Patents Examined by Stephen C. Buczinski
  • Patent number: 6618128
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining the rotational speed of an object returning diffuse reflections where no reflective singularity exists on the object or no clearly distinct light pulse is produced. A light source illuminates a target area on the object. An optical system receives the reflected light, selectively filters by wavelength, and focuses the light on a detector for signal processing. The reflected light signals may be a series of complex patterns that repeat once per revolution. A Fourier Transform with additional processing enhancements is performed on the signals and used as a basis to calculate the speed of the object The signal processing may be automated, resulting in a speed (RPM) solution being displayed for the operator of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: CSI Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Brent Van Voorhis, James C. Robinson, Jason E. Hillard
  • Patent number: 6618132
    Abstract: This small, inexpensive, non-contact laser sensor can detect the location of a retroreflective target in a relatively large volume and up to six degrees of position. The tracker's laser beam is formed into a plane of light which is swept across the space of interest. When the beam illuminates the retroreflector, some of the light returns to the tracker. The intensity, angle, and time of the return beam is measured to calculate the three dimensional location of the target. With three retroreflectors on the target, the locations of three points on the target are measured, enabling the calculation of all six degrees of target position. Until now, devices for three-dimensional tracking of objects in a large volume have been heavy, large, and very expensive. Because of the simplicity and unique characteristics of this tracker, it is capable of three-dimensional tracking of one to several objects in a large volume, yet it is compact, light-weight, and relatively inexpensive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventor: Charles S. Vann
  • Patent number: 6618133
    Abstract: An improved, low-cost optical transmitter and method useful in a three-dimensional measurement system wherein a plurality of operational parameters of said transmitter are calibrated during manufacture/assembly process to generate unique calibration data for each optical transmitter including data defining angles of each transmitter's first and second radiant fan beams and the angle between the beams when the transmitter is leveled for operation in the system and wherein a detector/receiver in the system distinguishes between radiant beams from a plurality of individual transmitters operable within a given measurement field as a function of the selectively alterable rotational velocity calibration data for each of said transmitters and wherein said angular calibration data for each transmitter is operationally available to each detector/receiver operable in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Arc Second, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Hedges, Scott Casteel, Thomas Cuff, Timothy Pratt, Rick Slater, Donald Todd
  • Patent number: 6614510
    Abstract: An optical system is formed of a plurality of optical sources and components of different laser-based equipment systems. The sources and/or components may be combined and/or eliminated to reduce complexity, cost and/or overall weight of the system by consolidating multiple laser sources into a reduced number of sources, and by multiplexing different wavelength signals over common carriers. A laser engagement system and an infrared aim light (or infrared illuminator) are powered by a single laser source which is adopted for use with conventional equipment by lengthening the duration of the coded pulses emitted by the transmitter. The transmitter may be triggered in response to the heat and/or pressure generated by the blank upon firing. A visible bore light may be eliminated by connecting infrared and/or visible aim light directly to a rifle barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Optical Air Data Systems L.P.
    Inventor: Philip L. Rogers
  • Patent number: 6614381
    Abstract: A “cross-eye” type radar countermeasure in which both of the waveforms of the illuminating signal from the enemy radar received at spaced locations on the carrying vehicle is propagated through a common dual channel to balance the effect of unintentional phase distortion. Two common channels receive the radar waveform and store the same in a delay line. During the stored interval the switches at the ends of the two common channels are transitioned to the non-stable state connecting the output end of one common channel to the input end of the other, and vice versa. Both waveforms then enter the delay line of the subsequent common channel and the switches change to the stable state whereupon each waveform is retransmitted at the other spaced location on the carrying vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Gross, Salvatore Amoroso, Jr., Russell W. Conklin, Joseph Gessaroli
  • Patent number: 6611318
    Abstract: A laser diode (22) emits laser light which is collimated into parallel rays with a collimating lens (24). The collimated beams travel about 5 to 50 cm before being reflected back to an adjustable mirror (28), to a fixed mirror (30), and then on to a photoreceiver (34). The adjustable mirror (28) is pivoted by turning an adjusting screw (40). The adjustable mirror (28) has a toothed cam (48) on its backside that mate with the threads of the adjusting screw (40). When the adjusting screw (40) is turned, it forces the cam to move with it, thus changing the angle of the adjustable mirror (28). A ball lens (32) focuses the reflected light onto the photoreceiver (34). The photoreceiver (34) and laser diode (22) are synchronized so that the receiver (34) can only receive light during appropriate windows of time corresponding to when the laser light was emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Automatic Timing & Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: George D. LaPolice
  • Patent number: 6611319
    Abstract: An optical flow sensor determines the velocity of a moving flow of air or other gas utilizing a plurality of photodetectors spaced apart in a direction parallel to the direction of gas flow. An optical beam is transmitted to the photodetectors across the flowing gas. Scintillations that occur in the flowing gas due to eddies and particulates in the gas are detected in the photodetectors at slightly different times. The output signals of the photodetectors are conditioned, amplified and transformed to digital form. Temporal cross correlation analysis is then performed on the digitized signals in a digital signal processor utilizing a fast correlation algorithm in which the total number of calculations is proportional to 2N, as contrasted with conventional systems in which the number of correlations is proportional to N2. A time differential between signals from the different photodetectors is then calculated electronically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Optical Scientific, Inc.
