With Light Detector (e.g., Photocell) Patents (Class 356/28)
  • Patent number: 9213312
    Abstract: A holographic three-dimensional (3D) printing apparatus and a method of driving the same are provided. The holographic 3D printing apparatus includes a light source configured to emit a beam, a beam splitting and expanding unit configured to split the emitted beam into a reference beam and a signal beam and expand the signal beam, an illumination unit configured to extract the expanded signal beam and collimate the extracted signal beam, a spatial light modulator (SLM) configured to modulate the collimated signal beam, an objective lens unit configured to emit the modulated signal beam to a holographic recording medium, and a reference beam forming unit configured to emit the reference beam to the holographic recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoung-seok Pyun, Andrew Putilin, Alexander Morozov, Gee-young Sung
  • Patent number: 9207066
    Abstract: A device includes a spatial filter arranged in a Cartesian coordinate system having orthogonal x, y, and z axes. The spatial filter has mask features that are more light transmissive and mask features that are less light transmissive. The mask features are arranged along the x-axis in the flow direction of a flow path. A detector is positioned to detect light emanating from at least one object in the flow path, the object having a width along the y-axis, a thickness along the z-axis, and a length along the x-axis. Light emanating from the object is time modulated according to the mask features as the object moves along the flow path. The detector is configured to generate a time-varying electrical signal in response to the detected light that includes information about the width or thickness of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Joerg Martini, Marshall W. Bern, Noble M. Johnson, Peter Kiesel, Doron Kletter, Bowen Cheng, Michael I. Recht
  • Patent number: 9201146
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the present invention enable post processing of airborne Doppler wind LIDAR data. In an embodiment, airborne Doppler wind LIDAR data software written in LabVIEW may be provided and may run two versions of different airborne wind profiling algorithms. A first algorithm may be the Airborne Wind Profiling Algorithm for Doppler Wind LIDAR (“APOLO”) using airborne wind LIDAR data from two orthogonal directions to estimate wind parameters, and a second algorithm may be a five direction based method using pseudo inverse functions to estimate wind parameters. The various embodiments may enable wind profiles to be compared using different algorithms, may enable wind profile data for long haul color displays to be generated, may display long haul color displays, and/or may enable archiving of data at user-selectable altitudes over a long observation period for data distribution and population.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Jeffrey Y. Beyon, Grady J. Koch, Michael J. Kavaya
  • Patent number: 9194880
    Abstract: In order to determine crosswind effects between a weapon and its intended target (204) a crosswind gradient measuring apparatus (600) directs a first pulsed coherent light beam (646) and a second pulsed coherent light beam (648) to the target (204). Light of both beams scattered back by aerosols in the air is measured by using a detector (652) thus generating a beat frequency in the detector signal. The beat frequency indicates a Doppler-shift due to crosswind as a function of range between weapon and target wherein the range is determined by the time of flight. The information determined by such a Doppler differential interferometer, DDI, is utilized by a signal processor (608) to calculate the bullet's crosswind offset which enables manual of automatic adjustment of an aiming mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Logos Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Michael Kremer
  • Patent number: 9184034
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a photomultiplier tube with extended dynamic range. According to various embodiments, a repulsive electric field is introduced between a photocathode and a plurality of dynodes in order to repel or block low-energy electrons from reaching and being multiplied by the dynodes. As a result, time intervals between current peaks and drops may be decreased because the photomultiplier current will be primarily affected by high-energy electrons emitted by the photocathode in response to incident illumination versus low-energy electrons, some of which may result from dangling bonds or slow surface states after illumination no longer impinges the photocathode. Dynamic range and optical responsiveness of the photomultiplier tube are increased accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Eaton
  • Patent number: 9086481
    Abstract: Methods and systems for estimating vehicle speed are disclosed. A light detecting and ranging (LIDAR) device obtains a set of spatial points indicative of locations of reflective surfaces in an environment of the LIDAR device. A plurality of target points that correspond to a target surface of a target vehicle is identified in the set of spatial points. The plurality of target points includes a first point indicative of a first location on the target surface obtained by the LIDAR device at a first time and a second point indicative of a second location on the target surface obtained by the LIDAR device at a second time. A speed of the target vehicle is estimated based on the first location, the first time, the second location, and the second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Baldwin Dowdall, Jiajun Zhu
  • Patent number: 9046599
