Abstract: A system and method for determination of origin displacement for a laser rangefinding instrument which comprises laser transmitting and receiving sections coupled to a processor section. The processor section is configured to calculate ranges from the instrument to first and second target coordinates and to compensate for displacement between disparate first and second origin points in order to determine a distance between these target coordinates.

Abstract: A LIDAR sensor includes a fiber laser configured to emit an electromagnetic pulse through a fiber cable, and a fiber cable splitter to split the fiber cable into a first fiber cable and a second fiber cable. The electromagnetic pulse is split into an output pulse that propagates through the first fiber cable and a calibration pulse that propagates through the second fiber cable. The LIDAR sensor includes a pulse receiving sensor configured to detect the calibration pulse and a second pulse corresponding to the output pulse being reflected by a surface external from the LiDAR sensor. A processor is included to receive information from the pulse receiving sensor indicating a position of the surface relative to the LiDAR sensor. The processor further measures an intensity of the calibration pulse and determines a reflectance of the surface based at least in part on the intensity of the calibration pulse.

Abstract: In a method for monitoring a line, a measuring signal is fed into a measuring conductor at a start time. The measuring signal is reflected at an interference point or at a line end and the reflected portion is monitored to check whether a threshold value is exceeded. If the threshold value is exceeded, a digital stop signal is generated and the transit time between the start time and the stop signal is analyzed.

Abstract: An airborne wind profiling portable radar (AWiPPR) system comprising a mobile airborne platform including one or more navigation units configured to produce navigation data including at least the position and orientation of the mobile airborne platform. A radar unit is mounted and positioned to the mobile airborne platform, the radar unit is configured to transmit a wide-band frequency modulated continuous wave radar signal in a downward direction from the mobile airborne platform towards the ground and configured to continuously receive a reflected signal from a plurality of clear air scatters (CAS) targets or volumetric targets and output radar data. An inertial measurement unit (IMU) in communication with the one or more navigation units and the radar unit is configured to receive the navigation data and determine the position and orientation of the radar at a specific point in time and output IMU data.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to determining a size and/or density of Super-cooled Large Droplets (SLDs) in a cloud atmosphere by simultaneously projecting both a collimated pulsed beam into a narrow-field projection volume and a divergent pulsed beam into a wide-field projection volume of the cloud atmosphere, and then detecting both the collimated and divergent pulsed beams backscattered from within a detection volume of the cloud atmosphere. Projection and detection are configured such that the detection volume intersects both the narrow-field and the wide-field projection volumes defining narrow-field/detection and wide-field/reception detection volumes, respectively.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a light source configured to emit a ranging pulse of light that is directed into a field of regard of the lidar system. The lidar system also includes a fiber-optic splitter configured to split off a portion of the ranging pulse of light to produce a trigger pulse of light that is directed to a receiver of the lidar system. The receiver is configured to detect, at a first time, at least a portion of the trigger pulse of light; and detect, at a second time subsequent to the first time, a portion of the ranging pulse of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The lidar system further includes a processor configured to determine the distance from the lidar system to the target based at least in part on the first time and the second time.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electronic device. The electronic device may include a flexible support and a control unit electrically coupled to the flexible support. The control unit receives a trigger signal, and generates a corresponding control signal according to the trigger signal. The flexible support is correspondingly deformed according to the control signal. The electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure generates, according to the trigger signal, the control signal for controlling deformation of the flexible support, thereby achieving electrically controlled deformation, and improving the intellectualization of electronic equipment.

Abstract: A method of detecting an abnormality in a blast furnace, wherein the abnormality causes clogging of a tuyere unit of the blast furnace, the method including capturing an image of a raceway unit through an in-furnace monitor window disposed at the tuyere unit; and determining that the abnormality has occurred when a brightness of the captured image is lower than or equal to a predetermined brightness threshold and a rate of decrease in the brightness is lower than or equal to a predetermined brightness-decrease-rate threshold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of simulating an initial component of a signal to approximate a component of a reference signal, the method characterized by the steps of: i. generating a source signal which includes at least one harmonic component, and ii. determining the average amplitude and duration of the source signal, and iii. referencing the amplitude of the reference signal component to be simulated, and iv. integrating the source signal over a period of time sufficient to produce a value for the signal component amplitude approximate to the reference signal component amplitude.

