Abstract: A airborne range finder arranged on an aircraft for surveying a target, the finder comprising an emitter configured for emitting electromagnetic pulses towards the target, a receiver for receiving backscattered pulses, wherein the receiver comprises a projection surface comprising an inner area and an outer area, focusing optics configured for imaging pulses backscattered from a distance equal to or longer than a threshold distance onto the inner area, and pulses backscattered from a distance shorter than said threshold distance onto the inner area and a part of the outer area, a detector configured for detecting and outputting pulses imaged onto the projection surface, and a recorder configured for reading the detector and storing pulses detected only within the inner area as target pulses, storing pulses detected within the outer area as near-field pulses, and tagging each stored pulse with a corresponding pulse reception time, and a control unit.

Abstract: A projection system emits light pulses in a field of view and measures properties of reflections. Properties may include time of flight and return amplitude. Foreground objects and background surfaces are distinguished, distances between foreground objects and background surfaces are determined based on reflections that are occluded by the foreground objects and other properties of the projection system.

Abstract: A telescopic sight (10) for a firearm includes a main housing (12), an objective lens assembly (22) for creating an image of a distant object, an ocular lens assembly (30) presenting the image to a viewer, and an optical element assembly (40) between the objective lens assembly (22) and the ocular lens assembly (30). The optical element assembly (40) includes a reticle piece (46) containing a reticle viewable by a user when the user views the image presented by the ocular lens assembly (30). A first adjuster (70, 74) is operatively coupled with the objective lens assembly (22) for removing parallax between the image and the reticle. A second adjuster (72, 76) is operatively coupled with the optical element assembly (40) for removing parallax between the image and the reticle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for measuring the angular position of a contrasting edge of an object having a luminance transition zone which is substantially rectilinear in a given direction and separates two regions of different luminances. This method comprises the functional steps of: —carrying out, in a transverse direction different from the given direction, an amplitude modulation of the signals delivered by a first and a second optical sensor; and —calculating an output signal (Yout(t)) starting from the signals delivered by the first and the second optical sensors (D1, D2) as a function of the angular position of the luminance transition zone. Device and set of devices for measuring the angular position of a contrasting edge and steering aid system for fixation and tracking a target comprising at least one such contrasting edge.

Abstract: Methods and systems for using spectrally separated light pulses to collect more LIDAR information are presented. In one embodiment, a monochromatic pulse is transmitted to collect range information and a white pulse is transmitted a short time afterwards to collect spectral responsivity information or color of the target. In another embodiment, the white light pulse is used to collect both range and spectral responsivity information of the target. In another embodiment, the spectral separated laser is spatially spread in order to collect range information over more than one point at a time.

Abstract: An optical sensor for measuring at least one of a range, a position, and a profile of an object that is to be measured, the measured object emitting electromagnetic radiation due to the temperature of the object to be measured, and the sensor having a light source for illuminating the surface of the measured object and a detector for detecting the illuminating light reflected at the object to be measured, wherein with respect to the measurability even on the bodies that emit electromagnetic radiation, the light generated by the light source has a wavelength below the peak of the Planck radiation spectrum of the object that is to be measured. A corresponding method is specified.

Abstract: In a distance measuring system, photoelectrons are generated depending on light energy received in a light-receiving period predetermined for the emission timing of pulsed light emitted to a target object and are cumulatively stored, and a distance to the target object is determined according to a time-of-flight process. A solid-state image sensing device cumulatively stores therein photoelectrons generated depending on the light energy received in each of the first and second light-receiving periods. The first light-receiving period is part of a rise period of the reflected light intensity received by the image sensing device, and the second light-receiving period includes a peak of the reflected light intensity and a fall period thereof.

Abstract: A system for optical navigation includes a light source and an imaging system. The light source illuminates a navigation surface. The navigation surface reflects light from the light source. The imaging system is located approximately within a path of the reflected light. The imaging system includes a lens, a mask, and an image sensor. The lens receives reflected light from the navigation surface. The lens focuses a specular portion of the reflected light to a focus region. The mask is located at approximately the focus region. The mask filters out substantially all of the specular portion of the reflected light and passes at least some of a scatter portion of the reflected light outside of the focus region. The image sensor generates a navigation signal based on the scattered portion of the light that passes outside the focus region and is incident on the image sensor.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing a canopy of a forest by analyzing the spatial uniformity of LiDAR data point heights in a number of areas surrounding a tree top, where the areas are smaller than the expected size of the crown of the tree. In one embodiment, the spatial uniformity is quantified as a canopy closure vector based on an analysis of the LiDAR data point heights in a frequency domain. In one particular embodiment, the standard deviation of the frequency components in the cells of a number of rings centered around the average value in an FFT output matrix is used to quantify the spatial uniformity.

Abstract: A LADAR system and with lookdown and loitering capabilities is disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a LADAR sensor and a gimbal. The LADAR sensor is mounted to the gimbal, which is capable of scanning in azimuth sufficient to provide a look down and loitering capability. In another aspect, a method includes flying an airborne vehicle through an environment; and scanning a LADAR signal forward and to at least one side into a field of regard.

Abstract: An improved method for surveying actual measurement data of a component, which originate from an optical scan, is characterized in that the actual measurement data (2) of the component (1) are surveyed by means of a measurement program (24) for a tactile coordinate measuring instrument, wherein the measurement program (24) generates a virtual measuring stylus of a virtual coordinate measuring instrument, which surveys the actual measurement data of the component.

Abstract: A chromatic confocal point sensor optical pen comprises a multi-stage optical configuration providing an enhanced range-to-resolution ratio. The optical configuration comprises at least first and last axially dispersive focusing elements that combine to contribute to the overall axial chromatic dispersion of the optical pen. The first focusing element receives source radiation and focuses that radiation at a first focal region internal to the multi-stage optical configuration and the last focusing element receives radiation from a last focal region internal to the multi-stage optical configuration and outputs the measurement beam. Intermediate focusing elements may provide additional focal regions internal to the multi-stage optical configuration. This configuration provides an unprecedented combination of extended sensing range, compact lens diameter, and high numerical aperture. The focusing elements may comprise refractive lenses or diffractive optical elements.

Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to ensure high-quality coatings of medical implants using a new data evaluation and process control approach. Information on spray errors, such as areas with high and low droplet distribution, can be easily and reproducibly obtained by analyzing the axial and/or longitudinal cross-section of the spray using the apparatus and method of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices and methods for multi-dimensional scanning of a scene. In particular, this invention provides scanning devices and methods employing controllable light beam scanning devices capable of sending a light beam onto a scene, and of receiving corresponding light returned from the scene, and controllers capable of operating the scanning device at selected beam orientations, and of gaining distance information from the scanning device at the beam orientations. The controller can dynamically define beam orientations using the distance information gained from preceding beam orientations.

Abstract: While position measurement of an edge position of a thermal shield takes place in a short time with high working efficiency, the edge position can be measured accurately without variation. First determination takes place while a distance is measured with a first scanning interval. When a change in a measured distance which can be determined as the edge position is determined as a result, an optical scanning position is returned by a predetermined amount reversely to the scanning direction (or reversely to the scanning direction), and while laser beam is scanned again from the returned optical scanning position, second determination takes place while measuring the distance with a second scanning interval shorter than the first scanning interval.

Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus according to an aspect of the invention may include: a light source irradiating reference light to measure a distance; a lower reflective mirror reflecting the reference light to irradiate the reference light onto a peripheral obstacle, and reflecting reflected light, rebounded from an obstacle, so that the reflected light moves in an opposite direction along the same optical path as the reference light; a sensor lens arranged above the lower reflective mirror, converting the reference light into parallel light beams and focusing the reflected light; an upper reflective mirror arranged above the sensor lens and switching an optical path of the reflected light; and an optical sensor receiving the reflected light having the optical path thereof switched by the upper reflective mirror, wherein the upper reflective mirror reflects back the reflected light, focused after passing through the sensor lens, in an opposite direction to a moving direction thereof so that a focus of the ref

Abstract: The present invention provides a surveying device, which comprises rotators 53, 56 and 61 for deflecting a distance measuring light in horizontal direction and for projecting the distance measuring light in rotary irradiation, at least one extension member 62 for increasing a spreading angle in vertical direction of the distance measuring light, and a means for attaching or detaching the extension member so that the extension member can be inserted and removed to or from a distance measuring optical axis.

Abstract: A system that includes a laser designator configured to continuously designate a target with a pulsed laser spot. The system includes a sensor and associated processing system configured to receive a reflection of the laser spot, convert the received energy to plurality of signals, processing the signals for detecting true reflected signals and process the true reflected signals for generating target related action. The sensor and associated processor are configured to detect the true signals notwithstanding an inherent low Signal/Noise ratio of below 4 of the received signals from due to low pulse power of the laser designator and distance to target.

Abstract: A coordinate measurement instrument includes an optical distance measurement device (200, 300) for measuring the distance from an auxiliary measurement means (5) which can move in space, a zoom camera (106), which can rotate with respect to at least two axes, with a zoom lens, and an overview camera (104) for coarse localization of the auxiliary measurement means (5). A light exit and light receiving optical system (101, 102) of the distance measurement device (200, 300), the zoom camera (106) and the overview camera (104) are arranged on a shared carrier (1) which can rotate with respect to at least two axes (A, Z). The optical axis (111) of the distance measurement device (200, 300) and the optical axis of the overview camera (104), preferably extend coaxially outside the coordinate measurement instrument.

Abstract: A coherent imaging system for producing high resolution images is provided. A coherent radiation source module produces two radiation beams, each at a different instance. An optical component directs the first radiation beam towards a target at a first angle to produce a first return beam, and also produces a first reference beam. Another optical component directs the second radiation beam towards the target at a second angle to produce a second return beam, and also produces a second reference beam. An aperture collects the first return beam and the second return beam. A detector module produces two coherent images based on interference between the return beams and the reference beams. The detector module also combines the first coherent image and the second coherent image to produce a high resolution coherent image, which has a resolution higher than a resolution of the first coherent image or the second coherent image.

Abstract: In a chromatic point sensor, distance measurements are based on a distance-indicating subset of intensity profile data, which is selected in a manner that varies with a determined peak position index coordinate (PPIC) of the profile data. The PPIC indexes the position a profile data peak. For profile data having a particular PPIC, the distance-indicating subset of the profile data is selected based on particular index-specific data-limiting parameters that are indexed with that same particular PPIC. In various embodiments, each set of index-specific data-limiting parameters indexed with a particular PPIC characterizes a distance-indicating subset of data that was used during distance calibration operations corresponding to profile data having that PPIC. Distance-indicating subsets of data may be compensated to be similar to a corresponding distance-indicating subset of data that was used during calibration operations, regardless of overall intensity variations and detector bias signal level variations.

Abstract: A three-dimensional range imager includes a light source for providing a modulated light signal, a multiplexer, an optical fiber connecting the light source to the multiplexer, a plurality of optical fibers connected at first ends to the multiplexer and at second ends to a first fiber array, and a transmitter optic disposed adjacent the first fiber array for projecting a pixel pattern of the array onto a target.

Abstract: This invention relates to a three-dimensional image of ground surface and the method and system that generates the three-dimensional image. Here, a three-dimensional image is an image that has three-dimensional XYZ coordinates in a ground coordinate system for every pixel of the image and the ground surface means the bare-earth surface plus all the objects on the bare-earth surface. The scene covered and represented by such a three-dimensional image is a three-dimensional real world scene where everything visible in the three-dimensional image has three-dimensional coordinates. The three-dimensional XYZ coordinates of all the pixels of a three-dimensional image are attributed by the method and system of this invention for generating three-dimensional images with airborne oblique/vertical imagery, GPS/IMU, and LIDAR ground surface elevation or range data.

Abstract: A projector includes a light source unit, a light source-side optical system for guiding light from the light source unit to a display device, the display device, a projection-side optical system for projecting an image emitted from the display device on to a screen, and a distance measuring system 1 and has a projector control unit for controlling the light source unit and the display device. In addition, the distance measuring system 1 has a laser beam emitter 2 for emitting a laser beam to a distance measurement target object, a receiving lens 4 for concentrating reflected light from the distance measurement target object and a receiving element 3 for receiving the reflected light from the distance measurement target object which has passed through the receiving lens 4, and optical axes of the receiving lens 4 and the receiving element 3 are made to be aligned with an optical axis of the emitted laser beam.

Abstract: A light meter for measuring photometric quantities includes a telephotometer having a photo detector to receive light energy entering the telephotometer. A light metering valve, for the purpose of providing a variable field of view, is located in the body of the telephotometer generally at the focal plane of the objective lens of the telephotometer. A controller, which includes a digital processor in communication with the photo detector will process information from the photo detector and from a range finder included in the system to output light intensity of a target light source.

Abstract: An adapter and method for through the lens (TTL) laser range sensor probes enables use of a TTL probe of a given exit pupil size to be used with a shared objective lens requiring a entrance pupil size, as entered from the laser range sensor, that is different from the TTL probe exit pupil size. Embodiments of the adapter include optics, such as a first lens and a resolving second lens that expand or contract the TTL laser radiation depending on whether the first lens is a diverging, a negative focal length lens, or a converging, positive focal length lens, and the second lens is converging or diverging, respectively, in a Galilean arrangement. Embodiments also provide a Keplerian arrangement, can function with non-collimated radiation, and can include mirrors to yield a more compact adapter. Additional embodiments include at least one adjustable lens element between the first and second lenses, the at least one adjustable lens element being connected to an actuator for movement along the optical path.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise an apparatus for use with a laser range finder configured to direct a laser beam toward a scene to measure the distance to a target in the scene and having a range finder display for displaying data, including data that is indicative of the distance to a target, wherein the apparatus comprises a protective housing, a camera module in the housing, the camera module including a lens mounted in a front end portion of the housing, and a light path through the lens to image sensor, an image sensor operatively connected to the camera module for receiving images acquired by the camera module, electronic memory for selectively storing data of images from the image sensor, circuitry for controlling the operation of the image sensor and the memory, a camera display in the housing operatively connected to the image sensor for receiving the image data and providing a visual display of the image, and a switch for storing image data in the memory.

Abstract: A single-aperture passive rangefinder and a method of determining a range. In one embodiment, the single-aperture passive rangefinder includes: (1) an imaging system configured to form a first image that includes a point of interest at a first position and a second image at a second position that includes the point of interest and (2) a processor associated with the imaging system and configured to acquire and store the first image and the second image and determine a range to the point of interest based on a separation between the first position and the second position and a position of the point of interest relative to virtual axes of the imaging system at the first position and at the second position.

Abstract: A method for measuring the distance of an object is provided that includes irradiating a plurality of light beams having predetermined wavelengths and then in a first round, picking up an image under irradiation of the plurality of light beams and in another round picking up the image without irradiation using a camera. The difference of the image between the first and other round is fed to an observation region part and to an irradiation angle computing part and then the distance to the object is computed.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus for use in a scanning optical system comprises a laser transmitter to produce a transmitter beam. This transmitter beam is deviated by a beam scanner, e.g. a tiltable mirror, to produce a pattern of a scanning beam. There are bearings which define first and second axes of rotation perpendicular to each other and intersecting each other in an intersecting point for allowing the beam scanner to scan. In front of the beam scanner is a window of transparent material in the shape of a spherical cap so as to define a central axis and a central point. The central axis intersects the intersecting point of the two other axes, and this common intersecting point coincides preferably with the central point of the sphere of the window.

Abstract: A laser scanner apparatus is disclosed herein for measuring the geometry and physical dimensions of one or more objects in a specified location or platform. The specified location or platform is within a range less than a predetermined maximum object distance. The laser scanner includes a waveform generator that generates a predetermined reference waveform to an analog laser that provides an modulated laser beam responsive to the reference waveform, an optical scanning system which 1) transmits and scans the object with the modulated laser light beam and 2) includes a means for receiving reflected the modulated laser light from the surface of an object on the platform or specified location, an avalanche photo-detector positioned to receive the processed modulated light from the optical processing system, and convert energy in the incident light into an amplitude-modulated range signal, a mixer is provided to down-convert the frequency of the range signal into a lower (LF) frequency.

Abstract: A device and a method for measuring the sizes of a remote object, for example, concrete crack, without using a high-place work vehicle or a ladder. An optical apparatus (e.g. a measuring device (10) ) used for this purpose is provided with a telescope (16) having a reticule plate (46) . The reticule plate (46) is provided with a plurality of reference scales (52) used for comparison with the size (W) of the image (C?) of an object (C) projected onto the reticule plate (46). The size of the object can be measured using the size of the object image measured with the reference scales (52) and a distance (a distance from a reference point P0 a to the object) measured with a distance measuring unit (20) of the optical apparatus.

Abstract: A laser beam projecting device, comprising a laser light source for emitting a laser beam, a wavelength selecting film for allowing the laser beam from the laser light source to. pass, and a birefringent optical member arranged on an optical axis closer to an exit side than the wavelength selecting film, wherein the wavelength selecting film is tilted so that an incident angle of the laser beam is in a range of 45° to 80°.

Abstract: Performance of pixel detectors in a TOF imaging system is dynamically adjusted to improve dynamic range to maximize the number of pixel detectors that output valid data. The invention traverses the system-acquired z depth, the brightness, and the active brightness images, and assigns each pixel a quantized value. Quantization values encompass pixels receiving too little light, normal light, to too much light. Pixels are grouped into quantized category groups, whose populations are represented by a histogram. If the number of pixels in the normal category exceeds a threshold, no immediate corrective action is taken. If the number of pixel receiving too little (or too much) light exceeds those receiving too much (or too little) light, the invention commands at least one system parameter change to increase (or decrease) light reaching the pixels. Controllable TOF system parameters can include exposure time, common mode resets, video gain, among others.

Abstract: A surveying system is provided that comprises a position relation calculating processor and a correspondence obtaining processor. The position relation calculating processor calculates a position relation between a coordinate system to which three-dimensional coordinates of a measurement point refer and a schematic image of a surveying field. Here, the schematic image includes the measurement point. The correspondence obtaining processor obtains a correspondence between the three-dimensional coordinates of the measurement point and the two-dimensional coordinates on the schematic image, corresponding to the measurement point.

Abstract: In a rangefinder, if sensor data initially received by a sensor data storage part from an A/D converter includes data with low contrast, the sensor data storage part receives the sensor data at least one additional time, adds additionally received sensor data to the initially received sensor data, and stores their sum. In accordance with the sum of sensor data stored in the sensor data storage part, a correlation calculation and a rangefinding calculation are carried out, which enables rangefinding with respect to an object having low contrast; Also, the time required for A/D-converting the sensor data again and adding the resulting data to those initially obtained is much shorter than the integration time required for integrating output signals of a pair of line sensors a second time for a region with low luminance and low contrast.

Abstract: A phase difference detection apparatus for detecting a phase difference between images formed on a pair of optical sensor arrays in which the possibility of unproductive compensation is reduced by use of a compensation effectiveness judgment unit that judges whether or not compensation of a pair of image data rows would be effective. A compensation unit calculates a compensation amount based on a difference in maximum values and minimum values in a pair of image data rows corresponding to the images produced by the optical sensor arrays and compensates the image data rows by the calculated compensation amount. Based upon the compensated values, a correlation calculation unit carries out a correlation calculation, and a maximum correlation detection unit detects a maximum correlation level. Based upon the maximum correlation level, a interpolation calculation unit carries out an interpolation calculation, and a phase difference is detected by a phase difference detection unit.