Abstract: A single dual mode monolithic focal plane array having an active sensor and a passive sensing capability is switched from one mode to the other by switching the bias across the cells of the array from a passive IR mode to an active LADAR mode, with the monolithic dual mode focal plane array having applications in missile target seekers and laser target designators. The switching is accomplished by increasing the gain of the array by as much as 30 times that associated with IR detection when laser return pulses are expected. Thus, there need be no mechanical changes to the array to afford both passive IR sensing and an active LADAR pulse detector. Nor need there be two different focal plane arrays, one for IR and one for laser radiation, which leads to boresighted alignment problems.

Abstract: In an angle detecting apparatus and projector using range finder units, range finding calculations are performed in plural directions using line type passive range finders as the range finding units. An average value of inclination angles calculated based on the range finding calculations is selected as the inclination angle. Thus, if one range finding result has an abnormal value, the adverse effects thereof are reduced and the structure is miniaturized.

Abstract: A radiation source position detection system is provided, wherein three radiation detectors are arranged at different positions. Based on radiations incident to each of the radiation detectors, curved surfaces where a radiation source exists are calculated. By solving equations of each of the curved surfaces simultaneously, the position of the radiation source is detected.

Abstract: In the laser range finder, a sending portion that emits laser light to a target and a receiving portion that receives the laser light reflected by the target are supported on a gimbals together with erecting prisms of a binocular optical system, and their attitudes are controlled so as to be secured to an inertial system. This eliminates influence of a shake, and allows accurate aiming at a faraway target and measurement of a distance thereto with high accuracy.

Abstract: A simultaneous dual polarization radar system is disclosed that utilizes a RF power divider to replace the high speed dual polarization switches utilized in current dual polarization radar systems. The disclosed systems allow for transmission and reception in both horizontal and vertical signal modes simultaneously while repositioning critical receiver components above the elevation rotary coupler in a radar pedestal. A bypass switch is also utilized to allow for mode switching of a radar system and a dual polarization reception design is shown to allow for the economical capturing of linear depolarization ratios of selected atmospheric areas. These new designs eliminate the current problems experienced in current dual polarization radar system of long dwell times and velocity range reductions, and the elimination of the relatively expensive and unreliable polarization switch.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for use in the determination of a condition or state of an object based on quasi-elastic interaction between the object and light transmitted to the object, the apparatus comprising a beam splitter arrangement for splitting an incoming light beam of wavelength, ?, into a diffracted light beam and an undiffracted light beam, the beam splitter arrangement comprising a first and a second diffractive member, the first diffractive member transforming the light beam emitted by the light source into the diffracted and the undiffracted light beams, the second diffractive member receiving the diffracted light beam and diffracting the received light beam in a direction substantially parallel to the undiffracted light beam from the first diffractive member, wherein the diffracted light beam, after being diffracted by the second diffractive member, and the undiffracted light beam from the first diffractive member are separated by a distance, d, said distance, d, being depende

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a radio-acoustic sounding system for providing wind measurements at altitudes of 100 meters or less. Wind measurements are obtained by transmitting a pulse of audio frequency energy through one or more volumes corresponding to the coverage area of one or more radio frequency transceivers. The frequency of the audio pulse is selected to have a wavelength that is one-half the wavelength of the electromagnetic energy transmitted by the antenna or antennas. By monitoring a return radio frequency signal at selected times following the transmission of the audio pulse, wind data is obtained at selected altitudes. Wind speed and direction can be obtained by observing the Doppler frequency shift of return radio frequency signals, or by observing the amplitude of the return radio frequency signals.

Abstract: A system and method to build a radar reflectivity forecast mosaic from a collection of radar sites. The radar data from multiple radar sites is processed to create movement information for all of the precipitation areas. The movement information and precipitation areas are then mosaicked in a common geographical framework to create forecasted radar reflectivity mosaics. By using the reflectivity information and movement information from multiple radars, a wider scale, more coherent radar forecast can be generated.

Abstract: A method for determining optical properties of a target, using a plurality of transmitters for transmitting signals at the target, and a plurality of receivers for detecting reflected signals from the target, comprises the steps of: a) transmitting radiation signals with a plurality of wavelengths at the target; b) detecting trace reflected radiation signals from the target; c) modulating the plurality of transmitters with a waveform for generating transmitter modulation codes; d) mixing the transmitter modulation codes with the trace reflected radiation signals to generate total signals; e) transmitting the total signals at the target; f) detecting reflected total signals from the target; g) digitizing the reflected total signals with an analog-digital converter to generate digitized signals; h) integrating the digitized signals with decoding functions to extract individual signals from the total signals; and i) determining the optical properties of the target from the individual signals.

Abstract: An absolute distance measurement device is provided, including reference and measurement laser signal paths, comprising a laser source providing a laser signal and a chopper assembly, comprising a rotatable surface defining at least one aperture provided through a portion of the rotatable surface; wherein the laser signal is directed to different points on the rotatable surface of the chopper assembly such that as the rotatable surface is rotated, the aperture selectively permits transmission and selectively prevents transmission of each of said at least two laser signal paths.