Abstract: The invention relates to a scanning optoelectronic detection device (7), in particular laser scanner, for a motor vehicle, comprising an optical emitter for emitting electromagnetic beams, comprising an optical receiver (10) for receiving beams (9) reflected at a target object in surroundings of the motor vehicle and for providing an electrical reception signal (19) depending on the received beams (9), and comprising an evaluation device (25) for detecting the target object depending on the electrical reception signal (19), wherein the emitter is designed to emit a respective emission beam for a multiplicity of different scanning angles within an entire scanning angle range, and wherein the evaluation device (25) is designed, for each scanning angle, to compare the reception signal (19) with a detection threshold and to detect the target object depending on the comparison, wherein the detection threshold is an angle-dependent threshold value function which has mutually different threshold values for the recep

Abstract: In one aspect, a frequency agile LADAR (laser detection and ranging) sensor includes a transmitter configured to provide laser pulses towards a target, a receiver configured to receive a reflected signal from the target and control circuitry configured to tune an optical frequency of a first laser pulse of the laser pulses to be different from an optical frequency of a second laser pulse of the laser pulses and tune an optical frequency of the receiver to be different than an optical frequency of a laser pulse most recently transmitted by the transmitter.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are presented for distance measurement using laser pulses in which at least one of an attenuation function and an offset of the attenuation function relative to the send pulse is variable to accommodate differing measurement needs. In some embodiments, at least one of an attenuation function and an offset of the attenuation function is fixed relative to the send pulse for some number of measurement cycles and information derived from the result is used to modify either or both of the attenuation function and offset of the attenuation function relative to the send pulse for subsequent measurement.

Abstract: A method of laser-based speed determination includes determining, via a digital scan of a field of view, a location of a target, directing, via a laser-aiming device, a laser from a laser device to the determined location, and determining a speed of the target via light reflected from the target to the laser device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser-based measuring device which can be used to measure geometrical sizes and lines of a plane from a distance away. The device comprises a hand-held or mountable housing unit containing a laser projector, two pivotally fixed mirrors moveable by a first and second motor respectively, and at least one range finder, wherein the laser generates a visible line whose width is determined by the on time of the laser the angle of reflection of the first mirror and the rotational speed of the second mirror. The range finder(s) project the laser beam through a marked lens which then illuminate a ruled line or grid upon the planar surface to be measured.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining distance comprising a transmitting unit for emitting a light pulse, a receiver matrix having at least one photoelectric element and a control unit, wherein the receiver matrix has a first and a second integrator which are connected to the photoelectric element, which are activatable independently of each other and which are each adapted to integrate a measurement signal outputted by photoelectric element over a period of time predetermined by the control unit and thereby to form an integrator state and to output the integrator state as an output signal.

Abstract: An improved digital trigger circuit has a plurality of data samples extracted from an input electrical signal for each sample clock cycle. The plurality of data samples are compared in parallel with a high threshold level and a low threshold level which provides hysteresis for noise rejection. Also the plurality of data samples are used to determine sub-sample trigger positioning. The comparison outputs are input to a digital trigger logic circuit for identifying a selected trigger event and generating a trigger for the acquisition of data from the input electrical signal for analysis and display. The digital trigger logic provides edge event triggering, pulse width triggering and transition time triggering, among others.

Abstract: A video guidance sensor system for use, e.g., in automated docking of a chase vehicle with a target vehicle. The system includes an integrated rangefinder sub-system that uses time of flight measurements to measure range. The rangefinder sub-system includes a pair of matched photodetectors for respectively detecting an output laser beam and return laser beam, a buffer memory for storing the photodetector outputs, and a digitizer connected to the buffer memory and including dual amplifiers and analog-to-digital converters. A digital signal processor processes the digitized output to produce a range measurement.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for an electro-optical distance measurement in which a laser beam of a laser diode (1) is directed as an intensity modulated train of emitted light pulses onto an object, the reflected measurement pulse train (10) is detected by a light detector (6), which generates, in response to the detection of a measurement pulse train, a first photo-current component, a smaller portion of the intensity modulated pulse train is branched out as a reference pulse train and, after passing a known reference path, is also detected by the light detector (6), which generates in response to this detection a second photo current component, and the light detector converts the measurement pulses, together with a mixer pulse train generated by a local oscillator, into a comparatively low-frequency IF-region that determines, after a corresponding conversion, the measured distance.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed for measuring distances. A measurement device emits a beam that reflects on the surface of an object. The measurement device determines the distance to the object, based on the time of flight of the beam from transmission to capture by the measurement device. The measurement device derives feedback reference pulses from pulses in the emitted beam and injects them into the device's receive path—creating a receive waveform that includes one or more feedback reference pulses and corresponding pulses in the return beam. The device uses the pulses in the waveform to measure time of flight. The measurement device can attenuate the feedback reference pulses to intensities similar or equal to the intensities of the return pulses. The measurement device can include a histogram processor that collects waveform samples at varying comparison thresholds.

Abstract: A method of distance measurement for vehicles by transit time measurement of laser pulses employs a distance sensor including a transmitter (11) having a pulse generator (1A) for the generation of a laser pulse (L), and a receiver (12) having a transit time measurement circuit (3A) for the detection of a reflected laser pulse (RL) reflected by a target. A cover wall (2), which is partially transparent to laser radiation, defines an installation space in which these elements are arranged, with a transit time of a reflected portion (RT) of the laser pulse (L), reflected by the cover wall (2) to the receiver (12), being measured as a reference time signal for the distance measurement.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for measuring water current direction and magnitude. A plurality of beams of radiation are transmitted radially outward from a location above a body of water. Each beam is incident on the water's surface at an angle with respect thereto. Each beam experiences a Doppler shift as a result of being incident on the water's surface such that a plurality of Doppler shifts are generated. Each Doppler shift is measured with the largest one thereof being indicative of water current direction and magnitude.

Abstract: A method of distance measurement for vehicles by transit time measurement of laser pulses employs a distance sensor including a transmitter (11) having a pulse generator (1A) for the generation of a laser pulse (L), and a receiver (12) having a transit time measurement circuit (3A) for the detection of a reflected laser pulse (RL) reflected by a target. A cover wall (2), which is partially transparent to laser radiation, defines an installation space in which these elements are arranged, with a transit time of a reflected portion (RT) of the laser pulse (L), reflected by the cover wall (2) to the receiver (12), being measured as a reference time signal for the distance measurement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a distance measuring apparatus which computes the distance from the apparatus to a target by measuring a period of time from when pulse light is emitted toward the target until a reflected component from the target is received. This apparatus comprises a structure for enabling accurate distance measurement by comparing a result of measurement concerning measurement pulse light emitted into a measurement optical path and a result of measurement concerning reference pulse light emitted into a reference optical path. In particular, this apparatus specifies, as the reflected pulse light from the target, the reflected component of the measurement pulse light initially detected after the measurement pulse light is emitted, and adjusts light quantity such that the light quantity of the initially detected reflected component coincides with that of the reference pulse light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a distance measuring apparatus and method having a structure enabling highly accurate distance measurement. In particular, the distance measuring apparatus according to the present invention comprises at least a measurement system for detecting, of measurement pulse light emitted into a measurement optical path toward a target, information concerning a reflected beam from the target. In order to prevent undesirable reflected beams, which form erroneous information, among reflected beams of the measurement pulse light from being received, an operation for detecting reflected beams of the measurement pulse light is inhibited for a predetermined period of time from the emitting time at which the measurement pulse light is emitted.