Of Light Interference (e.g., Interferometer) Patents (Class 356/28.5)
  • Publication number: 20130215411
    Abstract: A laser Doppler velocimeter uses self-mixing amplification of backreflections from scatterers below the surface of a flow. A time domain signal is divided into segments that are roughly equal to a transit time of particles through a focus of a laser beam. The segments are connected to a frequency domain through the use of an FFT algorithm to produce frequency domain data segments. Signal-to-noise ratio is enhanced through signal processing techniques using the segments to produce a final enhanced signal spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: TELEDYNE INSTRUMENTS, INC.
    Inventor: TELEDYNE INSTRUMENTS, INC.
  • Publication number: 20130215410
    Abstract: A laser Doppler velocimeter uses self-mixing amplification of backreflections from scatterers below the surface of a flow. A time domain signal is divided into segments that are roughly equal to a transit time of particles through a focus of a laser beam. The segments are connected to a frequency domain through the use of an FFT algorithm to produce frequency domain data segments. Signal-to-noise ratio is enhanced through signal processing techniques using the segments to produce a final enhanced signal spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: TELEDYNE INSTRUMENTS, INC.
    Inventor: TELEDYNE INSTRUMENTS, INC.
  • Patent number: 8508722
    Abstract: A laser Doppler velocimeter is formed using a fiber laser as the lasing medium. Within the velocimeter, all optical signals, transmitted and received, are conveyed by optical fibers. An amplifier amplifies a source laser, which is then transmitted to one or more transceivers. The one or more transceivers, each projecting along a different axis, and each with a single optical fiber input/output interface act as both the transmission device to focus the radiation at a target region, and as the receiving system for collecting reflected radiation. The transceivers each include an amplifier to further amplify the radiation received from the laser source. The one or more transceivers transmit radiation simultaneously to the target region, and may be located remotely from the laser source. The portion of the reflected radiation collected by the receiving system is analyzed to determine the Doppler shift caused by targets at the focal point of the one or more transceivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Optical Air Data Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Phillip L. Rogers, Chia Chen Chang, Priyavadan Mamidipudi, Lance Leclair, Peter Gatchell, Daniel Dakin, Elizabeth Dakin
  • Patent number: 8508723
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring wind velocities are provided. A laser wind velocimeter with a radiation source includes a fiber laser. All optical signals, transmitted and received, are conveyed by optical fibers. An amplifier amplifies a source laser, which is then transmitted to one or more transceivers. The one or more transceivers, each projecting along a different axis, and each with a single optical fiber input/output interface act as both the transmission device to focus the radiation at a target region, and as the receiving system for collecting reflected radiation. The one or more transceivers transmit radiation to the target region. A portion of the reflected radiation collected by the receiving system is analyzed to determine the Doppler shift, which can me used to measure wind velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Optical Air Data Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Chia-Chen Chang, Priyavadan Mamidipudi, Lance LeClair, Peter Gatchell, Daniel Dakin, Elizabeth A. Dakin
  • Patent number: 8498176
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for carrying out a seismic exploration. A seismic event is applied to the earth's surface, particles at the earth's surface move in response to the event and the response to the event is detected using an interferometer. The earth's surface and the interferometer move with respect to each other. The detectors of the interferometer may be arranged in an array. The detected response may be analyze.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Statoil ASA
    Inventors: Paul Meldahl, Eiolf Vikhagen
  • Publication number: 20130162976
    Abstract: Systems and methods for laser based measurement of air parameters are disclosed. An example system includes a source of radiation, an amplification system with one or more power amplification stages, a transceiver, and an optical mixer. The source produces a plurality of beams, and the amplification system is configured to amplify the beams. The transceiver is configured to transmit the modulated beam to, and receive a scattered beam from a target region. The optical mixer is configured to determine a difference between the scattered beam and a reference beam, which is used to determine a Doppler shift therefrom. In certain embodiments, the amplification system includes a fiber preamplifier and one or more fiber power amplifiers stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Optical Air Data Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Elizabeth A. DAKIN, Priyavadan MAMIDIPUDI, Philip L. ROGERS, Chia-Chen CHANG, Rupak CHANGKOKOTI, Lance LECLAIR
  • Patent number: 8472011