    Abstract: An object detection apparatus includes: a first radar configured to measure first positional information regarding a first object existing in a first scan range; a second radar configured to measure second positional information regarding a second object existing in a second scan range on the basis of second reflected wave of second wave radiated onto the second scan range including the first region and a second region, the second wave being radiated in such a way as to scan the first region in a direction opposite a direction in which the first radar radiates the first wave; and a processor configured to detect a third object existing in the first region on the basis of the first positional information and the second positional information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Takeshi Morikawa, Koichi Tezuka, Koichi Iida
  • Patent number: 9041917
    Abstract: The range image sensor is a range image sensor which is provided on a semiconductor substrate with an imaging region composed of a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged units (pixel P), thereby obtaining a range image on the basis of charge quantities QL, QR output from the units. One of the units is provided with a charge generating region (region outside a transfer electrode 5) where charges are generated in response to incident light, at least two semiconductor regions 3 which are arranged spatially apart to collect charges from the charge generating region, and a transfer electrode 5 which is installed at each periphery of the semiconductor region 3, given a charge transfer signal different in phase, and surrounding the semiconductor region 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Mitsuhito Mase, Takashi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20150131082
    Abstract: Vehicle, provided with: —at least an optical passage (1) situated at a vehicle exterior for passing on optical signals (S1, S2); —at least an elongate optical signal guide (2), extending between said passage (1) and at least an optical signal processing unit (U) situated in the vehicle. The invention further provides a system for transmitting and receiving optical signals, as well as methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: PHYCO TRADING B.V.
    Inventors: Kornelis Jan Van Der Velde, Jasper Jeroen Rijnsburger
  • Patent number: 9030652
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the synchronicity of a rotary platen (22) in a vacuum deposition chamber (24). A light source (64) projects a highly collimated light beam (66) onto the rotating platen (22), thereby tracing a circular swept path (67). The swept path (67) passes alternately through samples (20) on the platen (22) and intervening webs (58, 60). The samples (20) are significantly more reflective than the webs (58, 60). The platen (22) includes an asymmetry feature (60) along the swept path (67). A detector (62) measures light signals reflected from the platen (22) along the swept path (67), and generates a unique signal upon encountering the asymmetry feature (60). A microcontroller generates a trigger pulse synchronized to the unique signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: k-Space Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Hines, Darryl Barlett, Charles A. Taylor, II, Greg DeMaggio
  • Publication number: 20150116696
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a system for determining a velocity of a relative movement between a system for determining the velocity and a fluidal medium. The method includes directing at least two light beams through at least a portion of the fluidal medium using the system such that a portion of light of each light beam is absorbed by the fluidal medium. Further, the method includes detecting first and second spectral intensity profiles of at least two light beams to detect the light absorption. The method also includes determining a difference profile associated with spectral intensity differences between a first and a second spectral intensity profile; and integrating an absolute value function of the difference profile to determine the velocity. The at least two light beams are directed such that the first and second spectral intensity profiles each have a different spectral position. The system has components that are arranged to allow operation of the above-described method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: NewSouth Innovations Pty Limited
    Inventors: Sean Brendan O'Byrne, Sven Marc Wittig
  • Publication number: 20150109605
    Abstract: An optical circuit can include a bidirectional amplifier connected so as to amplify source light prior to emission through an output device such as a telescope as well as amplification of reflected light received by the telescope. Such an optical circuit can be used in laser doppler velocimeter applications as well as other applications. The optical circuit can also include passive splitters or active switches to provide for advantageous multiplexing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Jo Stephen Major, JR., Hans Jurgen Hofler, Bradley D. Gaiser
  • Patent number: 9007570
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the present invention enable airborne Doppler Wind LIDAR system measurements and INS/GPS measurements to be combined to estimate wind parameters and compensate for instrument misalignment. In a further embodiment, the wind speed and wind direction may be computed based on two orthogonal line-of-sight LIDAR returns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Jeffrey Y. Beyon, Grady J. Koch, Michael J. Kavaya
  • Patent number: 9007569
    Abstract: A Doppler lidar sensor system includes a laser generator that produces a highly pure single frequency laser beam, and a frequency modulator that modulates the laser beam with a highly linear frequency waveform. A first portion of the frequency modulated laser beam is amplified, and parts thereof are transmitted through at least three separate transmit/receive lenses. A second portion of the laser beam is used as a local oscillator beam for optical heterodyne detection. Radiation from the parts of the laser beam transmitted via the transmit/receive lenses is received by the respective transmit/receive lenses that transmitted the respective part of the laser beam. The received reflected radiation is compared with the local oscillator beam to calculate the frequency difference therebetween to determine various navigational data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Farzin Amzajerdian, Diego F. Pierrottet
