark lines. In particular, a modulated laser beam having high frequency components is utilized to illuminate the target, the reflected energy received at the sensor having the same modulation frequency but phase modified by the transit time required to make the roundtrip from the sensor to the target and return. The phase difference between the received energy and the transmitted, or reference, energy is detected by a phase demodulator, the detected phase difference corresponding to range contour lines. A reflectivity signal corresponding to the reflectance of the target is also provided. The range contour and reflectivity signals can be simultaneously recorded on a recording medium. Alternately, the reflectivity signal may be gated by the range contour signal producing a composite image on the medium.
Points in the image formed on the recording medium where the phase angles are the same can be made to appear white while the points where the phase angles differ by 180.degree. can be made to appear black. The difference in the range between two black lines is equal to a specific sub-interval of the wavelength of the effective laser modulation frequency, the sub-interval being 1
where n is the harmonic of the effective laser modulation frequency.
The scanning laser may be a mode locked laser, thereby providing a light output having a high requency components and precise frequency and phase stability.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3395608 (1968-08-01), Neill
patent: 3527533 (1970-09-01), Hook et al.
patent: 3533697 (1970-10-01), Hughes
patent: 3565528 (1971-02-01), Witte
patent: 3652161 (1972-03-01), Ross
patent: 3743418 (1973-07-01), Heflinger
patent: 3790287 (1974-02-01), Cuthbert et al.
patent: 3879133 (1975-04-01), Mathieu
patent: 3897150 (1975-07-01), Bridges et al.
Buczinski Stephen C.
Rusz Joseph E.
Shannon James S.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
LandOfFree
Imagery with constant range lines does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Imagery with constant range lines, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Imagery with constant range lines will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2240163