    Inventor: Ting-I Wang
  • Patent number: 6608669
    Abstract: A method of generating in-quadrature signals is disclosed. The method comprises phase shifting a Doppler frequency-shifted signal; phase shifting a local oscillator signal; mixing the phase shifted Doppler frequency-shifted signal and the phase-shifted local oscillator signal generating thereby a signal which includes the phase-shifted Doppler frequency-shifted signal and a further phase-shifted local oscillator signal; and mixing the unphase-shifted Doppler frequency-shifted signal and the unphase-shifted local oscillator signal generating thereby a signal which includes the unphase-shifted local oscillator signal and a further phase-shifted Doppler frequency-shifted signal. A method of determining the velocity of an object is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties
    Inventor: Carvel E. Holton
  • Patent number: 6608668
    Abstract: A miniaturized laser Doppler velocimeter is formed in a housing that is preferably 3 mm in diameter or less. A laser couples light to a first diffractive optical element that is formed on the fiber end. The light is coupled to a lens that also includes a diffractive optical element. The same lens is also used to collect receive light, and receives includes another diffractive optical element to collect that received light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Morteza Gharib, Darius Modaress, Frederic Taugwalder
  • Patent number: 6603534
    Abstract: A laser range finding device is shown which contains a transmitting channel and a receiving channel. The transmitting channel includes a transmitting lens and a laser light, which is positioned at a focal point of the transmitting lens. The receiving channel includes a receiving lens and a photodiode chip array arranged at a focal point of the receiving lens. The photodiode chip array includes a perforated shutter having at least two shutter apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignees: Jenoptik Laser, Optik, Systeme GmbH, Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Seifert, Gero Schusser, Ullrich Krüger, Martin Penzold
  • Patent number: 6603134
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to radiant energy systems and more particularly to systems exhibiting the retroreflection principle wherein the system comprises a focusing means and a surface exhibiting some degree of reflectivity positioned near the focal plane of the device, and wherein incident radiation falling within the field-of-view of said system is reflected back in a direction which is parallel to the incident radiation. The present invention has great applicability in military optical system applications for detecting the presence of an enemy employing surveillance equipment and for neutralizing this surveillance capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1967
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Norman R. Wild, Paul M. Leavy, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6603539
    Abstract: In a laser tracking system equipped for interferometric distance measurement there are provided at least two retroreflectors (3.1, 3.2, 3.3) which are connected to the target tracking mirror (1) in a manner such that their position changes when the spatial orientation of the target tracking mirror (1) is changed. Secondary measurement beams (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) deflected out of the primary measuring beam (4) of the laser tracking system are directed onto the retroreflectors (3.1, 3.2, 3.3.). Path length changes in the beam path of the secondary measurement beams (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) are interferometrically measured and the readings are used for computing the spatial orientation of the target tracking mirror (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventor: Dietrich Meier
  • Patent number: 6603536
    Abstract: An optical correlator is used to detect the presence of a target in a laser detection and ranging (LADAR) system by analyzing the return signal, and to provide initial estimates of the targets range and velocity to the LADAR receiver. The optical correlator includes an acoustic optical Bragg cell that deflects an input laser signal using the received and down-converted LADAR signal. An integrating optical detector is disposed to receive the optical outputs of the acoustic optical Bragg cell and an optical processor analyzes and processes the integrating optical detector data. The integrating optical detector integrates the optical outputs of the Bragg cell over time and the integrating optical detector output is sampled over a sampling period so that target detection is uncorrelated to noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Textron Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Victor Hasson, Gerald A. Nordstrom
  • Patent number: 6600555
    Abstract: A system for target identification in a vehicle wheel alignment system includes first and second units. A target with at least four collinear reference points is attached to the first unit, and an image sensor is attached to the second unit. The collinear reference points have at least one known cross-ratio, and the image sensor has an imaging element that produces an image data-set to capture an image of the target. The system also includes a processor for identifying image points within the image data-set and for calculating vehicle wheel alignment information using the image data that corresponds to the target. To identify the image data corresponding to the target, the processor computes a series of cross-ratios for sets of four points within the image data-set and rejects noise points by comparing the cross-ratios to the known cross-ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventor: James W. McClenahan
