Abstract: Method/system locate external articles using source, detector (PSD), entrance aperture, and magnifying/reducing afocal element—expanding FOR>90°, or refining precision. Between (1) source or detector and (2) aperture, at least one plural-axis-rotatable mirror addresses source/detector throughout FOR. ½- to 15-centimeter mirror enables ˜25 to ˜45 ?radian beam divergence. Aperture, afocal element, and mirror(s) define source-detector path. Mirror(s) rotate in refractory- (or air/magnetic-) bearing mount; or mirror array. Auxiliary optics illuminate mirror back, monitoring return to measure (null-balance feedback) angle. To optimize imaging, auxiliary radiation propagates via splitters toward array (paralleling measurement paths), then focusing on imaging detector. Focal quality is developed as a PSF, optimized vs. angle; stored results later recover optima. Mirror drive uses magnet(s) on mirror(s). “Piston” motion yields in-phase wavefronts, so array dimensions set diffraction limit.

Abstract: A light beam is detected/localized by multisector detector—quad-cell, or 5+ sectors handling plural beams. Preferences: Beams focus to diffraction limit on the detector, which reveals origin direction by null-balance—shifting spots to a central sector junction, and measuring shifts to reach there. One or more MEMS reflectors, and control system with programmed processor(s), sequence the spot toward center: following a normal to an intersector boundary; then along the boundary. One afocal optic amplifies MEMS deflections; another sends beams to imaging optics. After it's known which sector received a spot, and the beam shifts, source direction is reported. The system can respond toward that (or a related) direction. It can illuminate objects, generating beams reflectively. Optics define an FOR in which to search; other optics define an FOV (narrower), for imaging spots onto the detector. The FOR:FOV angular ratio is on order of ten—roughly 180:20°, or 120:10°.

Abstract: ASICs or like fabrication-preprogrammed hardware provide controlled power and recovery signals to a computing system that is made up of commercial, off-the-shelf components—and that has its own conventional hardware and software fault-protection systems, but these are vulnerable to failure due to external and internal events, bugs, human malice and operator error. The computing system preferably includes processors and programming that are diverse in design and source. The hardware infrastructure uses triple modular redundancy to test itself as well as the computing system, and to remove failed elements—powering up and loading data into spares. The hardware is very simplified in design and programs, so that bugs can be thoroughly rooted out. Communications between the protected system and the hardware are protected by very simple circuits with duplex redundancy.

Abstract: When errors arise in a computing system that has plural modules, this invention corrects those errors. In the first instance, the invention excludes the computing system itself, but receives error messages from the plural modules of that system—along plural receiving connections, respectively. Plural sending connections return corrective responses to plural modules of that system, respectively. In a second instance, the invention further incorporates that system. The invention is hierarchical: plural levels or tiers of apparatus and function are present—a first (typically uppermost) one directly serving that system as described above, and others (lower) that analogously serve the first tier of the invention—and then also the subsequent tiers, in a cascading or nested fashion, down to preferably a bottom-level tier supporting all the upper ones. Each level preferably controls power interruption and restoration to higher levels. Ideally the hierarchy is in the form of a “system on chip”.

Abstract: A lidar pulse is time resolved in ways that avoid costly, fragile, bulky, high-voltage vacuum devices—and also costly, awkward optical remappers or pushbroom layouts—to provide preferably 3D volumetric imaging from a single pulse, or full-3D volumetric movies. Delay lines or programmed circuits generate time-resolution sweep signals, ideally digital. Preferably, discrete 2D photodiode and transimpedance-amplifier arrays replace a continuous 1D streak-tube cathode. For each pixel a memory-element array forms range bins. An intermediate optical buffer with low, well-controlled capacitance avoids corruption of input signal by these memories.

Abstract: A system and method for unobtrusively and noninvasively subjecting a living subject to tests for the purpose of determining whether that subject is truthful or is under stress, or both. A series of radiation pulses, preferably infrared laser pulses, is directed by a lidar transceiver toward the subject—which returns (e.g. reflects or scatters) the pulses back to the transceiver, which time-resolves that return to segregate and isolate phenomena at, within or in front of the subject's skin. The transceiver is connected to an information processing device capable of determining various physiological characteristics exhibited by the subject in these several regions, respectively. A display associated with the processor visually indicates these physiological characteristics.