  • Patent number: 9007660
    Abstract: The invention relates to a marking and/or scanning head comprising a plurality of receiving spaces in which individual marking and/or sensing devices can be arranged for marking and/or scanning an object, wherein the receiving spaces are arranged in at least two sub-arrays, wherein at least one sub-array is movable and/or rotatable with regard to at least one other sub-array. The invention further relates to a marking and/or scanning apparatus and a method for operating a marking and/or scanning head or apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Alltec Angewandte Laserlicht Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Joerg Kueckendahl, Daniel Joseph Ryan
  • Publication number: 20150092185
    Abstract: In a machine tool (1) comprising a rotating spindle (2) and a vision system (7) for acquiring images of a tool (3) mounted on the spindle, for each value (VC) of an interval (ICN) of preselected rotational speed values centred on a nominal rotational speed value (VN) of the spindle, an image acquisition period (TA) is determined, that is a multiple of the rotational period (TR) of the spindle calculated for that preselected speed value and compatible with the vision system, and, while the spindle is rotating at the nominal rotational speed, a representative couple of tool images that are temporally spaced apart from one another of the image acquisition period is obtained, in order to obtain an estimated speed value (VS), associated to the nominal speed value, by selecting that preselected speed value to which the representative couple of images that are the most similar to each other on the basis of a similarity rule corresponds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: MARPOSS SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Stefano Passini, Domenico Malpezzi
  • Patent number: 8988681
    Abstract: A spray sizer is provided that can measure the average droplet size in a spray. The spray sizer first separates a section of the spray for measurement. This section of the spray is passed through an optical droplet counter and the number of the droplets is measured while the droplets are collected after counting. The volume of the collected droplets is determined and it is divided by the total number of the droplets. This provides and average droplet diameter for the spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Nasser Ashgriz
  • Publication number: 20150077735
    Abstract: This device for determining wind speed comprises at least two laser sources emitting beams in different directions that are coplanar and such that each emission direction corresponds to a perpendicular emission direction. Each laser source is associated with focusing optics for focusing the emitted beam, a laser diode for receiving a reflected beam obtained after reflection by a particle present in the air of the corresponding emitted beam, a photodiode for transmitting an interference signal occurring between the emitted beam and the reflected beam, a processor for processing the obtained interference signals, and an optical cavity into which the reflected beam is reinjected in order to obtain an interference with the emitted beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Otmane Zamama, Raphaël Teysseyre, Julien Perchoux
  • Patent number: 8982335
    Abstract: Apparatus for marking and/or scanning (m/s) an object comprising a m/s head (20) having a plurality of receiving spaces (24) for m/s devices (40), a driving mechanism for moving the object, a measuring device (50) for measuring the object speed comprising a transmitter having a transmitting fibre (56) for transmitting light to the object, a receiver having first and second light receiving fibres (57, 58) for receiving light reflected from the object forming light signals, and processor means (70) for determining a time shift between the light signals to provide a speed value of the object, all the fibres are arranged in a common first ferrule (52), the m/s devices include second ferrules, the first and second ferrules have corresponding connector sections and are variably connected to the receiving spaces of the scanning head, and the speed measuring device is arranged in one of the receiving spaces. The invention further relates to a method for measuring the object speed with the m/s apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Alltec Angewandte Laserlicht Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Joerg Kueckendahl, Daniel Joseph Ryan
  • Patent number: 8982336
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ueno
  • Patent number: 8976342
    Abstract: A method for estimating the transverse component Vtrans of the velocity of the air comprises the following steps: emitting a focused laser beam; acquiring an electrical signal resulting from the transit of a particle across the beam at a point of transit; analyzing the signal so as to obtain a spectrogram revealing an elongate mark representative of the transit; estimating the duration of traversal of the laser beam by the particle and the slope of the mark; deducing from the duration and from the slope the distance between the point of traversal of the beam and the focusing point; determining the radius of the beam at the point of transit; deducing the transverse component from the radius and from the duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Xavier Lacondemine, Gregory Baral-Baron, Jean-Pierre Schlotterbeck, Philippe Rondeau
  • Publication number: 20150062559
    Abstract: A handheld tachometer includes a body that controls light output, and calculates a rotational velocity of an object based on incident light reflected from the object, and a reflector that is positioned at a light output terminal of the body, to adjust an angle of output light or incident light. The reflector can be adjusted by driving a step motor. The body may also have a motor control interface for a user to adjust the driving direction and degree of the step motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Jin Oh Kim, Chunguang Piao
