Abstract: Device for laser surveying of an environment A device for surveying an environment by time-of-flight measurement of laser beams reflected therefrom comprises a beam deflection device having at least one mirror surface which can be rotated or oscillated about an axis of rotation which is non-normal to the mirror surface. The device further comprises a first laser transmitter with associated first laser receiver, and a second laser transmitter with associated second laser receiver. The transmission and reception directions of the first and second laser transmitters and receivers lie parallel to one another in pairs and at different angles to the axis of rotation. The first laser receiver is spaced apart from the first laser transmitter and the second laser receiver is spaced apart from the second laser transmitter, in each case in the direction of the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A laser scanner for scanning of an environment, comprising a laser transmitter for transmitting a transmission beam, a laser receiver for receiving the transmission beam reflected by the environment as a receive beam, a beam-deflection device arranged in the beam path of the transmission and receive beams in the form of a mirror pyramid that is rotatable about a rotational axis, and an elongated housing comprising a bottom face, a top face, and a lateral shell which connects said faces, a window for the transmission and receive beams being in the bottom face, wherein the beam-deflection device is adjacent to the window and has a rotational axis oriented in parallel with the bottom face, the laser receiver being arranged close to the top face, and a deflecting mirror being arranged beside the bottom face and deflecting the receive beam from the beam-deflection device onto the laser receiver.

Abstract: An apparatus for surveying an environment comprises a first and at least one further scanning unit each for transmitting a pulse train of laser pulses over successive deflection periods at a pulse repetition rate, wherein the laser pulses falling in each deflection period form, per deflection period, a scanning fan which the laser pulses scan with a predeterminable angular velocity profile, and for receiving the associated laser pulses reflected by the environment. All the scanning fans overlap as seen in the direction of one of the scanning axes. The apparatus further comprises a control device connected to the at least one further scanning unit and configured to pivot the scanning fans of each further scanning unit relative to the scanning fans of an adjacent scanning unit by a pivot angle dependent on the pulse repetition rate and the angular velocity profile, in such a way that their sampling points do not coincide.

Abstract: The present disclosed subject matter relates to a method for measuring the distance of targets in the surroundings by way of a time-of-flight measurement of pulses reflected at said targets, in particular laser pulses, said method comprising: emitting a sequence of transmission pulses having varying pulse intervals, and receiving at least one receive pulse after each one of two different transmission pulses; for each receive pulse: generating a group of M candidate distances, each based on a different transmission pulse among M transmission pulses preceding the receive pulse, wherein each candidate distance is assigned to the corresponding transmission pulse on which it is based; for each candidate distance: determining a weighting value on the basis of at least the closest of the candidate distances assigned to such a transmission pulse which is adjacent to the transmission pulse to which the candidate distance being considered in this determining process is assigned; for each group: selecting the candidate

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to a laser scanner for scanning a ground from a seaborne or airborne vehicle, comprising a scanning unit for emitting a fan-shaped scan pattern made of laser beams fanned out about a scan axis and for receiving the laser beams reflected off the ground and an evaluation unit connected to the scanning unit for evaluating the laser beams that are received. The laser scanner is characterized by a measuring unit that is designed to measure the height of the vehicle above ground, and an actuation device that can be anchored to the vehicle and that is connected to the measuring unit. The actuation device is designed to rotate the fan-shaped scan pattern of the scanning unit with respect to the vehicle about a first actuation axis that is different from the scan axis, depending on the measured height above the ground.

Abstract: A method for measuring distances of targets by measuring the time of flight of pulses, in particular laser pulses, reflected on those targets, including the steps of; transmitting pulses having a pulse interval which varies according to a modulation signal as transmitted pulses, and concomitantly recording of reflected pulses as received pulses; determining a first series of distance measurement values from times of flight between transmitted pulses and those received pulses which are respectively received within a first time window following each transmitted pulse; determining at least a second series of distance measurement values from times of flight between transmitted pulses and those received pulses which are respectively received within a second time window following each transmitted pulse; and determining that series of distance measurement values which is least affected by the modulation signal as result of the distance measurement.

Abstract: Apparatus for measurement of the reception time of a pulse in a receiving system, which contains at least one receiving channel with a non-linear transmission response, which receiving channel produces at its output a received signal, having a memory, in which the received signals of reference pulses with a predetermined different amplitude are available as reference signals with respect to a time scale, and having an evaluation device, which is connected to the receiving system and to the memory and compares a received signal with each reference signal with a variant time offset in order to determine that reference signal and that time offset for which the comparison discrepancy is a minimum, and outputs this time offset as the reception time with respect to the time scale.

