Patents by Inventor Alan Aindow

Alan Aindow has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10473768
    Abstract: Embodiments may include methods and systems for obtaining location information regarding an object. In one example, a laser pulse may be generated. The laser pulse may be divided into a plurality of laser pulse signals. Each of the laser pulse signals may be provided to a corresponding delay path, each delay path having a different length. An output of each delay path may be directed to the object. A plurality of reflected time-separated laser pulse signals from the object may be detected. The plurality of time-separated laser pulse signals may be combined to provide a recombined laser pulse signal. The recombined laser pulse signal may be resolved to generate object location information regarding the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Gregory C. Walsh, Alan Aindow
  • Publication number: 20170146641
    Abstract: Embodiments may include methods and systems for obtaining location information regarding an object. In one example, a laser pulse may be generated. The laser pulse may be divided into a plurality of laser pulse signals. Each of the laser pulse signals may be provided to a corresponding delay path, each delay path having a different length. An output of each delay path may be directed to the object. A plurality of reflected time-separated laser pulse signals from the object may be detected. The plurality of time-separated laser pulse signals may be combined to provide a recombined laser pulse signal. The recombined laser pulse signal may be resolved to generate object location information regarding the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Gregory C. Walsh, Alan Aindow
  • Patent number: 9599468
    Abstract: Methods and systems for using spectrally separated light pulses to collect more LIDAR information are presented. In one example, a laser pulse may be directed to a point on an object and a corresponding return light signal may be received. The return light signal may be wavelength separated into a plurality of spectral pulse components. Each of the spectral pulse components may be propagated down a separate fiber optic delay line each having a different length to provide a plurality of time-separated spectral pulse components. The time-separated spectral pulse components may be combined to provide a recombined spectral pulse signal. The recombined spectral pulse signal can be provided to an intensity-related measuring/detection circuitry to generate corresponding object location information and object spectral information regarding the point on the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Gregory C. Walsh, Alan Aindow
  • Publication number: 20150022800
    Abstract: Methods and systems for using spectrally separated light pulses to collect more LIDAR information are presented. In one example, a laser pulse may be directed to a point on an object and a corresponding return light signal may be received. The return light signal may be wavelength separated into a plurality of spectral pulse components. Each of the spectral pulse components may be propagated down a separate fiber optic delay line each having a different length to provide a plurality of time-separated spectral pulse components. The time-separated spectral pulse components may be combined to provide a recombined spectral pulse signal. The recombined spectral pulse signal can be provided to an intensity-related measuring/detection circuitry to generate corresponding object location information and object spectral information regarding the point on the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Gregory C. Walsh, Alan Aindow
  • Patent number: 8896818
    Abstract: Methods and systems for using spectrally separated light pulses to collect more LIDAR information are presented. In one embodiment, a monochromatic pulse is transmitted to collect range information and a white pulse is transmitted a short time afterwards to collect spectral responsivity information or color of the target. In another embodiment, the white light pulse is used to collect both range and spectral responsivity information of the target. In another embodiment, the spectral separated laser is spatially spread in order to collect range information over more than one point at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Gregory C. Walsh, Alan Aindow
  • Publication number: 20110102764
    Abstract: Methods and systems for using spectrally separated light pulses to collect more LIDAR information are presented. In one embodiment, a monochromatic pulse is transmitted to collect range information and a white pulse is transmitted a short time afterwards to collect spectral responsivity information or color of the target. In another embodiment, the white light pulse is used to collect both range and spectral responsivity information of the target. In another embodiment, the spectral separated laser is spatially spread in order to collect range information over more than one point at a time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Gregory C. Walsh, Alan Aindow
  • Patent number: 7701558
    Abstract: Methods for using spectrally separated light pulses to collect more LIDAR information are presented. In one embodiment, a monochromatic pulse is transmitted to collect range information and a white pulse is transmitted a short time afterwards to collect spectral responsivity information or color of the target. In another embodiment, the white light pulse is used to collect both range and spectral responsivity information of the target. In another embodiment, the spectral separated laser is spatially spread in order to collect range information over more than one point at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Gregory C. Walsh, Alan Aindow
  • Publication number: 20080074640
    Abstract: Methods for using spectrally separated light pulses to collect more LIDAR information are presented. In one embodiment, a monochromatic pulse is transmitted to collect range information and a white pulse is transmitted a short time afterwards to collect spectral responsivity information or color of the target. In another embodiment, the white light pulse is used to collect both range and spectral responsivity information of the target. In another embodiment, the spectral separated laser is spatially spread in order to collect range information over more than one point at a time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Gregory C. Walsh, Alan Aindow
  • Patent number: 7323670
    Abstract: The performance of a laser scanner is optimized in the field by automatically determining appropriate laser parameters for the scan location. A laser control system uses information such as the environmental temperature to select an appropriate range of start points for various laser parameters, such as pump temperature and laser currents. Test pulses over that range can be used to determine optimal operating parameters. In order to also meet safety regulations, the laser control system can use information such as range and pulse timing information to fire regularly spaced pulses that do not exceed acceptable exposure limits. Alternatively, the laser can be operated at a regular speed of about 24 Hz, or can be operated in burst mode where a burst of pulses creates what appears to be a brighter scan spot, but the time delay between bursts allows time for a blink reflex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems HDS LLC
    Inventors: Gregory C. Walsh, Ralph Storz, Alan Aindow
  • Publication number: 20050205755
    Abstract: The performance of a laser scanner is optimized in the field by automatically determining appropriate laser parameters for the scan location. A laser control system uses information such as the environmental temperature to select an appropriate range of start points for various laser parameters, such as pump temperature and laser currents. Test pulses over that range can be used to determine optimal operating parameters. In order to also meet safety regulations, the laser control system can use information such as range and pulse timing information to fire regularly spaced pulses that do not exceed acceptable exposure limits. Alternatively, the laser can be operated at a regular speed of about 24 Hz, or can be operated in burst mode where a burst of pulses creates what appears to be a brighter scan spot, but the time delay between bursts allows time for a blink reflex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: Gregory Walsh, Ralph Storz, Alan Aindow