Abstract: An afocal beam system corrects excess diffraction from phase error in microelectromechanical mirror offsets. One invention aspect interposes an opposing phase difference, between rays reflected at adjacent mirrors, varying the difference with mirror angle to make it roughly an integral number of waves. Mirror-array (not one-mirror) dimensions limit diffraction. Another aspect sharpens by generating and postprocessing signals to counteract phase difference. A third has, in the optical path, a nonlinear phase-shift device introducing a phase shift, optically convolves that shift with others from mirrors, then deconvolves to extract unshifted signals. A fourth varies mirror position in piston as a function of mirror angle to hold phase difference to an integral number of waves. A fifth aspect has, in the path, at least one delay element—whose delay varies as a function of mirror angle. A sixth has another mirror array in series with the first, matching their angles to introduce opposing phase difference.

Abstract: A detector and aperture determine radiation characteristics, including angular direction throughout a specified range, of external articles. Preferably an afocal aperture element enlarges/reduces the article and volume FOR. Mirror(s) along a path between detector and aperture, rotatable about plural axes, make the detector address varying regions. Preferably each mirror is MEMS, exceeding five to thirty microns. The detector “sees” articles throughout the range, at constant magnification. Other aspects rotate magnetically controlled dual-axis MEMS mirrors, each with electrical coils opposed across an axis, and anther magnet whose field interacts with coil-current fields, generating force components: one includes oppositely directed forces, torquing the mirrors; another thrusts mirrors outward from the array rest plane, causing variable “piston”. Alternatively, other forces pull mirror(s) outward—and the second component attracts them inward.

Abstract: A light beam is detected/localized by multisector detector—quad-cell, or 5+ sectors handling plural beams. Preferences: Beams focus to diffraction limit on the detector, which reveals origin direction by null-balance—shifting spots to a central sector junction, and measuring shifts to reach there. One or more MEMS reflectors, and control system with programmed processor(s), sequence the spot toward center: following a normal to an intersector boundary; then along the boundary. One afocal optic amplifies MEMS deflections; another sends beams to imaging optics. After it's known which sector received a spot, and the beam shifts, source direction is reported. The system can respond toward that (or a related) direction. It can illuminate objects, generating beams reflectively. Optics define an FOR in which to search; other optics define an FOV (narrower), for imaging spots onto the detector. The FOR:FOV angular ratio is on order of ten—roughly 180:20°, or 120:10°.

Abstract: The system and method relate to detection of objects that are submerged, or partially submerged (e.g. floating), relative to a water surface. One aspect of the invention emits LIDAR fan-beam pulses and analyzes return-pulse portions to determine water-surface orientations and derive submerged-object images corrected for refractive distortion. Another defines simulated images of submerged objects as seen through waves in a water surface, prepares an algorithm for applying a three-dimensional image of the water surface in refractive correction of LIDAR imaging through waves—and also models application of the algorithm to the images, and finally specifies the LIDAR-system optics. Yet another emits nearly horizontal pulses to illuminate small exposed objects at tens of kilometers, detects reflected portions and images successive such portions with a streak-tube subsystem. Still others make special provisions for airborne objects.

Abstract: The system and method relate to detection of objects that are submerged, or partially submerged (e.g. floating), relative to a water surface. One aspect of the invention emits LIDAR fan-beam pulses and analyzes return-pulse portions to determine water-surface orientations and derive submerged-object images corrected for refractive distortion. Another defines simulated images of submerged objects as seen through waves in a water surface, prepares an algorithm for applying a three-dimensional image of the water surface in refractive correction of LIDAR imaging through waves—and also models application of the algorithm to the images, and finally specifies the LIDAR-system optics. Yet another emits nearly horizontal pulses to illuminate small exposed objects at tens of kilometers, detects reflected portions and images successive such portions with a streak-tube subsystem. Still others make special provisions for airborne objects.

Abstract: Pushbroom and flash lidar operations outside the visible spectrum, most preferably in near-IR but also in IR and UV, are enabled by inserting—ahead of a generally conventional lidar receiver front end—a device that receives light scattered from objects and in response forms corresponding light of a different wavelength from the scattered light. Detailed implementations using arrays of discrete COTS components—most preferably PIN diodes and VCSELs, with intervening semicustom amplifiers—are discussed, as is use of a known monolithic converter. Differential and ratioing multispectral measurements, particularly including UV data, are enabled through either spatial-sharing (e. g. plural-slit) or time-sharing.

