Television – Special applications – Underwater
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-19
2001-10-16
Le, Vu (Department: 2613)
Television
Special applications
Underwater
Reexamination Certificate
active
06304289
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to underwater laser televisions and underwater laser visualization devices which use laser beams to visualize visualized objects located under water.
BACKGROUND ART
There are provided laser visualization devices which use laser beams to clearly visualize visualized objects located under water whose transparency is not good. The official gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 7-072250, which is a patent gazette in Japan, and the like disclose the technology of such laser visualization devices.
Conventionally, this type of the laser visualization device is constructed by a laser oscillator which generates laser pulses (pulse-like laser beams), a light radiation detection device which radiates the laser pulses to a visualized object under water and which detects reflection light, and a control device which controls a direction of the light radiation detection device and which displays an image of the visualized object based on an output of the light radiation detection device. Among them, the laser oscillator and control device are equipped on a support ship on the sea, while the light radiation detection device is arranged and fixed in proximity to the visualized object under water.
In addition, this type of the laser visualization device is designed as follows:
Laser pulses generated by the laser oscillator equipped on the support ship are lead to the light radiation detection device, placed under water, via an optical fiber cable the laser pulses are radiated to the visualized object from the light radiation detection device, so that reflection light from the visualized object is detected by the light radiation detection device; and detection signals are transmitted to the control device on the support ship, so that an image of the visualized object is displayed on the monitor and the like.
Further, in the conventional laser visualization device, the light radiation detection device is provided inside of a pressure-proof vessel to provide resistance against water pressure and is supported by a pan-tilt device. In this case, the light radiation detection device has a relatively heavy weight, so it is necessary to use a relatively large size for the pan-tilt device. In the case where such a large size of the pan-tilt device is used, it is inconvenient to carry the light radiation detection device, so workability for the fixing work of the light radiation detection device under water is not good, while workability for the transfer of the device once fixed is not good as well.
On one hand, it is known that by improving the intensity of the laser pulses, a more clear image of the visualized object can be obtained. However, as described above, conventionally the laser pulses are transmitted and supplied to the light radiation detection device under water from the laser oscillator on the support ship via the optical fiber cable, so the intensity of the laser pulses which can be radiated to the visualized object is restricted by the light transmission capacity of the optical fiber cable. Therefore, it is not possible to obtain a sufficiently clear image of the visualized object, particularly in the case where the visibility distance becomes great, deterioration of the image is remarkable. Further, a YAG-OPO (Optical Parametric Oscillator) or else is used for the laser oscillator, so there is a problem that consumption of electric power is great.
Further, the light radiation detection device is constructed by a pan-tilt device which changes a radiation direction of laser pulses as well as a laser radiation unit and a laser receiving unit which are fixed on the pan-tilt device, wherein the pan-tilt device is fixed in proximity to the visualized object. Therefore, a range of the visualized object is limited by a mounting position of the light radiation detection device, while in the case where multiple visualized objects are subjected to visualization, it is necessary to change the mounting position of the light radiation detection device every time, which is not very handy. Changing of the mounting position of the light radiation detection device having a certain level of weight is very troublesome and is not good in workability.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
This invention is made to solve the aforementioned problems and is provided to achieve objects as follows:
(1) To provide an underwater laser television which is capable of moving an image pickup location with ease;
(2) To provide an underwater laser television which is capable of picking up an image of a visualized object with a good workability;
(3) To provide an underwater laser television which is capable of obtaining an image of a visualized object more clearly;
(4) To provide an underwater laser television which is capable of radiating laser pulses having higher intensity to a visualized object;
(5) To provide an underwater laser visualization device which is capable of changing a radiation direction of laser pulses without using a pan-tilt device of a large size;
(6) To provide an underwater laser visualization device which is capable of moving an image pickup location under water with ease;
(7) To provide an underwater laser visualization device which is capable of picking up an image of a visualized object with a good workability;
(8) To provide an underwater laser visualization device which is capable of obtaining an image of a visualized object more clearly; and
(9) To provide an underwater laser visualization device which is capable of reducing consumption of electric power.
To achieve these objects, as the technical means regarding the underwater television, the present invention employs, in the underwater television that laser pulses output from a laser oscillator are radiated to a visualized object so that reflection light of the laser pulses is detected to display an image of the visualized object, a set of means comprising: a main body which is located under water to have a capability of free movement and to resist water pressure and which is equipped with a light transmission portion that transmits laser pulses and reflection light; a laser oscillator arranged inside of the main body; radiation and light receiving means, arranged inside of the main body, which radiates laser pulses to a visualized object and which detects reflection light to produce video signals of the visualized object; and display means, arranged inside of the main body, which displays an image of the visualized object based on the video signals.
By employing such a set of means, devices which are required to pick up an image of the visualized object and to display the image are provided inside of the main body located under water, so it is very easy to move an image pickup location under water.
In addition, as the technical means regarding the underwater laser visualization device, the present invention employs, in the underwater laser visualization device that radiates laser pulses to a visualized object located under water so as to produce an image of the visualized object based on reflection light of the laser pulses, a construction of a set of means comprising: radiation and light receiving means which radiates laser pulses and which receives the reflection light to produce an image of a visualized object; a light course setting device which sets a course of progression of the laser pulses radiated from the radiation and light receiving means to be identical to a first direction or a second direction that crosses the first direction at a right angle and which sets a course of progression of reflection light, incoming from the first direction or second direction, to be identical to a receiving light axis of the radiation and light receiving means; a pressure-proof vessel which stores the light course setting device and the radiation and light receiving means and which provides first and second light transmission windows that transmit the laser pulses and reflection light, of which courses of progression are set by the light course setting device; mounting means, fixed by a support b
Akizono Junichi
Asatsuma Harukazu
Fujii Ichiro
Hirose Kenzi
Igarashi Hirotoshi
Director General of the 1
Le Vu
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
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