Abstract: Method for laser hydrography in which at least one laser beam is emitted from a known location and in a known direction onto the surface of a body of water and through the water onto the bottom of the body of water and measurement points of the water surface and the water bottom in a coordinate system are determined from transit-time measurements of the reflections of the laser beam at the water surface and water bottom, wherein the local inclination of the water surface at an entry point of the laser beam into the body of water is determined from at least three measurement points of the water surface, wherein a local entry angle of the laser beam into the body of water is determined from the local inclination and the known direction of the laser beam, and wherein the measurement point of the water bottom is created as a function of the laser beam direction, the local inclination, and the optical refraction due to the corresponding local entry angle of the laser beam.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus for use in a scanning optical system comprises a laser transmitter to produce a transmitter beam. This transmitter beam is deviated by a beam scanner, e.g. a tiltable mirror, to produce a pattern of a scanning beam. There are bearings which define first and second axes of rotation perpendicular to each other and intersecting each other in an intersecting point for allowing the beam scanner to scan. In front of the beam scanner is a window of transparent material in the shape of a spherical cap so as to define a central axis and a central point. The central axis intersects the intersecting point of the two other axes, and this common intersecting point coincides preferably with the central point of the sphere of the window.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus for use in a scanning optical system comprises a laser transmitter to produce a transmitter beam. This transmitter beam is deviated by a beam scanner, e.g. a tiltable mirror, to produce a pattern of a scanning beam. There are bearings which define first and second axes of rotation perpendicular to each other and intersecting each other in an intersecting point for allowing the beam scanner to scan. In front of the beam scanner is a window of transparent material in the shape of a spherical cap so as to define a central axis and a central point. The central axis intersects the intersecting point of the two other axes, and this common intersecting point coincides preferably with the central point of the sphere of the window.

Abstract: A system for recording an object space has a opto-electronic distance sensor which uses a signal propagation time method, and a transmitter for transmitting optical, signals, as well as a receiver (E) for receiving optical signals, reflected by objects located in the target space. The system comprises a scanner for deflecting optical axes of the transmitter and receiver (S and E). The optical axes of the transmitter and receiver (S and E) for example, are substantially parallel. An evaluation system determines distance values from the propagation time or phase position of the transmittal optical signals, and the space coordinates of the individual data elements result from the distance values and the beam deflection implemented by the scanner. The system comprises a rotary measurement head mounted on a pillow block, and a mirror system fixed relative to the measurement head, which deflects beams axially incident on the hollow shaft in the radial direction and vice versa.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for measuring an object space using an opto-electronic range finder which operates according to a method of determining the time-of-flight of a signal comprise a first measuring step including transmitting optical transmitter signals in form of a beam of a predetermined first divergence angle, receiving optical signals reflected from an object and evaluating a distance value, while scanning the object space. After or before this first take-up step follows a second one wherein reference marks in the object space are taken up with a using an enlarged divergence angle so as to detect reliably the reference marks. The apparatus comprises, accordingly, appropriate devices for varying the divergence angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the recording of an object space with an opto-electronic distance sensor by a signal propagation time method, with a transmitter for transmitting optical signals, in particular those of a laser, and a receiver device for receiving optical signals, in particular laser radiation, which is reflected from objects located in the target space. The distance sensor is combined with a scanning device for deflecting the optical axes of the transmitter and receiver device, and it has an evaluation device, which from the propagation time or phase angle of the optical signal emitted ascertains distance values. Downstream of the scanning device, that is, out of the region oriented toward the distance sensor, part of the beam is split off from the beam path of the transmitter and/or receiver device and is directed to receiver diodes or the like, and from the corresponding signals, a pixel is ascertained and each pixel is assigned a distance value and a space angle.

Abstract: A laser-based target detection system applicable to search and rescue operations takes into account a plurality of optical attributes in the energy delivered to, and received from, a target-containing area. In addition to analyzing the returned optical signature for sufficient energy reflected by a potential target at a primary laser wavelength, the system also senses the target's effect on a supplemental optical attribute. Only when sufficient amplitude at the primary wavelength is detected in conjunction with a substantial effect on the supplemental optical attribute is a valid target confirmed. The supplemental optical attribute can be amplitude at a wavelength other than the primary wavelength, with the system looking for a high degree of attenuation at the non-primary wavelength, or polarization. with the system preferably looking for change of orientation in the return optical signature.