Abstract: Plural electronic or optical images are provided in a streak optical system, as for instance by use of plural slits instead of the conventional single slit, to obtain a third, fourth etc. dimension—rather than only the conventional two, namely range or time and azimuth. Such additional dimension or dimensions are thereby incorporated into the optical information that is to be streaked and thereby time resolved. The added dimensions may take any of an extremely broad range of forms, including wavelength, polarization state, or one or more spatial dimensions—or indeed virtually any optical parameter that can be impressed upon a probe beam. Resulting capabilities remarkably include several new forms of lidar spectroscopy, fluorescence analysis, polarimetry, spectropolarimetry, and combinations of these.

Abstract: Several systems and a method are taught for rapid modulation of a light beam in lidar and other imaging. Most of these involve micromechanical and other very small control components. One such unit is a light-switching fabric, based on displacement of liquid in a tube that crosses a junction of two optical waveguides. In some forms, the fabric is preferably flexible to enable folding or coiling to form a two-dimensional face that interacts with optical-fiber ends an opposed fiber bundle. The rapid operation of the switch fabric enables it to be used as a beam-splitter, separating incoming and return beams; and also to form pulses from supplied CW light. Other control components include micromechanical mirrors (e. g. MEMS mirrors) operated in arrays or singly, liquid-crystal devices, and other controlled-birefringence cells. Some of these devices are placed within an optical system for directional light-beam steering.

Abstract: CDE is measured for each nozzle array, to enable modification of a mapping between input image data and intended printing marks to compensate for the CDE. Printing proceeds using the modified mapping, which is either an optical-density transformation of data to printing marks or a spatial-resolution relation between image data and intended pixel grid. The density transformation preferably includes a dither mask (but can be error-diffusion thresholding instead); the resolution relation includes scaling of image data to pixel grid. For some invention forms, CDE includes printing-density defects, measured and used to derive a correction pattern—in turn used to modify halftone thresholding. For other forms CDE includes swath-height error, but still this is measured and used to derive a correction pattern etc. For still other forms, however, CDE includes swath-height error and correction takes the form of scaling.

Abstract: Conventional obstacles to entry and survival of small graphic-arts service providers are softened—particularly for those businesses that operate as computerized “ASP” enterprises involving wide-area networks—by encouraging small operators to coexist effectively in use of a pivotal network-based service. One key mechanism promoting this capability is a system of optionally mutual links between the pivotal service and the ASPs. The service also counteracts a tendency in the industry to favor wastefully redundant vertical integration. On the other hand, the system also implements the prerogatives of an enterprise (such as a printing-broker ASP) that has an established customer, to closely channel the attention of that customer—but subject, importantly, to being overruled by the customer. Ideally the system is carefully tuned to enable such customer action without unduly pressing the option upon the customer.

Abstract: In preferred forms of the invention an array of MEMS mirrors or small mirrors inside an optical system operates closed-loop. These mirrors direct external source light, or internally generated light, onto an object—and detect light reflected from it onto a detector that senses the source. Local sensors measure mirror angles relative to the system. Sensor and detector outputs yield source location relative to the system. One preferred mode drives the MEMS mirrors, and field of view seen by the detector, in a raster, collecting a 2-D or 3-D image of the scanned region. Energy reaching the detector can be utilized to analyze object characteristics, or with an optional active distance-detecting module create 2- or 3-D images, based on the object's reflection of light back to the system. In some applications, a response can be generated. The invention can detect sources and locations for various applications.

Abstract: Plural electronic or optical images are provided in a streak optical system, as for instance by use of plural slits instead of the conventional single slit, to obtain a third, fourth, etc. dimension—rather than only the conventional two, namely range or time and azimuth. Such additional dimension or dimensions are thereby incorporated into the optical information that is to be streaked and thereby time resolved. The added dimensions may take any of an extremely broad range of forms, including wave-length, polarization state, or one or more spatial dimensions—or indeed virtually any optical parameter that can be impressed upon a probe beam. Resulting capabilities remarkably include several new forms of lidar spectroscopy, fluorescence analysis, polarimetry, spectropolarimetry, and combinations of these, as well as a gigahertz wavefront sensor.

Abstract: When condition of a printing element (e.g. inkjet nozzle) changes, essentially full mask rows invoking the element are redone from scratch, best so as to fully satisfy pixel-grid neighbor conditions. This is faster than redoing a whole mask as in prior popup or precook /reheat methods, and yields better printouts than prior row-by-row mask revision (e.g. directly replacing a weak nozzle by a good one across whole rows). This method is best independent of prior mask versions, and uses no prebuilt matrix of backup/alternate entries. The number of rows redone is typically 7% to 14% below a nominal/baseline value.