US5034810A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Two wavelength in-situ imaging of solitary internal waves
Assignee: Kaman Aerospace Corp
•
Filing: 1989-12-07
•
Granted: 1991-07-23
•
Expires: 2009-12-07
Abstract
Abstract A two wavelength lidar imaging system for underwater applications is presented which employs image subtraction. More specifically, a two wavelength lidar system is presented wherein two substantially simultaneously timed laser pulses of different wavelengths are emitted and are expanded by optics to illuminate the water below. A framing camera is then gated to receive light reflected or scattered back from the water. The light backscattered is filtered through narrow pass filters before it is recorded at the gated cameras. A specific application is disclosed in which the lidar imaging system is used to detect the passage of internal waves or other anomalies appearing in the ocean.
Inventors
- 👤 R. Norris Keeler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 03:29
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/88; G01S17/89; G01S7/00; G01S7/48; G01S7/483; G01S7/484; H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/23; H01S3/2383
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water including the steps of: selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths; projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume, said pulses being detected using at least one gated camera means; converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; and subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water including the steps of: selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths; projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume, said pulses being detected using at least one gated camera means; converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; and subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: said pulses of light are generated by a single laser pumped in series to define a pair of output pulses being spaced apart and being comprised of said two different and distinct wavelengths; and said reflected pair of output pulses being detected by two camera means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: said pulses of light are generated by a pair of pulsed lasers, each of said lasers delivering one of said two different wavelengths of light to define a pair of output pulses having said two different wavelengths; and said reflected pair of output pulses being detected by a single camera means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: said pulses of light having two different wavelengths are generated simultaneously.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: said pulses of light having two different wavelengths are spaced apart by a preselected time period.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 5 wherein: said preselected time period is about one microsecond.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: one of the different wavelengths is the wavelength corresponding to the hingepoint and the other wavelength is a wavelength below the Jerlov minimum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: the two different wavelengths are located on either side of the Jerlov minimum.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of detecting and imaging internal waves below the surface of a body of water including the steps of: selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths; projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume, said pulses being detected using at least one gated camera means; converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; and subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of internal waves below the surface of the water.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of detecting and imaging internal waves below the surface of a body of water including the steps of: selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths; projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume, said pulses being detected using at least one gated camera means; converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; and subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of internal waves below the surface of the water.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water comprising: generating means for selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths; projecting means for projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; gated camera means for detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting means for converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; and subtracting means for subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water comprising: generating means for selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths; projecting means for projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; gated camera means for detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting means for converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; and subtracting means for subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein: said generating means comprises a single laser pumped in series to define a pair of output pulses being spaced apart and being comprised of said two different wavelengths; and said detecting means comprises two camera means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein: said generating means comprises a pair of pulsed lasers, each of said lasers delivering one of said two different wavelengths of light to define a pair of output pulses having two different wavelengths; and said detecting means comprises a single camera means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein: said generating means generates said pulses of light having two different wavelengths simultaneously.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein: said generating means generates said pulses of light having two different wavelengths by a preselected spaced apart time period.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein: said preselected time period is about one microsecond.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein: one of the different wavelengths is the wavelength corresponding to the hingepoint and the other wavelength is a wavelength below the Jerlov minimum.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein: the two different wavelengths are located on either side of the Jerlov minimum.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 10 including: notch filter means for receiving said reflected light pulses and passing said pulses to said detecting means.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water including the steps of: selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths; projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water; and wherein said pulses of light are generated by a single laser pumped in series to define a pair of output pulses being spaced apart and being comprised of said two different wavelengths; and wherein said reflected pair of output pulses being detected by two camera means.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water including the steps of: selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths; projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water; and wherein said pulses of light are generated by a single laser pumped in series to define a pair of output pulses being spaced apart and being comprised of said two different wavelengths; and wherein said reflected pair of output pulses being detected by two camera means.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water including the steps of: selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths, said pulses of light having two different wavelengths being generated simultaneously; projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water including the steps of: selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths, said pulses of light having two different wavelengths being generated simultaneously; projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water including the steps of: selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths, said pulses of light having two different wavelengths being spaced apart by a preselected time period; projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water including the steps of: selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths, said pulses of light having two different wavelengths being spaced apart by a preselected time period; projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 21 wherein: said preselected time period is about one microsecond.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water including the steps of: selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths wherein one of the different wavelengths is the wavelength corresponding to the hingepoint and the other wavelength is a wavelength below the Jerlov minimum; projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water including the steps of: selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths wherein one of the different wavelengths is the wavelength corresponding to the hingepoint and the other wavelength is a wavelength below the Jerlov minimum; projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water including the steps of: selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths wherein the two different wavelengths are located on either side of the Jerlov minimum; projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water including the steps of: selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths wherein the two different wavelengths are located on either side of the Jerlov minimum; projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
168 words
An apparatus for detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water comprising: generating means for selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths; projecting means for projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting means for detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting means for converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting means for subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water; wherein said generating means comprises a single laser pumped in series to define a pair of output pulses being spaced apart and being comprised of said two different wavelengths; and said detecting means comprises two camera means.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
168 words
An apparatus for detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water comprising: generating means for selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths; projecting means for projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting means for detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting means for converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting means for subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water; wherein said generating means comprises a single laser pumped in series to define a pair of output pulses being spaced apart and being comprised of said two different wavelengths; and said detecting means comprises two camera means.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water comprising: generating means for selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths, said generating means generating said pulses of light having two different wavelengths simultaneously; projecting means for projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting means for detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting means for converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting means for subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water comprising: generating means for selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths, said generating means generating said pulses of light having two different wavelengths simultaneously; projecting means for projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting means for detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting means for converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting means for subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
150 words
An apparatus for detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water comprising: generating means for selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths, said generating means generating said pulses of light having two different wavelengths by a preselected spaced apart time period; projecting means for projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting means for detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting means for converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting means for subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
150 words
An apparatus for detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water comprising: generating means for selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths, said generating means generating said pulses of light having two different wavelengths by a preselected spaced apart time period; projecting means for projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting means for detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting means for converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting means for subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein: said preselected time period is about one microsecond.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water comprising: generating means for selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths wherein one of the different wavelengths is the wavelength corresponding to the hingepoint and the other wavelength is a wavelength below the Jerlov minimum; projecting means for projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting means for detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting means for converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting means for subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water comprising: generating means for selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths wherein one of the different wavelengths is the wavelength corresponding to the hingepoint and the other wavelength is a wavelength below the Jerlov minimum; projecting means for projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting means for detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting means for converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting means for subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water comprising: generating means for selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths wherein the two different wavelengths are located on either side of the Jerlov minimum; projecting means for projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting means for detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting means for converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting means for subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water comprising: generating means for selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths wherein the two different wavelengths are located on either side of the Jerlov minimum; projecting means for projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting means for detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; converting means for converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting means for subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water comprising: generating means for selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths; projecting means for projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting means for detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; notch filter means for receiving said reflected light pulses and passing said pulses to said detecting means; converting means for converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting means for subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for detecting and imaging anomalies below the surface of a body of water comprising: generating means for selectively generating short pulses of light having at least two different wavelengths; projecting means for projecting said short pulses of two different wavelengths of light toward the water and at a selected volume within the water; detecting means for detecting said pulses of two different wavelengths of light reflected back from said volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said volume; notch filter means for receiving said reflected light pulses and passing said pulses to said detecting means; converting means for converting said detected pulses of light to two video images of said volume; subtracting means for subtracting said two video images from one another to provide a video image of anomalies below the surface of the water.
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