  • Publication number: 20150055120
    Abstract: An improved vision-based system generates object detection corresponding to different viewing areas based on vehicle speed. At lower vehicle speeds the system covers a wider field of view and a near zone while at higher vehicle speeds the system covers a normal or narrower field of view and a far zone. The system includes a lens package having a movable lens, an image sensor and image transformer. The movable lens is movable between a first position representing a wide angle view and a second position representing a normal angle view. Each of these views generates an image such that a wide angle view generates a wide angle image and a normal angle view generates a normal angle image. The wide angle view is associated with the vehicle's passive safety systems while the normal angle view is associated with the vehicle's active safety systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jialiang Le, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Alex Maurice Miller
  • Patent number: 8964170
    Abstract: A system for assessing the flow of a fluid. The system can include a light source, a fiber-optic system optically coupled to the light source, which is arranged to provide a reference beam and an observation beam, an optical detection system arranged to receive combined light from the reference beam and the observation beam and to provide detection signals, and a data processing system arranged to communicate with the optical detection system to receive the detection signals. The data processing system can be configured to use the detection signals to determine a speckle pattern corresponding to the fluid flow, wherein the speckle pattern includes a plurality of lines, and to calculate a correlation between adjacent lines perpendicular to the flow to determine at least one of a rate of the flow and a displacement of the flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Jin U. Kang, Xuan Liu
  • Patent number: 8953035
    Abstract: A particle image velocimetry system is provided which supplies tracer particles to a flow field around an object (12) from tracer particle supply means, takes an image of reflected light by imaging means (32A, 32B) by irradiating the tracer particles twice with laser light at different times, and determines a velocity vector of the flow field based on the two images obtained of the tracer particles. The two images are each divided into a plurality of test regions, and when first peak value (fp)/second peak value (sp)?1.2 is satisfied by comparison between a first peak value fp and a second peak value sp of a cross-correlation value of a luminance pattern of tracer particles in each test region of the two images, it is determined that the reliability of the velocity vector is high. Thus, it is possible to enhance the precision of measurement of the state of flow by reliably determining erroneous vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Fukuchi, Takashi Yoshino, Minoru Teramura, Gensuke Hoshino
  • Patent number: 8947647
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes forming range bins from range compressed data, the range compressed data comprising a train of coherent pulses formed based on a transmitted signal from a laser detection and ranging (LADAR) sensor and having a large time-bandwidth product and for each range bin, compensating for motion of the LADAR sensor, performing a Fourier transform on the compressed range data, determining a centroid of individual velocity measurements and performing Fourier transform of the centroid to determine a vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Maurice J. Halmos, Jean-Paul Bulot, Matthew J. Klotz
  • Patent number: 8947648
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ninepoint Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric A. Swanson, Eman Namati, Michael Madden, J. Christopher Flaherty
  • Patent number: 8941820
    Abstract: An imaging device can take an image of a flow field including tracer particles includes a compound-eye lens formed from a large number of monocular lenses, which take images of images taken by an imaging lens. Each of the multiple monocular lenses functions as one imaging device. This can enable measurement precision to be enhanced by suppressing the influence of ghost particles, while reducing the equipment cost by minimizing the number of imaging devices. A space for installing the imaging device can easily ensured. If a large number of imaging devices are used, not only do they require time and manpower for setting up, but there is also a possibility that the measurement precision will be degraded due to displacement of an axis of the imaging devices caused by vibration, etc. When the imaging device having the compound-eye lens is used, setup is simplified, and measurement precision can be ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Fukuchi
  • Patent number: 8941819
    Abstract: A laser speed gun comprises a laser ray transmitter provided on an optical axis with a laser ray emitting device and with a short distance lens and located at an intermediate location therebetween on said optical axis, a beam splitter allowing laser rays to pass through and reflect visible light toward a CCD camera; a laser ray receiver provided on an optical axis with a laser ray receiving device and with a long distance lens located at an intermediate location between them on said optical axis, a beam splitter allowing laser rays to pass through and reflect visible light from a target toward a CCD camera; and two CCD cameras, one of which is associated with the laser ray transmitter optics and receives reflected light from its beam splitter, and the other which is associated with the laser ray receiver optics and receives reflected light from its beam splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Stins Coman Inc.