    Abstract: A motion rate sensor for detecting the rate of movement of an article, comprising: a housing relative to which, in use, the article moves, a detection unit disposed within the housing, the detection unit including a conversion device adapted for generating detector signals caused by the motion of the article, and processing circuitry adapted for receiving said detector signals and outputting motion signals indicative of the rate of movement of the article. In embodiments, the detector signals are caused by variations in optical or light energy, in magnetic fields or radiation intensity. The variations may be caused by variations on the surface in the article, for example a random or repetitive pattern. An apparatus and method for calibrating the sensor are also disclosed, as are a system and method for determining the speed of motion of an article using the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Nigel J. Cronin, Adam Guy
  • Patent number: 8451434
    Abstract: A zeta potential measurement system comprising: a cell having a cell wall and bottom for holding suspended particles; an optical measurement probe having a probe tip comprising a transparent and conducting thin film coating which prevents ionic current from accumulating charge on the probe tip, and wherein the optical measurement probe is inserted through the cell wall such that the probe tip is in fluid communication with the sample; a counter electrode inserted through the cell wall opposite to the optical measurement probe; a laser source which is disposed so as to deliver light to the optical measurement probe via an optical directional coupler and optical waveguide; wherein the optical measurement probe focuses the light onto a front surface of the probe tip, such that the light reflected from the front surface of the optical measurement probe and light backscattered from particles in the sample are collected by the probe tip, and thereafter focused to a optical waveguide and delivered through the couple
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Microtrac Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J Freud, Michael N Trainer
  • Patent number: 8451435
    Abstract: An optical anemometric probe includes a laser source emitting a linearly polarized primary light beam and an optical block having splitting means for separating the primary beam, an optical reference pathway, an optical emission pathway and an optical measurement pathway. The optical block includes optical means of rotation of the polarization arranged at the output of the laser source and before the splitting means. The optical emission pathway has an optical circulator, a first optical emission/reception head illuminating a first measurement zone, and a second optical emission/reception head illuminating a second measurement zone. The optical circulator has four ports, e.g., a first input port, a second and a third input/ouput port linked respectively to the first optical head and to the second optical head, and a fourth port linked to the optical measurement pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Schlotterbeck, Philippe Rondeau
  • Patent number: 8446575
    Abstract: In a Doppler velocimeter, the incoming Doppler-shifted beams are heterodyned to reduce their frequencies into the bandwidth of a digital camera. This permits the digital camera to produce at every sampling interval a complete two-dimensional array of pixel values. This sequence of pixel value arrays provides a velocity image of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip L. Reu, Bruce D. Hansche
  • Patent number: 8441622
    Abstract: A Lidar measurement device for vehicular traffic surveillance and method for use of same are disclosed. In one embodiment, video circuitry acquires video of a field of view having a target therein. A steerable laser progressively transmits laser range-finding signals to the field of view in a horizontal and vertical step-wise manner and receives reflected laser range-finding signals from the target. A processing circuit portion determines target data of the target based upon range and time measurements associated with the reflected laser range-finding signals. The processing circuit then integrates the target data into the video such that the video may displayed with an image of the target and speed measurement associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Concepts, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Gammenthaler
  • Publication number: 20130114067
    Abstract: Methods and systems for collecting high-density wind velocity data for the inflow area of a wind turbine are presented. Wind turbines are provided with one or more wind velocity sensors that provide a plurality of wind velocity measurements to the turbine from various ranges and locations across the inflow. Sensors are proximate to the wind turbine. Sensors mounted on the turbine's nacelle work collaboratively to provide the wind velocity measurements. Sensors mounted on the turbine's hub spin with the turbine blades. Spatial and temporal wind mapping provides improved fidelity of data to the wind turbine control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: BLUESCOUT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Frederick C. Belen, JR., Philip L. Rogers, Priyavadan Mamidipudi, Elizabeth A. Dakin
  • Patent number: 8432536
