Abstract: A vehicle system includes multiple vehicles which shuttle on linear paths; a reflecting member provided on one end-side of each path; a range finding device measuring, using a laser beam, a distance between a vehicle and the reflecting member; and a communications system including a stationary communications device provided on an other end-side of the traveling path for the traveling vehicle, and performing optical wireless communication; and a mobile communications device attached to the traveling vehicle and performing wireless communication with the stationary communications device.

Abstract: A system and device phase-aligns and sums signals from a very large array of sensors, such as microphones or ultrasonic transducers, without prior knowledge of time delays of signals reaching each sensor, so as to accommodate effects of reverberant fields or acoustic or ultrasonic media containing multiple reflectors or scatterers and/or having heterogeneous, unknown acoustic properties.

Abstract: A device measures three-dimensional coordinates of a target by sending a beam of light to the target and measuring the distance and angles from the device to the target. It further bases the three-dimensional coordinates on bearing compensation values that depend on a number of bearing rotations and a bearing angle.

Abstract: The invention discloses a split row-column addressing method for three-dimensional ultrasound imaging, and the method comprises: for an N×N planar array, obtain the pulse-echo response distribution from fully connected two-dimensional planar array, parameters thereof comprising beam widths A? and B? at ?6 dB and ?20 dB respectively, average side lobe C?, highest side lobe D? and main side-lobe energy ratio E?; set counter K=2, split two-dimensional planar array into K regions in channel direction, determine array elements amount and connect array elements in each region; calculate the time delay according to distance between the coordinates of each region and the focus point within a scanning range of the two-dimensional planar array, and analyze the two-dimensional planar array by ultrasonic sound field simulation algorithm according to the time delay of each region. The invention can solve the prior art of low resolution, and the problem that transmitted and received beam cannot be deflected.

Abstract: A detection apparatus attachable to a structure includes a transmission unit to transmit a transmission signal; a receiving unit to receive a reflection signal of the transmission signal reflected from a detection target; and a detection processing unit to detect the detection target based on the reflection signal. The structure includes a transmission translucent portion and a receiving translucent portion. The transmission signal having a given wavelength range passes through the transmission translucent portion, and the reflection signal having a given wavelength range passes through the receiving translucent portion.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining a broadband high definition reflectivity based image for a geographical area of interest (GAI). The system and method generate a conventional reflectivity image based on acquired seismic data for the GAI, generate a high frequency (HF) velocity model of the GAI based on the acquired seismic data, convert the HF velocity model into a low frequency (LF) reflectivity image, and adaptively merge the LF reflectivity image with the conventional reflectivity image to form the broadband HD reflectivity image of the GAI.

Abstract: In the measuring device and measuring method, confocal measuring principle is utilized. A certain component of an optical measurement signal is, from the point of view of both illumination and imaging, in focus only at one point on the virtual measuring surface. In the measuring device, the surface to be measured always hits a common focus point of the illumination and imaging, whereby a reflection is generated. The reflected optical signal is directed to a detector belonging to the imaging unit, where one picture element of the detector corresponds to a certain focus point, respectively. The optical efficiency received by each picture element is indicated. The light reflecting from the intersection of the virtual measuring surface and the surface of the object produces an intensity maximum for the detector. This maximum point is indicated and converted in the imaging unit (13) into the height of the surface of the object.

Abstract: An aircraft collision warning system includes an optical detection system has a toroidal and conical field of view about the aircraft to detect near objects. The detection system utilizes thermal detection in a passive mode. Optionally, the detection system also includes radio frequency (RF) elements to form a directional radar for improved object detection confidence. The radar is used in either a passive or active mode. The detection system includes a detector array to detect light from the toroidal-shaped and conical-shaped airspace. Data from the detector array is accumulated and analyzed for objects. Upon object detection, the object is tracked, kinetically assessed for collision with the aircraft, and reported to the pilot and/or auto-pilot system. The detection system is configured as a non-cooperative system that stares into the toroidal and conical field of view.

Abstract: A system for fragmenting material includes an energy source, an acoustic transmitter, and a controller. The acoustic transmitter is coupled to the energy source and includes a unit acoustic source configured to emit an acoustic wave through a volume of ground material. The controller is coupled to the acoustic transmitter and is configured to engage the unit acoustic source such that the acoustic wave fractures the volume of ground material at a target location.

Abstract: A detector system is described. The detector system includes imaging optics having a focal plane, and an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) detector. The EMR detector is arranged to receive EMR from the imaging optics, and has a detector axis perpendicular to the focal plane. The EMR detector has a plurality of detector regions arranged progressively along the detector axis. The detector regions are arranged to respectively detect EMR imaged from progressively different object distances from the imaging optics.

Abstract: An optical blade tracking system for a rotary wing aircraft, the system including a light source generating at least one light beam, the light source coupled to a rotor blade of the rotary wing aircraft, wherein movement of the rotor blade is imparted to the light source; a two-dimensional position detector generating signals indicative of a position of the light beam along a first axis and a position of the light beam along a second axis and generating a signal indicative of an angular position of the light beam about a third axis; a processor receiving the signals, the processor determining at least one of lead-lag, flap and pitch of the rotor blade in response to the signals; and a polarizer filter positioned between the light source and the two dimensional position detector, the polarizer filter modulating intensity of the light beam onto the two-dimensional position detector.