    Inventor: Sergei Anisimov
  • Publication number: 20150015635
    Abstract: A system is described for tracking a position of a receiver medium as it travels along a media path. A heat source provides heat to the receiver medium in a localized area sufficient to permanently deform the receiver medium to form a reference mark. A light source illuminates the receiver medium, and a sensor is used to sense light from the light source that is transmitted through the receiver medium or reflected from the receiver medium thereby providing a sensed light level signal. The sensed light level signal is analyzed to determine a position of the receiver medium by detecting a change in the sensed light level signal that is characteristic of the physical deformation associated with the reference mark.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Michael Joseph Piatt
  • Patent number: 8934088
    Abstract: A sound-creation interface is used to create a sound-creation instrument such as a musical instrument. The musical instrument includes a mechanical-human interface such as a set of keys, strings or breathing pipe for user actuation and control of the system, a mechanical-electrical interface receiving inputs from the mechanical-human interface and for converting those inputs to a machine comprehensible signal and an electrical/processor interface receiving signals from the mechanical electrical interface and converting those signals into a processor comprehensible form. A processor receives processor comprehensible signals from the electrical-processor interface and includes a processor component and a memory component. The system allows simplified interaction between the user using the mechanical interface and the processor providing an improved sound-creation interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Eigenlabs Limited
    Inventors: John Henry Lambert, Mark Justin Rigamonti, James Stephen Chapman
  • Patent number: 8928863
    Abstract: A system for providing a sliced optical pulse is disclosed. The system can comprise a master oscillator (MO) configured to generate an optical pulse at a first spectral bandwidth. The system can also comprise a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) configured to slice the optical pulse to generate a sliced optical pulse that has a second spectral bandwidth. The second spectral bandwidth can be smaller than the first spectral bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Thielen, Eric Cheung, Timothy McComb
  • Patent number: 8917383
    Abstract: A wind turbine includes a number of blades and an optical measurement system comprising a light source, such as a laser, an optical transmitter part, an optical receiver part, and a signal processor. The light source is optically coupled to the optical transmitter part, which includes an emission point for emitting light in a probing direction. The optical receiver part comprises a receiving point and a detector. The optical receiver part is adapted for receiving a reflected part of light from a probing region along the probing direction and directing the reflected part of light to the detector to generate a signal used to determine a first velocity component of the inflow. The emission point is located in a first blade at a first radial distance from a center axis, and the receiving point is located in the first blade at a second radial distance from the center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: LM Glasfiber A/S
    Inventors: Peter Fuglsang, Lars Fuglsang, Lars Christian Hvidegaard Hammer
  • Publication number: 20140368807
    Abstract: Within machine vision, object movement is often estimated by applying image evaluation techniques to visible light images, utilizing techniques such as perspective and parallax. However, the precision of such techniques may be limited due to visual distortions in the images, such as glare and shadows. Instead, lidar data may be available (e.g., for object avoidance in automated navigation), and may serve as a high-precision data source for such determinations. Respective lidar points of a lidar point cloud may be mapped to voxels of a three-dimensional voxel space, and voxel clusters may be identified as objects. The movement of the lidar points may be classified over time, and the respective objects may be classified as moving or stationary based on the classification of the lidar points associated with the object. This classification may yield precise results, because voxels in three-dimensional voxel space present clearly differentiable statuses when evaluated over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Aaron Matthew Rogan
  • Patent number: 8913232
    Abstract: Two or more spatial filters are used in determining velocity based on speckle translation. A light source may be turned on, turned off, or both for a variable amount of time during operation. The velocity may then be determined with trend identification, correlation, recursive frequency estimation, or measurement bandwidth variation. A confidence level may also be calculated for the measured velocity, and the measured velocity reported or used only when the calculated confidence level meets or exceeds a given value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Susan Hunter, Charles D. Hoke, Ramakrishna Kakarala, John S. Wenstrand
  • Patent number: 8913247
    Abstract: A device for interferometric vibration measurement, having a radiation source for generating an original beam, a first beam splitter for dividing it into measuring and reference beams, a detector and a focusing device. The measuring beam at least partly reflected by the object and the reference beam are superimposed on a detection area of the detector, and the focusing device in the beam path of the measuring beam between the image unit and object focuses it onto a measuring point. Here, a measuring beam having a wavelength greater than 1100 nm is generated and the device has an image unit for two-dimensional imaging of the object surrounding the measuring point. The measuring beam focus lies in the focal plane of the image unit and, by use of the focusing device, the focal point of the measuring beam and the focal plane of the imaging unit are displaceable simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Polytec GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Rembe, Alexander Dräbenstedt, Michael Gartner, Mike Herberich, Andreas Leonhardt
  • Patent number: 8908160
    Abstract: Systems and methods for laser based measurement of air parameters for use, e.g., on aircraft are disclosed. An example system includes a coherent source of radiation, a modulator, a transceiver, an optical mixer, and a measuring system. The coherent source produces a coherent radiation beam, and the modulator is configured to modulate the coherent radiation beam. The transceiver is configured to transmit the modulated radiation beam to, and receive a scattered radiation signal from a target region. The optical mixer is configured to determine a difference between the scattered radiation signal and the reference radiation beam. The measuring system is configured to determine at least one of velocity, air density, pressure, temperature, barometric altitude, angle of attack, angle of side slip, icing and turbulence based on the difference between the scattered radiation signal and the reference radiation beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Optical Air Data Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Elizabeth A. Dakin, Priyavadan Mamidipudi, Philip L. Rogers, Daniel C. Dakin
  • Publication number: 20140345381
    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: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Nigel J. Cronin, Adam Guy
  • Patent number: 8891069
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a compact, reliable and low-cost coherent LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) system for remote wind-speed determination, determination of particle concentration, and/or temperature based on an all semiconductor light source and related methods. The present invention provides a coherent LIDAR system comprising a semiconductor laser for emission of a measurement beam of electromagnetic radiation directed towards a measurement volume for illumination of particles in the measurement volume, a reference beam generator for generation of a reference beam, a detector for generation of a detector signal by mixing of the reference beam with light emitted from the particles in the measurement volume illuminated by the measurement beam, and a signal processor for generating a velocity signal corresponding to the velocity of the particles based on the detector signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Windar Photonics A/S
    Inventors: Christian Pedersen, Rene Skov Hansen
  • Patent number: 8885153
    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: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Pittaro, Bruce Goldman, Ray Lefebvre, David A. King
  • Publication number: 20140327904
    Abstract: An imaging Doppler lidar (IDL) enables the measurement of the velocity distribution of a large volume, in parallel, and at high spatial resolution in the wake of a wind turbine. Because the IDL is non-scanning, it can be orders of magnitude faster than conventional coherent lidar approaches. Scattering can be obtained from naturally occurring aerosol particles. Furthermore, the wind velocity can be measured directly from Doppler shifts of the laser light, so the measurement can be accomplished at large standoff and at wide fields-of-view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Sandia Corporation
    Inventor: David J. Bossert
  • Publication number: 20140313503
    Abstract: A continuous scanning side laser detector system and method for real time, instantaneous accurate speed and direction measurement of a slow moving bulk material transport vehicle through a bulk material processing station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Kanawha Scales & System, Inc.