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for determining distance between a first platform and a second platform. In one embodiment, the first platform includes a plurality of receivers which are positioned at different distances from the second platform. Each receiver receives a signal from the second platform. Each receiver includes multiple time slots for placing the received signal in a time slot that corresponds to an arrival interval of the received signal. The system also includes a processor for determining the distance between the first and second platforms based on examining the arrival interval of the received signal in each of the receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Exelis, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Scott Winsor, Valentine Christian, Paul Zavattero
  • Patent number: 8422001
    Abstract: Method of measuring the velocity of an aircraft at a given instant, by laser Doppler anemometry, by performing the steps of acquiring a backscattered signal on at least three oriented line-of-sight axes, and calculating the spectrum of the backscattered signal on each of the line-of-sight axes. Further, acquiring an additional backscattered signal on at least one additional line-of-sight axis (X4) not coincident with one of the three first line-of-sight axes (X1, X2, X3), and calculating the spectrum of the backscattered signal on the additional line-of-sight axis (X4). Several candidate velocity vectors ({right arrow over (V)}c) and of the projections of the candidate vectors on at least one line-of-sight axis (X1, X2, X3, X4) are calculated. The consistency of the candidate vectors ({right arrow over (V)}c) is calculated as a function of their projections and as a function of each spectrum of the corresponding backscattered signal on the respective calculation axis (X1, X2, X3, X4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Xavier Lacondemine, Jean-Pierre Schlotterbeck, Alain Renard
  • Publication number: 20130088705
    Abstract: A colored noise reduction method for an optical remote airflow measurement apparatus, which emits laser light into the atmosphere as a transmission signal and measures a wind speed of an airflow in a remote region on the basis of a Doppler shift amount of a frequency between the transmission signal and a reception signal, includes: considering a signal strength of scattered light to be substantially non-existent in a remotest region and beyond; calculating a noise distribution by performing processing to average the signal strength in respective Doppler frequency components divided at intervals of a certain frequency in the remotest measurement region and beyond, and performing subtraction processing in each of the Doppler frequency components on all signal strength distributions of the measurement region, which are obtained by dividing the noise distribution at intervals of a certain distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: JAPAN AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY
    Inventor: JAPAN AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY
  • Patent number: 8411278
    Abstract: An accelerometer instrument is provided for measuring acceleration. The instrument includes a laser, a Mach-Zender interferometer (MZI), a mechanical spring, a detector, a camera, and an analyzer. The laser emits a coherent light beam of photons. The MZI includes first and second beam-splitters along with first and second mirrors. The first mirror has an established mass m and connects to the spring for vibrating substantially perpendicular to its reflection plane. The mechanical spring has an established spring constant k. The MZI has an established weak measurement Nw based on a known offset ? for the beam-splitters. The detector detects the beam beyond the second beam-splitter. The camera provides a pointer measurement shift ?q of the photons. The camera is disposed after the detector. The analyzer determines the acceleration ? based on a = ( k mN w ) ? ? ? ? q .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Allen D. Parks, Scott E. Spence
  • Patent number: 8395761
    Abstract: A flow meter for use in dialysis is described, that uses a thermal wave to generate a signal in the fluid for which the flow rate is to be measured. The phase angle of the thermal wave signal changes when traversing downstream. The phase difference between the signals received downstream, compared with a reference excitation source signal is measured, and used to determine the flow rate of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Neil Fulkerson, Mark F. Smith
  • Patent number: 8390445
    Abstract: Disclosed are personal electronic devices (PEDs) having a sensory enhancement (SE) system for monitoring environmental conditions and detecting environmental events, for example but not limited to, changes in acoustic, thermal, optical, electromagnetic, chemical, dynamic, wireless, atmospheric, or biometric conditions. The detection of such events can be used to invoke a notification, an alert, a corrective action, or some other action, depending upon the implementation to the PED user or another party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Innovation Specialists, LLC
    Inventors: William L. Betts, Carol Betts
  • Publication number: 20130033696
