Abstract: A system is provided for semi-active laser designation, the system comprising: a guidance and control system having a plurality of wings disposed at an aerodynamically advantageous angle; a plurality of linear sensor arrays configured to measure location of a target, each the sensor array being disposed on a wing of the plurality of wings; and each the linear sensor array providing independent data to the guidance and control system as to the location of the target.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser based system for protecting a platform against an armament equipped with an optical homing head element, that includes a command and control assembly equipped with an interface to a detection and acquisition system that detects and locates a threatening armament and receives from it a warning about the detection of said threatening armament combined with data relating to it; and a laser source operable by the command and control assembly in order to produce the required energy for jamming the optical head of the threatening armament; and wherein the system is characterized by that it includes in addition a sectarian array of a plurality of end units that are connected unto the laser source for selectively routing laser energy from the source to an end unit that was selected by the command and control assembly as the end unit that is best suited under prevailing conditions for pointing at the threatening armament and attacking it by emitting a laser beam in its directio

Abstract: A method is described for the characterization of atmospheric particles by means of a lidar device. The method provides to send a laser pulse in the atmosphere, a part of which is directly backscattered by the particles in the atmosphere. A reflecting optical device is provided, that is positioned at a predetermined distance d from the lidar device, whereby a part of the laser pulse that directly reaches the reflecting device is backreflected and is later backscattered by the particles in the atmosphere thus generating a counterpropagating backscattering signal directed towards the reflecting device, which signal reaches the reflecting device and is backreflected towards the lidar device. The lidar device detects the direct backscattering and counterpropagating signals. The optical characteristics of the particles are determined on the basis of the direct backscattering signal and the counterpropagating backscattering signal.

Abstract: An audible distance measuring assembly includes a housing that has a front wall and a rear wall. A laser emitter is mounted in the housing and emits laser light outwardly of the front wall. A light detector is mounted in the housing and captures reflected laser light received through a window in the front wall. A processor is mounted in the housing and is electrically coupled to the laser emitter and the light detector. The processor is programmed to determine a distance between the housing an object off of which the laser light is reflected. A measure actuator is mounted on the housing and is electrically coupled to the processor. The measure actuator actuates the laser emitter and the light detector when actuated. A sound emitter is mounted in the housing and is electrically coupled to the processor. The processor is programmed to audibly indicate the distance.

Abstract: A light sensor and light sensing system to detect an intensity of incident light and an angle of incidence of the incident light. The light sensor includes a dielectric layer, a plurality of photo detectors coupled relative to the dielectric layer, and a plurality of stacks of opaque slats embedded within the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is substantially transparent to the incident light. The photo detectors detect the incident light through the dielectric layer. The stacks of opaque slats are approximately parallel to an interface between the dielectric layer and the photo detectors. The stacks of opaque slats define light apertures between adjacent stacks of opaque slats. At least some of the stacks of opaque slats are arranged at a non-zero angle relative to other stacks of the opaque slats.

Abstract: Two charge quantities (Q1,Q2) are output from respective pixels P (m,n) of the back-illuminated distance measuring sensor 1 as signals d?(m,n) having the distance information. Since the respective pixels P (m,n) output signals d?(m,n) responsive to the distance to an object H as micro distance measuring sensors, a distance image of the object can be obtained as an aggregate of distance information to respective points on the object H if reflection light from the object H is imaged on the pickup area 1B. If carriers generated at a deep portion in the semiconductor in response to incidence of near-infrared light for projection are led in a potential well provided in the vicinity of the carrier-generated position opposed to the light incident surface side, high-speed and accurate distance measurement is enabled.

Abstract: A rangefinder calculates Fresnel zones for a location between the rangefinder and a far-end target. Fresnel zone boundaries are calculated at the location. The boundaries are shown in the viewing interface of the rangefinder. Whenever, the Fresnel zone boundary changes, the radius of the Fresnel zone boundary changes accordingly in the viewing interface. The viewing interface enables a user to view obstacles that appear between the rangefinder and the far-end target and are located within the Fresnel zone boundary.

Abstract: Embodiments of a laser imaging system with uniform line illumination and method for generating images are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the laser imaging system includes a polarizer beam splitter to angularly separate an input laser beam into a pair of overlapping cross-polarized beams having a first angular separation therebetween, and a diffraction optic beamlet generator to generate a plurality of beamlets of alternating polarization states with a second angular separation therebetween. The laser imaging system may also include a focal-plane array (FPA) having a field-of-view (FOV) to be illuminated by the plurality of beamlets.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods to produce a high performance, feature rich TOF system, phase-based or otherwise using small TOF pixels, single-ended or preferably differential, as well as TOF systems so designed. IC chip area required for pixels is reduced by intelligently off-loading or removing from within the pixel certain components and/or functionality. In some embodiments during a single TOF system capture period, analog values from each pixel are repeatedly sampled and converted to digital values, which are combined and manipulated on the sensor chip. Combining this plurality of values enables appropriately compact data from the sensor chip. Embodiments of the present invention implement a TOF system with high ambient light resilience, high dynamic range, low motion blur and dealiasing support, while advantageously reducing pixel area size relative to prior art TOF pixels.

Abstract: An optical sensing device includes a shell, at least one light emitting member, a rotating type shading assembly and at least one optical sensing member. The shell is formed with a black-body condition space having a light emitting chamber, a shading chamber and at least one optical sensing chamber. The light emitting member projects a light beam. The rotating type shading assembly includes a pivot and a shading member. The shading member is pivotally connected to the pivot in the shading chamber, and has a weight center offset from the pivot center. When the optical sensing device is tilted, the shading member is rotated to make the weight center located in a lowering azimuth with respect to the pivot. The optical sensing member is arranged in the optical sensing chamber, and senses the light beam to accordingly send out a sensing signal.