    Inventors: Duane Lee Bennett, Robert Emil Barker, JR., James Troy Foley
  • Patent number: 8867025
    Abstract: An aerial, landing, takeoff, aircraft collision avoidance system (10) that automatically operates an audible and visual display warning system within an aircraft by sensing when there is an intruder aircraft approaching on the same runway, intersecting runway, or same airway during climb, descent, and midair flight by employing a five-way interactive communication system using laser and radio wave technology and, thereby, providing added safety and protection for users of the system and oncoming aircrafts while being designed to automatically open a simultaneous three-way line of communication between pilots and air traffic controllers during crisis; identify and alert aircrafts what runways are presently in use during landings, taxiing, and takeoffs; and identify what runways are in use to taxiing aircrafts that may inadvertently cross a runway without clearance from air traffic control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Bryan H. Smalls
  • Publication number: 20140300888
    Abstract: The present invention concerns motion-stabilised LIDAR (100), MS-LIDAR, for measurement of wind speed, comprising: a stabiliser unit (25) having a having a probe end (30) for attachment to a laser radar, LIDAR (10), and a base end (40) for attachment to a buoyant platform (80), which stabiliser unit (25) is configured for at least partial isolation of motions of the base end (40) from the probe end (30); a LIDAR (10), attached in fixed relation to the probe end (40); a motion detector in fixed relation to the probe end (30); which MS-LIDAR (100) is arranged to make wind speed measurements at one or more remote probe volumes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Flidar
    Inventors: Thomas Duffey, Athanasios Stefanos Kyriazis, Dirk Devriendt, Werner Coppye
  • Publication number: 20140293268
    Abstract: A speed measuring apparatus for a conveyor line may include a lighting unit mounted to one side of the conveyor line with a bracket, a coupling module coupled to an upper side of the lighting unit, the coupling module having coupling portions formed on both sides of an upper side thereof, respectively, a camera having a lens unit mounted between the coupling portions to face downward for taking a picture of an image of the object on the conveyor line under operation, a lens rotation device having a motor mounted to end portions of, and between, the coupling portions for selective positioning of a magnifying lens matched to the lens unit of the camera as the motor may be driven, and a controller for controlling operation of the lens rotation device and comparing images taken by the camera at different times to determine a speed of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jaehyun Lee
  • Patent number: 8842263
    Abstract: To determine two positional co-ordinates, of a point (D) within a space, a beam (10) a radiation is caused to illuminate a part of the space and is deflected cylindrically over the space, the beam being modulated in phase with the cyclical movement such that the radiation incident upon the point (D) includes enough information to identify the point. Embodiments with rotational (r, ?) and Cartesian (x, y) co-ordinate axes are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Short Brother PLC
    Inventor: William James Montgomery
  • Patent number: 8836922
    Abstract: A LIDAR device may transmit light pulses originating from one or more light sources and may receive reflected light pulses that are then detected by one or more detectors. The LIDAR device may include a lens that both (i) collimates the light from the one or more light sources to provide collimated light for transmission into an environment of the LIDAR device and (ii) focuses the reflected light onto the one or more detectors. The lens may define a curved focal surface in a transmit path of the light from the one or more light sources and a curved focal surface in a receive path of the one or more detectors. The one or more light sources may be arranged along the curved focal surface in the transmit path. The one or more detectors may be arranged along the curved focal surface in the receive path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Gaetan Pennecot, Pierre-Yves Droz, Drew Eugene Ulrich, Daniel Gruver, Zachary Morriss, Anthony Levandowski
  • Publication number: 20140247441
    Abstract: A method for estimating the transverse component Vtrans of the velocity of the air comprises the following steps: emitting a focused laser beam; acquiring an electrical signal resulting from the transit of a particle across the beam at a point of transit; analysing the signal so as to obtain a spectrogram revealing an elongate mark representative of the transit; estimating the duration of traversal of the laser beam by the particle and the slope of the mark; deducing from the duration and from the slope the distance between the point of traversal of the beam and the focusing point; determining the radius of the beam at the point of transit; deducing the transverse component from the radius and from the duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: Xavier LACONDEMINE, Gregory BARAL-BARON, Jean-Pierre SCHLOTTERBECK, Philippe RONDEAU
  • Publication number: 20140240161
    Abstract: A pulse transponder countermeasure device, comprising: a central processing unit (CPU); an optical receiver adapted to receive detection signals from a speed measuring device; at least one optical transmitter adapted to transmit jamming signals to the speed measuring device; at least one software controlled driver configured to drive the optical transmitter and memory storing a database of measuring devices signature signals and reflective signals, the CPU configured to identify the speed measuring device in its database according to the received detection signal's signature and calculate a response time for sending a jamming signal to the speed measuring device so as to change the speed perceived by the speed measurement device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Ron Yaacov DAVIDSON
  • Patent number: 8804102
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of verifying a scan speed in a laser scanning system. The method includes modulating the laser of the system to form a periodically modulated feature from which the actual scan speed can be read or deduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Materials Solutions
    Inventor: Gordon Green