    Abstract: A physical quantity sensor includes a semiconductor laser for irradiating an object with a laser beam, and a laser driver for operating the semiconductor laser in such a way that a first oscillation period for which the oscillation wavelength increases and/or a second oscillation period for which the oscillation wavelength decreases is repetitively present. The sensor further includes a photodiode and a current-voltage conversion amplifying unit both for detecting an MHP containing an interference waveform formed by the self-coupling effect between the laser beam and the returning light beam from the object, a MHP extracting unit for measuring the period of the interference waveform contained in the output signal from the current-voltage conversion amplifying unit each time the interference waveform is inputted, and a computing unit for computing the displacement and/or the speed of the object from the measured individual period MHP extracting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ueno
  • Patent number: 8355120
    Abstract: Obtaining global tropospheric vertical wind profiles by directly detecting atmospheric winds using space borne, airborne and/or ground station platforms is accomplished by a DASH interferometer in the back-end of a Doppler wind LIDAR. In the front-end of the Doppler wind LIDAR, a laser illuminates an atmosphere and a telescope collects backscattered laser light return signals from the laser illuminated atmosphere. The DASH interferometer processes return signals from the atmosphere, forming an interferogram and determines from the interferogram a Doppler shift of the return signals, which is equivalent to determining the line of sight wind speed of the Doppler wind LIDAR observation, by measuring the frequency shift caused by winds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Christoph R. Englert, David E. Siskind
  • Patent number: 8355119
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring a relative velocity between an object surface (O) and a sensor (1) having at least one light-sensitive element (2) according to the spatial frequency filtering method, wherein the light-sensitive element (2) is read out at time intervals, and wherein the spatial frequency filter is designed as at least one masking grating having a variable grating constant. The method according to the invention is characterized in that the relative velocity is firstly measured with a first grating constant k1 having a large period length and/or over a short observation time period t1 (rough measurement) and then the measurement of the relative velocity is repeated for an exact determination using a second grating constant k2 having a small period length and/or over a long observation time period t2 (fine measurement). The invention further relates to a sensor for velocity measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Fraba AG
    Inventor: Arno Bergmann
  • Patent number: 8350754
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are low cost, robust, broadband, optimum, high precision methods and apparatus of processing pulsed, transient, non-cooperative, non-reproducible, complex, or simultaneous signals based on correlation measurements utilizing optical RF signal train generators. An embodiment of the inventive apparatus comprises: (a) a signal receiving apparatus which receives one or more signals, and outputs the signals; (b) a replica generation apparatus, which comprises one or more RF signal train generators, accepts signals from the receiving apparatus as inputs, and outputs trains of replica pairs, where relative separations between two members in the replica pairs are same or different; and (c) an integration apparatus which performs Doppler, self, or mutual (cross) correlation operations on the replica pairs at RF or optical level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventor: Ming-Chiang Li
  • Patent number: 8339584
    Abstract: A laser Doppler velocimeter uses self-mixing amplification of backreflections from scatterers below the surface of a flow. A time domain signal is divided into segments that are roughly equal to a transit time of particles through a focus of a laser beam. The segments are connected to a frequency domain through the use of an FFT algorithm to produce frequency domain data segments. Signal-to-noise ratio is enhanced through signal processing techniques using the segments to produce a final enhanced signal spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Teledyne Technologies Incorporated
    Inventors: William R. Christian, Ray C. Delcher, Tong Chen, Mohsen Khoshnevisan, Phillip B. Liescheski, Michael A. Metcalf
  • Patent number: 8325327
    Abstract: Methods and systems for using laser Doppler velocimeters to determine and use wind velocities at the locations of impending and occurring events such as sports events are presented. Laser Doppler velocimeters are used to determine wind velocities where an event is occurring or an impending event is about to occur. The determined wind velocities are used to generate and display a representation of the impending or occurring event that accounts for the effect of the determined wind velocities on the impending or occurring event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: BlueScout Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip L. Rogers, Alisa K. Rogers, Elizabeth A. Dakin, Christopher D. Bedford
  • Patent number: 8325328
