Modulation of input to Geiger mode avalanche photodiode LIDAR using digital micromirror devices
AssigneeHarris Corporation
InventorWilliam E. Clifton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems (100) and methods (600) for acquiring data relating to an environment of interest. The methods comprise: receiving by a telescope (110) light scattered by an object within the environment; focusing a cone of light towards a spatial light modulator (112) which is placed a certain distance from the telescope on a telescope-focus surface; and deflecting a select amount of the cone of light by the spatial light modulator towards a photodiode array (114), whereby a sensitivity across the photodiode array is made uniform.
Claims16
A method for acquiring data relating to an environment of interest, comprising:
- receiving by a lens of a telescope light scattered by an object within the environment;
- focusing a cone of light towards a spatial light modulator which is placed a certain distance from the telescope on a telescope-focus surface;
- deflecting a select amount of the cone of light by the spatial light modulator towards a photodiode array, whereby a sensitivity across the photodiode array is made uniform;
- detecting which photodiode of the photodiode array constitutes a dead or hot detector;
- assigning at least one micromirror of the spatial light modulator to the photodiode determined to constitute the dead or hot detector;
- and
- dynamically transitioning a state of the at least one micromirror from an ON state in which the at least one micromirror is tilted towards illumination provided by the telescope to an Off state in which the at least one micromirror is tilted away from the illumination provided by the telescope.
A method for acquiring data relating to an environment of interest, comprising:
- receiving by a lens of a telescope light scattered by an object within the environment;
- focusing a cone of light towards a spatial light modulator which is placed a certain distance from the telescope on a telescope-focus surface;
- deflecting a select amount of the cone of light by the spatial light modulator towards a photodiode array, whereby a sensitivity across the photodiode array is made uniform;
- assigning at least one first micromirror of the spatial light modulator to a dead or hot photodiode;
- and
- tilting the first micromirror in a direction away from illumination by the telescope.
A system, comprising:
- a photodiode array;
- a telescope receiving light scattered by an object within an environment and for focusing a cone of light towards a spatial light modulator;
- the spatial light modulator placed a certain distance from the telescope on a telescope-focus surface, and deflecting a select amount of the cone of light towards the photodiode array, whereby a sensitivity across the photodiode array is made uniform;
- and
- a microprocessor configured to assign at least one micromirror of the spatial light modulator to a photodiode constituting a dead or hot detector, and dynamically transition a state of the at least one micromirror from an ON state in which the at least one micromirror is tilted towards illumination provided by the telescope to an Off state in which the at least one micromirror is tilted away from the illumination provided by the telescope.
A system, comprising:
- a photodiode array;
- a telescope receiving light scattered by an object within an environment and for focusing a cone of light towards a spatial light modulator;
- and
- the spatial light modulator placed a certain distance from the telescope on a telescope-focus surface, and deflecting a select amount of the cone of light towards the photodiode array, whereby a sensitivity across the photodiode array is made uniform;
- wherein:
- at least one first micromirror of the spatial light modulator is assigned to a dead or hot photodiode;
- and
- the first micromirror is tilted in a direction away from illumination by the telescope.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.