  • Patent number: 6600553
    Abstract: The invention relates to a three-dimensional measuring device, comprising a rotating 360 degree sensor head, a laser scanner and an extendable mast system. The sensor head contains a 360 degree rotating multi-faceted mirror, which determines total path distance from the laser scanner to a particular target. Angular orientations on both the scanner and the faceted mirrors are calculated by a precision encoding system. The measured total path distance, mast system extension, scanner head rotation, mirror rotation angles, and mast deflection are all used to calculate the location of a target point in 3-D space relative to the scanner. The sensing device can be utilized in the construction and nuclear power areas. In the nuclear power area, the mast system can be extended into a contaminated area which the sensor remains outside the contaminated area, thereby avoiding contamination problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: National Institute of Science and Technology U.S. Dept of Commerce
    Inventor: William C Stone
  • Patent number: 6597443
    Abstract: A spatial tracking system tracks movements of sources of radiated energy. In the one embodiment of the invention, three sensor sets are included each containing a pair of sensors. Movements of a single radiation source with a radially symmetric emission pattern is tracked in up to six dimensions; X, Y, Z, yaw, pitch and radiation intensity. Sources with different radiation ranges or types are tracked at the same time using sensors tuned to the different radiation ranges or types. The sensor sets may include more than two sensors which increases the spatial range monitored and increases tracking accuracy and optionally include sensors tuned to different radiation sources, such as light of different wavelengths. Individual sensors can be included with the sensor sets which increase the rotational range of the system beyond the range for translation tracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventor: Duane Boman
  • Patent number: 6597306
    Abstract: A communication device includes detection a detector (28) adapted to detect a value (V) which represents a maximum amplitude value of a data carrier signal (DS) produced by a data carrier as it moves through a communication range (KB) of the communication device along a predetermined path and received with the aid of a receiver (23) of the communication device. The detector is adapted to supply a detection signal (RS) upon detection of the value (V) representing the maximum amplitude value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Peter Raggam
  • Patent number: 6594000
    Abstract: The present invention is an automatic gain control system for use with a multiple wavelength laser LIDAR system that transmits sets of time-separated interrogating signals to generate sets of time-separated return signals. A comparator defines a plurality of unique peak amplitudes and a corresponding plurality of unique binary words associated therewith. The comparator receives each of the laser LIDAR system's return signal from an i-th set thereof and outputs a binary word indicative of a peak amplitude achieved thereby. The binary word is one of the plurality of unique binary words. A memory has each of a plurality of address locations defined by one of the plurality of unique binary words. Each address location stores a unique gain value. An adjustable gain amplifier has a signal input for receiving each return signal and a gain adjustment input coupled to the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignees: Science and Technology Corporation, The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Norman Green, Raphael P. Moon
  • Patent number: 6587191
    Abstract: A method for boresighting of a designation system, including a tracker responsive to a detector with reference to an indicator, including the step of directing a beam of light at a target, using a light source, so that the beam of light is reflected from a spot on the target while a temperature of the spot remains substantially constant. The method further includes focusing at least part of the reflected light as an image on the detector and determining a misalignment of the indicator and the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Rafael-Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Greenfield, David Zarchi, Hai Pedut, Ram Lebber
  • Patent number: 6587185
    Abstract: In a distance measuring apparatus 1 having a projector 10 that projects pulse light P outside and a light receiver 20 that receives the pulse light being reflected in the outside and performs photoelectric conversion, and outputting measurement data DL responsive to a time Tf from the transmission point of time to the reception point of time of the pulse light, the following are provided: determining means 311 for determining whether a received light waveform DP is correct or includes at least two incorrect waveforms based on an output signal SP of the light receiver 20; and warning data outputting means 312 for outputting warning data DE responsive to the result of the determination when the determining means 311 determines that the received light waveform DP is incorrect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Ide, Fumiya Yagi, Hiroshi Uchino, Koichi Kamon, Takashi Kondo