Abstract: A laser distance measuring apparatus, for measuring the distance between objects existing in two directions at least as seen from the apparatus by using laser light, comprises two projectors for projecting laser beams along a specified projection axis toward each one of the objects, a photo detector for receiving reflected light of projection from each object, a distance measurement processor for measuring the distance from a reference point of the apparatus to each object on the basis of the reception signal to the projection by the photo detector, and a distance calculation processor for calculating the distance between the objects on the basis of the distance data measured by the distance measurement processor and the angle formed by two projection axes, in which the projection axis by one projector is variable in angle with respect to the other projector. Therefore, the distance between objects can be measured easily and at high precision by one distance measuring operation only.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for surveying the geometry of tunnels comprising measuring the position of a tunnel surface relative to an absolute three-dimensional coordinate system, using at least one reflectorless distance sensor mounted for orientation in three dimensions and calculating a deviation from a predefined geometry for the surface and displaying said deviation in real time.

Abstract: Electro-optical measurement of distance and motion parameters of a target is obtained with high resolution by employing matched comparators for obtaining differences in arrival times of transmit and receive pulses, and by compensating for time delays introduced by system components.

Abstract: An opto-electronic sensor for the optical detection of objects in a monitored zone. The sensor is coupled to a position measuring device for the production of at least one position detection signal and to an evaluation and control device for the calculation of an actual spatial position, alignment and/or angular position of the sensor using the position detection signal.

Abstract: A pulse radar device includes a VCO that oscillates a carrier wave that has been modulated in frequency, a switch that modulates the carrier wave generated by the VCO to a pulse wave, a transmission antenna that transmits the pulse wave that has been modulated by the switch as an electromagnetic wave, a reception antenna that receives a reflection wave obtained by reflecting the electromagnetic wave that has been transmitted by the transmission antenna by a target substance, a mixer that demodulates the reception signal that has been received by the reception antenna on the basis of the carrier wave that has been generated by the VCO, and a limiter that limits an amplitude of the demodulation signal which has been demodulated by the mixer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of measuring the distance between a fixed point and an object, by the steps of: a) transmitting a light pulse (11) from the fixed point at a selected instant of transmission; b) periodically scanning of light intensity received at the fixed point and continuously storing, as a set of received scanned signal values, the scanned values at the scanning rate during a predetermined measuring time window (13) embracing the instant of reception of the light pulse reflected from the object; c) repeating steps a) and b) N number of times in order to obtain N number of sets of received signal values; d) summing the individual stored sets of received scanned signal values, set by set, to a summed scanned value set during a calculating window (14) following the N measuring time windows (13); e) repeating steps a) through d) in order to obtain a further summed scanning value set, whereby during or following step d) the further summed scanned value set is added, scanned value set by s

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for optical distance measurement, having a emitter unit (12) having a light source (17, 18) emitting modulated optical beam (13, 20, 22) to a target object (15), and having a receiver unit (14), spaced apart from the optical axis (38) of the emitter unit (12) with at least one optical detector (54) for receiving the optical beam (16, 49, 50) returning from the target object (15), and having a control and evaluation unit (36) for ascertaining the distance (48) of the device from the target object (15). It is proposed that the active, light-sensitive face (66, 67, 68, 69) of the detector (54) of the receiver unit (14) narrows in the direction (61) of a beam displacement for decreasing target object distances (48) that is due to the parallax of the returning beam (16).

Abstract: Distance measuring apparatus and method using a pulsed electromagnetic wave for making a high speed precise distance measurement between the apparatus and an object over a small distance. The electromagnetic wave is projected to an object from a single projector to provide a reflected electromagnetic wave from the object that is received by a single receiver also receiving a reference electromagnetic wave branched from the projected electromagnetic wave. The reference-wave reception time at the receiver is delayed by a delay time, so that a first time period between the electromagnetic wave projection time and the reference-wave reception time is longer than a second time period between the projection time and a reflection-wave reception time at the receiver. The distance is determined according to the delay time and the time difference between the reference-wave reception time and the reflection-wave reception time.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed for measuring distances. A measurement device emits a beam that reflects on the surface of an object. The measurement device determines the distance to the object, based on the time of flight of the beam from transmission to capture by the measurement device. The measurement device derives feedback reference pulses from pulses in the emitted beam and injects them into the device's receive path—creating a receive waveform that includes one or more feedback reference pulses and corresponding pulses in the return beam. The device uses the pulses in the waveform to measure time of flight. The measurement device can attenuate the feedback reference pulses to intensities similar or equal to the intensities of the return pulses. The measurement device can include a histogram processor that collects waveform samples at varying comparison thresholds.

Abstract: An antenna assembly suitable for use with a microwave-based level measurement system mounted on a vessel. The antenna assembly includes an installation thread, a shielded extension, and a rod antenna. The antenna assembly is screwed into a threaded portion in the opening of the vessel. The antenna assembly may be formed as a single integral unit molded from a polymer material. The antenna assembly may also be constructed with the installation thread, the shielded extension and the rod antenna comprising individual polymeric components which are welded together to form a unitary assembly. The polymer material is selected based on chemical resistant properties according to the application.