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a single-particle LIDAR anemometry method and system comprising the continuous emission of one or more light beams through a gas containing particles, said beam being focused onto a measurement volume, a step of detecting a signal backscattered by particles passing through said volume, the method being characterized in that it comprises at least the following phases: determining in a time period ?t the frequency of each of the pulses included in the backscattered signal; distinguishing pulses based on duration and/or intensity and/or frequency-modulation criteria; and estimating the displacement velocity of said beam relative to the gas from several of the frequencies determined over the time period ?t excluding those corresponding to the pulses distinguished during the preceding step A notable application of the invention is for the measurement of the airspeed of an aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Alain Renard, Xavier Lacondemine, Jean-Pierre Schlotterbeck
  • Patent number: 8310656
    Abstract: A method for use in controlling a system includes tracking three-dimensional movements of a hand-held controller for the system, mapping the tracked three-dimensional movements of the handheld controller onto a two-dimensional image plane of a screen of a display for the system, and displaying one or more images on the two-dimensional image plane of the screen based on the mapping of the tracked three-dimensional movements of the handheld controller. Some embodiments may include one or more sensors configured to track three-dimensional movements of a hand-held controller for the system, and a processor configured to perform the above mentioned steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC
    Inventor: Gary M. Zalewski
  • Patent number: 8305561
    Abstract: A scanning-type distance measuring apparatus includes: an optical system 9 having a first deflecting member 9a that deflects measurement light output from a light transmitting unit 3 toward a space to be measured via an optical window, a light receiving lens 9c that condenses reflection light from an object R to be measured existing in the space to be measured, and a second deflecting member 9b that deflects the reflection light passed through the light receiving lens toward a light receiving unit 5 disposed to oppose the light transmitting unit 3; a scanning mechanism 4 that rotates the optical system 9 about a predetermined axis P; and an optical member 90 that outputs the measurement light deflected by the first deflecting member 9a from an incident light path Lc of the reflection light to the second deflecting member 9b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Hokuyo Automatic Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Mori, Shinichi Tsukuda
  • Patent number: 8294883
    Abstract: An optical method and apparatus are described for the measurement of properties of a travel vehicle or a travel surface upon which the travel vehicle travels, which includes providing an incident light from a light source to the travel surface, collecting light reflected from the travel surface, determining a surface induced Doppler shift from the incident and collected light and determining at least one of a motion property of the travel vehicle and a surface property of the travel surface based on the determined surface induced Doppler shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Carvel Holton, Mehdi Ahmadian
  • Patent number: 8279423
    Abstract: A system for computation of wind velocity including a laser adapted to transmit a beam to a target, a collecting lens for receiving a beam returning from the target, and receiver optics comprising a multi-element detector array at a focal plane of the collecting lens, wherein for each element of the multi-element detector array there is a specific optical path in the atmosphere leading from the laser to the target and back from the target to the element; and processor apparatus operative to measure signal fluctuations of an element of the multi-element detector array, and compute therefrom crosswind velocity of wind in the atmosphere, wherein said processor apparatus is operative to calculate turbulence strength changes and wind profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Soreq Nuclear Research Center
    Inventor: Joseph Shapira
  • Patent number: 8279424
    Abstract: A Doppler velocimeter apparatus that may have a coherent light source for generating a beam of coherent light. A modulating subsystem may receive and modulate at least a first portion of the beam of coherent light to form a first beam portion, the first beam portion forming a frequency offset and being a modulated, coherent optical signal. An optical element may receive the first beam portion and direct the first beam portion at a subject, the first beam portion being reflected from the subject to form a reflected beam that has a frequency that is modified in relation to the motion of the subject. A processing subsystem may receive a second portion of the beam of coherent light, and also the reflected beam, and uses the second beam portion and the reflected beam to determine a Doppler shift of the reflected beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David C. Soreide, Jonathan M. Saint Clair
  • Patent number: 8279422
    Abstract: A method of an apparatus for measuring or determining the movement characteristics of an object uses the detection of changes in beams. A set of beams F1-B1, F2-B2, F3-B3 is disposed in the movement path of the object; at relative angles to each other; and at acute angles to the intended direction of the object. The number of changes in the beams or durations between changes in the beams are recorded. The relative times, durations or differences in relative times, at which different beams of the set are changed are measured. The resulting measurements are associated with the relevant movement characteristics of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventor: Brian Francis Mooney
