Patent US2606202A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5450125A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Spectrally dispersive imaging lidar system
Assignee: Kaman Aerospace Corp
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Filing: 1993-06-25
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Granted: 1995-09-12
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Expires: 2013-06-25
Abstract
Abstract An imaging UV/visible fluorosensing and Raman lidar system comprises an optical sensor for simultaneously measuring temporally, spatially and spectrally resolved laser backscatter from on the land, on or beneath the surface of bodies of water and in the atmosphere and utilizes "active" interrogation or "passive" interrogation for remotely and non-destructively probing the spectrally-dependent optical properties of a scene. In the "active" mode, the optical sensor of this invention comprises a transmitter (preferably a tunable solid state laser) which emits pulses of coherent light through a variable or adjustable field-of-view telescope whereupon the light pulses are then propagated towards a scene (e.g., land, sea or atmosphere). Thereafter, laser backscatter is collected by a second variable field-of-view telescope and directed to an imaging system and spectrally dispersive optical subsystem.
Inventors
- 👤 Bobby L. Ulich
- 👤 Duane Smith
- 👤 R. Norris Keeler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:32
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/28; G01J3/2823; G01J3/44; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/65; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/02; G01S17/88; G01S17/89; G01S7/00; G01S7/48; G01S7/481; G01S7/4811; G01S7/483; G01S7/484; G01N2021/653; G01N2021/655; G01N21/645; G01N21/6456
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for detecting and imaging a target volume enveloped by a backscattering medium which is at least partially transmitting to light comprising the steps of: selectively generating short pulses of light using laser transmitter means; projecting said short pulses of light through a first variable field-of-view telescope toward the backscattering medium and at a target volume enveloped by the medium; receiving said pulses of light through a second variable field of view telescope backscattered from said target volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said target volume using receiver means; converting said received pulses of light to a video image of said target defining a target volume image, said target volume image having an image intensity pattern associated therewith; and scanning the wavelength of the laser transmitter means to identify the wavelength-dependent differences in said image intensity pattern to thereby improve said video image of said target volume image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for detecting and imaging a target volume enveloped by a backscattering medium which is at least partially transmitting to light comprising the steps of: selectively generating short pulses of light using laser transmitter means; projecting said short pulses of light through a first variable field-of-view telescope toward the backscattering medium and at a target volume enveloped by the medium; receiving said pulses of light through a second variable field of view telescope backscattered from said target volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said target volume using receiver means; converting said received pulses of light to a video image of said target defining a target volume image, said target volume image having an image intensity pattern associated therewith; and scanning the wavelength of the laser transmitter means to identify the wavelength-dependent differences in said image intensity pattern to thereby improve said video image of said target volume image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: said laser transmitter means has an operating wavelength and includes means for tuning said operating wavelength.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of: maintaining the field-of-view in each of said first and second telescopes as equal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said scanning step is controlled by at least one of the wavelength controlling means selected from the group consisting of harmonic generator means, Raman shifter means and optical parameter oscillator means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first variable field-of-view telescope and said second variable field-of-view telescope are the same.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
169 words
An apparatus for detecting and imaging a target volume enveloped by a backscattering medium which is at least partially transmitting to light comprising: laser transmitting means for selectively generating short pulses of light; means for projecting said short pulses of light toward the backscattering medium and at a target volume enveloped by the medium, said means for projecting including a first variable field-of-view telescope; means for receiving said pulses of light backscattered from said target volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said target volume, said means for receiving including a second variable field-of-view telescope; means for converting said received pulses of light to a video image of said target defining a target volume image, said target volume image having an image intensity pattern associated therewith; and means for scanning the wavelength of the laser transmitter means to identify the wavelength-dependent differences in said image intensity pattern to thereby improve said video image of said target volume image.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
169 words
An apparatus for detecting and imaging a target volume enveloped by a backscattering medium which is at least partially transmitting to light comprising: laser transmitting means for selectively generating short pulses of light; means for projecting said short pulses of light toward the backscattering medium and at a target volume enveloped by the medium, said means for projecting including a first variable field-of-view telescope; means for receiving said pulses of light backscattered from said target volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said target volume, said means for receiving including a second variable field-of-view telescope; means for converting said received pulses of light to a video image of said target defining a target volume image, said target volume image having an image intensity pattern associated therewith; and means for scanning the wavelength of the laser transmitter means to identify the wavelength-dependent differences in said image intensity pattern to thereby improve said video image of said target volume image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein: said laser transmitter means has an operating wavelength and includes means for tuning said operating wavelength.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for scanning is controlled by at least one of the wavelength controlling means selected from the group consisting of harmonic generator means, Raman shifter means and optical parameter oscillator means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for detecting and imaging a target volume enveloped by a backscattering medium which is at least partially transmitting to light comprising: laser transmitting means for selectively generating short pulses of light; means for projecting said short pulses of light toward the backscattering medium and at a target volume enveloped by the medium, said means for projecting including a variable field-of-view telescope; means for receiving said pulses of light backscattered from said target volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said target volume, said means for receiving including said variable field-of-view telescope; means for converting said received pulses of light to a video image of said target defining a target volume image, said target volume image having an image intensity pattern associated therewith; and means for scanning the wavelength of the laser transmitter means to identify the wavelength-dependent differences in said image intensity pattern to thereby improve said video image of said target volume image.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for detecting and imaging a target volume enveloped by a backscattering medium which is at least partially transmitting to light comprising: laser transmitting means for selectively generating short pulses of light; means for projecting said short pulses of light toward the backscattering medium and at a target volume enveloped by the medium, said means for projecting including a variable field-of-view telescope; means for receiving said pulses of light backscattered from said target volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said target volume, said means for receiving including said variable field-of-view telescope; means for converting said received pulses of light to a video image of said target defining a target volume image, said target volume image having an image intensity pattern associated therewith; and means for scanning the wavelength of the laser transmitter means to identify the wavelength-dependent differences in said image intensity pattern to thereby improve said video image of said target volume image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein: said laser transmitter means has an operating wavelength and includes means for tuning said operating wavelength.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for scanning is controlled by at least one of the wavelength controlling means selected from the group consisting of harmonic generator means, Raman shifter means and optical parameter oscillator means.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-09-11 | 1999-03-13 | 1999-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-11 | 2003-03-13 | 2003-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-11 | 2007-03-13 | 2007-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |