Lidar system
AssigneeLeica Geosystems AG
InventorsGregory C. Walsh, Alan Aindow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments may include methods and systems for obtaining location information regarding an object. In one example, a laser pulse may be generated. The laser pulse may be divided into a plurality of laser pulse signals. Each of the laser pulse signals may be provided to a corresponding delay path, each delay path having a different length. An output of each delay path may be directed to the object. A plurality of reflected time-separated laser pulse signals from the object may be detected. The plurality of time-separated laser pulse signals may be combined to provide a recombined laser pulse signal. The recombined laser pulse signal may be resolved to generate object location information regarding the object.
Claims16
A method of obtaining location information regarding an object, the method comprising:
- generating a laser pulse;
- dividing the laser pulse into a plurality of laser pulse signals;
- providing each of the laser pulse signals to a corresponding delay path, each delay path having a different length;
- directing an output of each delay path to the object to image a time-separated array of spots;
- detecting reflected spots of the time-separated array of spots from the object;
- and
- resolving each of the reflected spots of the time-separated array of spots in sequence to generate object location information regarding the object.
A system for obtaining location information regarding an object, the system comprising:
- a pulsed laser that generates a laser pulse;
- a splitter that divides the laser pulse into a plurality of laser pulse signals;
- a plurality of delay paths that receive the plurality of laser pulse signals, each delay path having a different length;
- imaging optics that direct an output of each delay path to the object;
- an optical detector that detects a plurality of reflected time-separated laser pulse signals from the object and combines the plurality of time-separated laser pulse signals to provide a recombined laser pulse signal;
- timing electronics that resolve the recombined laser pulse signal to generate object location information regarding the object.
A method of obtaining location information regarding an object, the method comprising:
- generating a laser pulse;
- dividing the laser pulse into a plurality of laser pulse signals;
- directing each of the laser pulse signals to the object;
- directing a corresponding plurality of reflected laser pulse signals from the object to receiver optics;
- providing each of the reflected laser pulse signals to a corresponding delay line, each delay line having a different length such that the plurality of delay lines output a plurality of time-separated reflected laser pulse signals;
- combining the plurality of time-separated laser pulse signals to provide a recombined laser pulse signal;
- detecting a corresponding plurality of reflected laser pulse signals;
- and
- resolving the recombined laser pulse signal to generate object location information regarding the object.
A system for obtaining location information regarding an object, the system comprising:
- a pulsed laser that generates a laser pulse;
- a splitter that divides the laser pulse into a plurality of laser pulse signals and directs each of the laser pulse signals to the object;
- a plurality of delay lines that receive a plurality of reflected laser pulse signals from the object, each delay line having a different length such that the plurality of delay lines output a plurality of time-separated reflected laser pulse signals, wherein the plurality of reflected laser pulse signals are directed to the plurality of delay lines by the splitter;
- a combiner that combines the plurality of time-separated laser pulse signals to provide a recombined laser pulse signal;
- an optical detector that detects the recombined laser pulse signal;
- and
- timing electronics that resolve the recombined laser pulse signal to generate object location information regarding the object.
A system for obtaining location information regarding an object, the system comprising:
- a pulsed laser that generates a laser pulse;
- a splitter that divides the laser pulse into a plurality of laser pulse signals and directs each of the laser pulse signals to the object;
- a plurality of delay lines that receive a plurality of reflected laser pulse signals from the object, each delay line having a different length such that the plurality of delay lines output a plurality of time-separated reflected laser pulse signals;
- a combiner that combines the plurality of time-separated laser pulse signals to provide a recombined laser pulse signal, wherein the combiner is a fiber optic coupler-splitter;
- an optical detector that detects the recombined laser pulse signal;
- and
- timing electronics that resolve the recombined laser pulse signal to generate object location information regarding the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.