  • Publication number: 20120242976
    Abstract: A device comprises: an emitting element for emitting a laser beam, referred to as an emitted beam; a focusing element for focusing the emitted beam at a predetermined focal distance (D); a receiving element for receiving the emitted beam after being reflected by a particle in the air (18), referred to as a reflected beam; a transmitting element for transmitting the signal of interference occurring between the emitted beam and the reflected beam to a signal processor in order to deduce the speed of the particle therefrom. The emitting element includes a laser diode and the receiving element is combined with the laser diode by self-mixing. The focal distance is between 5 cm and 2 m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: EPSILINE
    Inventors: Christophe Lepaysan, Raphaël Teysseyre
  • Patent number: 8274507
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a three dimensional imaging system includes a portable housing configured to be carried by a user, microelectrical mechanical system (MEMS) projector supported by the housing sensor supported by the housing and configured to detect signals emitted by the MEMS projector, a memory including program instructions for generating an encoded signal with the MEMS projector, emitting the encoded signal, detecting the emitted signal after the emitted signal is reflected by a body, associating the detected signal with the emitted signal, comparing the detected signal with the associated emitted signal, determining an x-axis dimension, a y-axis dimension, and a z-axis dimension of the body based upon the comparison, and storing the determined x-axis dimension, y-axis dimension, and z-axis dimension of the body, and a processor operably connected to the memory, to the sensor, and to the MEMS projector for executing the program instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Becker, Soeren Kammel, Benjamin Pitzer, Badri Raghunathan
  • Publication number: 20120224165
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods of producing an image are provided. A electro-magnetic radiation source provides electro-magnetic radiation to a sample and a reference. A detector/interferogram unit produces at least one interferogram that is supplied to a signal processing unit. The signal processing unit extracts phase, magnitude, and/or polarization data from the supplied signals, and produces an image based on at least the extracted data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: NinePoint Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric A. Swanson, Eman Namati, Michael Madden, J. Christopher Flaherty
  • Publication number: 20120176595
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a method of operating a self-mixing interference sensor and a corresponding self-mixing interference sensor device. In the method the laser (1) of the device is controlled to periodically emit a laser pulse followed by an emission period of laser radiation having a lower amplitude. The pulse width of the laser pulse is selected such that the pulse after reflection at the object (3) re-enters the laser (1) during the emission period of laser radiation with lower amplitude. The corresponding SMI signal has an increased signal to noise ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Alexander Marc Van Der Lee, Mark Carpau, Holger Moench, Marcel Schemmann
  • Publication number: 20120169053
    Abstract: A magnitude and direction, or a measure responsive thereto, of a velocity (V) of a first portion (17) of an atmosphere (20) are determined from at least first and second portions of scattered light (30) generated along a common beam of light (28) within the first portion (17) of the atmosphere (20) and received along linearly independent directions at locations that are relatively remote with respect to one another, at least one of which is relatively remote from a source (11) of the beam of light (28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: Michigan Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Tchoryk, JR., Charles J. Richey, Paul Byron Hays, David Keith Johnson, David Michael Zuk
  • Patent number: 8212999
    Abstract: A liquid droplet measurement apparatus has: a first laser light source emitting a laser light; a first optical device which makes, in terms of a beam cross-section of the laser light, a beam width in a direction perpendicular to a direction of ejection of a liquid droplet, greater than a beam width in the direction of ejection of the liquid droplet, and makes light intensity of the laser light fall within a prescribed range within a range where variation in a position of the liquid droplet occurs in the direction perpendicular to the direction of ejection of the liquid droplet, at a position where the laser light from the first laser light source is irradiated onto the liquid droplet ejected; a first light receiving device which receives the laser light that has been irradiated onto the liquid droplet by the first optical device and generates a determination signal; and a first liquid droplet characteristics calculation device which calculates at least one of a volume of the liquid droplet and a velocity of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Kodama, Kanji Nagashima, Tadashi Kyoso
  • Publication number: 20120162634
    Abstract: A sensor for sensing speeds, at least including a sensor unit, which has a radiation emitter element, a sensor element, a preliminary optical element and an evaluation circuit, a sensor housing, which has a leadframe, and a dirt guard unit, which includes a lens, wherein the sensor unit is in electrical contact with the leadframe of the sensor housing, and the lens of the dirt guard unit caps off the sensor housing as a cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. oHG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Jöckel, Martin Haverkamp, Stephan Risch, Bernhard Schmid, Thomas Zuccaro
  • Patent number: 8189176
    Abstract: A method of detecting the velocity of a moving object comprising the steps of: passing a beam of coherent light through an optical mask having a pattern of alternating opaque and non-opaque regions formed thereon, whereby an image of alternating light and dark fringes is projected along the length of the light beam; causing the moving object to pass through the projected image such that a portion of the light beam is reflected from the moving object as a series of pulses; detecting the reflected light pulses and the frequency of the pulses; and calculating the velocity of the object as a function of the pulse frequency and the known separation of the fringes of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventor: Christopher I. Moir
  • Patent number: 8184272
    Abstract: A method for transitioning a target from a missile warning system to a fine tracking system in a directional countermeasures system includes capturing at least one image within a field of view of the missile warning system. The method further includes identifying a threat from the captured image or images and identifying features surrounding the threat. These features are registered with the threat and image within a field of view of the fine tracking system is captured. The registered features are used to identify a location of a threat within this captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Gidseg, John A. Carattini, Phong V. Ha
  • Patent number: 8184271
    Abstract: A method of analyzing pulses from a flow cytometer in which particles in a fluid pass through an excitation volume of an electromagnetic radiation and interact with the electromagnetic radiation to generate signals in the form of pulses includes generating a time-dependent pulse indicative of the characteristics of one or more particles passing through the excitation volume of the electromagnetic radiation, determining a measurement window by selecting a portion of the pulse with a starting point and an ending point above a predetermined value, and calculating a first derivative of the pulse with respect to time over the measurement window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Pittaro, Bruce Goldman, Ray Lefebvre, David A King
  • Patent number: 8169599
    Abstract: A device and method for measuring moving material includes a processor and operating software associated therewith; a light source for emitting at least two polarized light beams in a manner wherein the beams cross thereby creating an interference region and generate a set of fringes; a sensor aligned relative to the interference region wherein the fringes have a predetermined orientation to the directional movement of the material and wherein the sensor is operably equipped to receive scattered light emanating from the interference region and provide a time varying signal to the processor such that the processor can manipulate and convert the signal to speed and distance and a polarizing filter operably associating a polarizing filter with one of the sensor and the emitting means in a manner to substantially preclude reflected polarized light from the interference region back to one of the sensor and the emitting source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Beta LaerMike, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Krabacher, Leslie M Jenson
  • Publication number: 20120092645
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method enabling measurement in a wider range than a conventional LIDAR system and capable of measuring airflow information, which is used to reduce shaking of an airframe when an aircraft collides with turbulence, in a shorter period, and a device having corresponding functions. A multi-LIDAR system according to the present invention includes at least two optical remote airflow measurement devices of a Doppler LIDAR system employing laser light that are provided in a fixed relative position relationship, has functions for emitting lasers of identical wavelengths from the respective devices and receiving scattered light by the respective devices, thereby improving redundancy with respect to defects, and improves a detectability by increasing an integration amount of respective measurement signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: JAPAN AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY
    Inventor: Hamaki Inokuchi
  • Publication number: 20120081693
    Abstract: A demodulating system (100) for demodulating a phase-modulated input signal (Si) comprises: a complex demodulator (110), having a first input (111) for receiving the phase-modulated input signal (Si) and being designed to perform complex multiplication of this signal with an approximation of the inverse of the phase modulation; a spectrum analyzing device (130) receiving the demodulated product signal produced by the complex demodulator (110) and capable of analyzing the frequency spectrum of the demodulated product signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Marcel Schemmann, Atanas Pentchev, Carsten Heinks, Aalbert Stek