Abstract: A LiDAR sensor can include a laser, a directional sensor, a window, an electromagnetic pulse receiving sensor, and a processor. The laser can be configured to emit a narrow electromagnetic pulse. Further, the directional sensor can be configured to measure the direction of the narrow electromagnetic pulse emitted by the laser. The narrow emitted electromagnetic pulse can pass through the window. The pulse can then be reflected by at least the window and an object external from the LiDAR sensor, creating at least two reflected pulses. The electromagnetic pulse receiving sensor can be configured to measure the two reflected pulses resulting from the narrow pulse emitted by the laser. The processor can be configured to receive information from the sensors, indicating a position of the object relative to the LiDAR sensor. Further, the processor can be configured to measure the intensity of the pulse being reflected by the window.

Abstract: An accelerometer. At least some of the example embodiments include an accelerometer having a first piezoelectric element having a first polarization, the first piezoelectric element defining an upper surface and a second piezoelectric element having a second polarization, the second piezoelectric element defines a lower surface parallel to the upper surface of the first piezoelectric element; the first polarization being aligned with the second polarization. The accelerometer further includes a first mounting plate that defines a first aperture, the first and second piezoelectric elements extending through the first aperture such that the first mounting plate transects the first and second piezoelectric elements. The piezoelectric elements define a first cantilever portion on a first side of the first mounting plate, and the piezoelectric elements define a second cantilever portion on a second side of the first mounting plate opposite the first side.

Abstract: A micro geophone having pole pieces do not extend out around the sides of the magnet, thereby allowing a reduced geophone diameter for a given magnet diameter. The pole pieces are adhesively bonded to the magnet using an adhesive, which may be made suitably electrically conductive by silver or nickel fillers or non-conductive by mica fillers such as borosilicate glass micro-spheres. Axial space is economized by eliminating traditional spider retaining rings. The spider springs are seated directly against the coil form and secured by adhesive fillets disposed on the outward-facing spring circumferences. The spider springs include circumferential notches to receive adhesive. A two-piece bimetallic coil form of aluminum and a heavier material, joined by adhesive, is provided. Headers are affixed to the housing within the seats by adhesive. A straight or rounded chamfer at each of the geophone ends allows the overall geophone dimensions to be maximized.

Abstract: A detection apparatus and method for FMCW LIDAR employ signals that are modified so that low-cost and low-speed photodetector arrays, such as CCD or CMOS cameras, can be employed for range detection. The LIDAR is designed to measure the range to one or more targets and includes a single mode swept frequency laser (SFL), whose optical frequency is varied with time, as a result of which, a target beam which is reflected back by the one or more targets is shifted in frequency from a reference beam by an amount that is proportional to the relative range to the one or more targets. The reflected target beam(s) is/are combined with the reference beam and detected by the photodetector array. In the case of a sparse number of targets to be detected, Compressive Sensing (CS) techniques can be employed by a processor to reduce the number of measurements necessary to determine the range of each target.

Abstract: A three dimensional imaging camera comprises a system controller, pulsed laser transmitter, receiving optics, an infrared focal plane array light detector, and an image processor. The described invention is capable of developing a complete 3-D scene from a single point of view. The 3-D imaging camera utilizes a pulsed laser transmitter capable of illuminating an entire scene with a single high power flash of light. The 3-D imaging camera employs a system controller to trigger a pulse of high intensity light from the pulsed laser transmitter, and counts the time from the start of the transmitter light pulse. The light reflected from the illuminated scene impinges on a receiving optics and is detected by a focal plane array optical detector. An image processor applies image enhancing algorithms to improve the image quality and develop object data for subjects in the field of view of the flash ladar imaging camera.

Abstract: Circuits, systems and methods that utilize two transducers, of which at least one is a piezoelectric transducer, adapted and coupled to receive and/or generate signals in the forms of sound waves, mechanical vibrations, and/or electromagnetic energy. In one version, two transducers each receive and/or generate separate vibrational energy signals that bear information. Two or more transducers coupled to a switching circuit may send or receive piezo-electrical circuit output signals that include a carrier wave having different frequencies that are within separate frequency ranges. Two or more transducers may generate output signals that are simultaneously processed by or multiplexed by a switching circuit.

Abstract: A plurality of lasers produces a lattice of projected points. A sensor system detects movement in the projected points in response to an incoming wave.

Abstract: A time-of-flight camera system includes a photosensor having at least one receiving pixel and a source of illumination. A modulator is configured to provide a modulation signal to the photosensor and to the source of illumination. A control sensor is connected to at least one reference light source or an electric mixer. The control sensor is disposed in a vicinity of the source of illumination such that the control sensor receives at least a portion of the radiation emitted by the source of illumination. The control sensor is configured to provide an electric output signal that substantially matches an intensity-over-time curve of the received radiation.

Abstract: A technique facilitates use of a seismic source when deployed in-sea via a vessel. Shock levels acting on the vessel (or other body) due to firing of a seismic source and/or the separation distance of the seismic source from the vessel may be monitored during firing of the seismic source. The data is relayed to a control system which may be used to adjust operation of the seismic source when the shock levels acting on the vessel and/or the separation distance between the vessel and the seismic source cross a predetermined threshold.