Abstract: In order to derive distance information according to the phase measuring principle, a periodic signal with at least two, in particular modulated, wavelengths ?i are transmitted to two or more objects, their reflections are received again and the associated phases ?i are determined and decomposed into their individual object phases ?ij which are assigned to the J objects. In order to resolve phase ambiguities, an ambiguity interval in which at least one object is located is divided into cells (5) with a defined width, with each cell (5) being assigned a counter reading and a distance. The counter reading is incremented for the cells (5) which are assigned to a possible object distance, with the incrementation being carried out for a periodicity sequential variable and for all the phases. An absolute phase or a true object distance Dj from the at least two objects is determined from the distribution of the counter readings.

Abstract: A process for measuring speed or vibration characteristics using a LIDAR device allows the separation of a useful contribution and an interfering contribution in a backscattered signal. To this purpose, a phase characteristic of an optical wave emitted in the direction of a target volume is modulated. The interfering contribution, which originates from a source at a distance from the target volume, appears with variable shifts of said phase characteristic in a heterodyne detection signal. An accumulation then isolates the useful contribution, from which a result is obtained for the speed or vibration measurement. The process can be implemented with a frequency modulation or phase modulation of the optical wave.

Abstract: A vehicle position measurement system (100) and method to determine the (relative) position of a vehicle (110) and an object (120) are proposed. The system comprises at least two light sources (131, 132) capable of emitting light and positioned at a predetermined distance (140) to each other. Furthermore the system comprises at least one detector (150/151, 152) capable of measuring the light emitted. The light emitted by the light sources comprises synchronized light source identification codes. The detector is arranged to determine the position of the vehicle (110) and object (120) on the basis of a phase-difference measurement between the light originating from the individual light sources (131, 132) and a comparison phase. The vehicle (110) may comprise the at least two light sources (131, 132) and the detector (151, 152), while the phase-difference is measured between light reflected from the object (120) and the comparison phase.

Abstract: An optical system of a shape measuring instrument includes a laser diode, a first optical system irradiating an object to be measured with laser beam, a second optical system focusing reflected light from the object to be measured, and a CCD line sensor portion for detecting a laser beam from the second optical system, where the first optical system includes an optical path displacing unit for displacing an optical path for laser beam, the optical path displacing unit includes a glass plate rotating about a rotating axis extending in a direction perpendicular to a displacement plane of the optical path, a rotating unit for the glass plate, and a rotating unit controller, and the rotating unit controller causes a rotation angle of the rotating unit to coincide with a rotation angle of the rotating unit obtained when the maximum value of an amount of light received by the CCD line sensor according to rotation of the rotating unit is measured by the rotating unit controller.

Abstract: A rangefinder. A main body includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The second end includes at least one guide bar. A receiving lens is connected to the first end of the main body. A first adjusting wheel and a second adjusting wheel are rotatably connected to the second end of the main body. A movable board is movably fit on the guide bar of the second end of the main body and is disposed between the first and second adjusting wheels. A receiving member is connected to the movable board, receiving light beams received by the receiving lens. The movable board is moved by rotation of the first and second adjusting wheels, driving the receiving member to move on an optical axis.

Abstract: A device and method for measuring moving material includes a processor and operating software associated therewith; a light source for emitting at least two polarized light beams in a manner wherein the beams cross thereby creating an interference region and generate a set of fringes; a sensor aligned relative to the interference region wherein the fringes have a predetermined orientation to the directional movement of the material and wherein the sensor is operably equipped to receive scattered light emanating from the interference region and provide a time varying signal to the processor such that the processor can manipulate and convert the signal to speed and distance and a polarizing filter operably associating a polarizing filter with one of the sensor and the emitting means in a manner to substantially preclude reflected polarized light from the interference region back to one of the sensor and the emitting source.

Abstract: A multi-plane scanner support system includes a bracket and a mirror block. The bracket is configured to be secured in a fixed orientation with respect to a scanner. And the mirror block is arranged to receive a scanning signal from the scanner and to reflect the scanning signal into a plurality of directions to create multiple scanning planes. The scanner can be a laser scanner. The scanner and multi-plane scanner support system can be attached to a material transport vehicle, for example, to provide safety functions. The vehicle can be manned or unmanned.

Abstract: An optical blind-guide apparatus for detecting an object is provided. The optical blind-guide apparatus includes an illuminant module illuminating the object to form a reflection light from the object; a sensor sensing the reflection light to generate a digital message; a system module receiving and processing the digital message to obtain a blind-guide information; and an output device coupled with the system module and outputting the blind-guide information.

Abstract: A multiple field of view reflective telescope is described herein which has a laser and associated components inserted therein. In addition, a method is described herein for using the multiple field of view reflective telescope to range an object (e.g., target) or to designate-highlight an object (e.g., target).

Abstract: A beacon device includes a control circuitry, a window, and a plurality of sets of illumination sources. The window includes a prismatic structure forming a ring from a planar perspective. The prismatic structure defines an inside surface and an outside surface from the planar perspective. The plurality of sets of illumination sources are coupled to the control circuitry. Each set of illumination sources includes a first illumination source disposed proximal to the inside surface of the prismatic structure and includes a second illumination source disposed proximal to the outside surface of the prismatic structure. The control circuitry is to illuminate a first set of the plurality of sets of illumination sources to transmit a signal in a first direction.