  • Patent number: 8139206
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement are provided to determine the speed of the wind, which acts on a wind-blade of a wind-turbine. An optical-signal with a known frequency is sent from an optical-transmit-unit to a joint measurement volume. The optical-signal is scattered and reflected by atmospheric particles of the joint measurement volume. The optical signal is shifted in its frequency due to the Doppler-principle, too. The frequency-shifted optical signal is received by a receive-unit. The frequency-shifted optical signal is compared with the sent optical-signal to determine the wind-speed based on the shifted frequency, which is caused by the atmospheric particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ioannis Antoniou, Soeren Markkilde Pedersen
  • Patent number: 8134693
    Abstract: A traffic violation or event detection, recording and processing system and method is disclosed which includes at least one camera (20 and 30) for monitoring a region under surveillance (31 and 33); means for supplying independently sourced and verifiable time, date and location of a violation; a storing means (54) for storing continuous images taken by the camera; a non-intrusive violation detection means for detecting vehicle presence and movement and for providing an indication of a violation; and processing means for identifying images stored in the storage means and which relate to a violation detected by the violation detection means so that images associated with a violation are identifiable and can be processed to provide evidence of the violation and also identify the vehicle associated with the violation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Inventor: Robert Ciolli
  • Patent number: 8120756
    Abstract: Disclosed is a laser doppler velocity system that can easily change a focal length of laser beam, in order to measure the velocity of fluid. As the fluid lens is used in order to focus the laser beam, the lens aperture is rapidly and accurately changed at a low power to easily measure the flow-velocity and shear stress of the boundary layer of the structure within the flow field. As the optical array including the fluid lens is integrated using a diode laser as a laser light source, the laser doppler velocity system can be made in small-size. Also, as the laser doppler velocity system is inserted into the surface of the structure, it can be used as a surface flow field measurement sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignees: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Seok-Kyu Chang, Sung-Hoon Baik, Chul-Hwa Song
  • Publication number: 20120002189
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for determining a flow property of a fluid (2). The apparatus comprises a distance and velocity determination unit (3) for determining distances of elements of the fluid to the distance and velocity determination unit (3) and for determining velocities of the elements at the same time based on a self-mixing interference signal. The apparatus (1) comprises further a flow determination unit (4) for determining the flow property of the fluid (2) based on at least one of the determined distances and velocities. This allows determining the flow property, even if the fluid (2) is optically thick.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Jaione Bengoechea Apezteguia, Mark Carpaij, Alexander Marc Van Der Lee, Ulrich Weichmann
  • Publication number: 20120004865
    Abstract: A method for measuring the mean velocity (VH) of an extracorporeal blood fluid or infusion fluid, by means of retroinjection interferometry, comprises the step of emitting a first laser light beam (41), from the laser cavity (40) of a semiconductor laser source (60), reflection of a second laser beam (45) by the fluid (50) and consequent generation of interference with the first laser beam (41) inside the laser cavity (40), detection of the interference signal by a monitoring photodiode (46), and processing, by means of an electronic processing and control circuit (100), of the interference signal detected. The invention also comprises an apparatus (62) for implementing the method described and an extracorporeal circuit (58) comprising said apparatus. The invention also comprises a method for replacing a laser source in said apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: DATAMED SRL
    Inventors: Giampiero Porro, Roberto Pozzi, Alessandro Torinesi, Michele Norgia, Luigi Rovati
  • Publication number: 20110299062
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detecting and measuring wind at the front of an aircraft, said device comprising a lidar for the cyclic measurement of wind speeds at least a couple of measuring points located at the same distance, so-called measuring distance, from the nose of the aircraft. The invention is characterised in that it is suitable for measuring wind speeds, at each cycle, by means of the lidar, at a plurality of couples of measuring points (1-12) located at different measuring distances (xp-2, xp-1, xp), the difference between the largest measuring distance and the smallest measuring distance being more than 100 metres. The invention also relates to a method for detecting and measuring wind, which can be implemented by the device according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Guillermo Jenaro Rabadan, Stephane Puig