Underwater optical metrology system
Assignee3D at Depth, Inc.
InventorsCarl W. Embry, Neil Manning, Ian Roberts
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described herein are methods and devices for improved location of any and all underwater structures or equipment installed underwater. In particular, systems are disclosed that combine optical and acoustic metrology for locating objects in underwater environments. The systems allow for relative positions of objects to be determined with great accuracy using optical techniques, and support enhanced location of devices that utilize acoustic location techniques. In addition, location information can be provided by the system even in conditions that make optical metrology techniques impossible or impractical.
Claims30
A metrology system, comprising:
- a pressure vessel;
- a monitoring system, wherein at least some portions of the monitoring system are contained within the pressure vessel, the monitoring system including:
- a light source;
- transmit and receive optics, the transmit and receive optics including a beam splitter that receives light from the light source;
- a scanning device, wherein the scanning device directs light generated by the light source and received from the transmit and receive optics toward a target location;
- a window, wherein the window is formed in the pressure vessel and allows light received from the scanning device to be passed to the target location;
- a receiver, wherein light reflected from the target location, passed by the window to the scanning device, directed to the transmit and receive optics by the scanning device, and passed by the transmit and receive optics to the receiver, is detected by the receiver;
- and
- a fast shutter, wherein the fast shutter is located between the scanning device and the receiver.
A metrology system, comprising:
- a pressure vessel;
- a monitoring system, wherein at least some portions of the monitoring system are contained within the pressure vessel, the monitoring system including:
- a light source;
- transmit and receive optics, the transmit and receive optics including a beam splitter that receives light from the light source;
- a scanning device, wherein the scanning device directs light generated by the light source and received from the transmit and receive optics toward a target location;
- a window, wherein the window is formed in the pressure vessel and allows light received from the scanning device to be passed to the target location;
- a processor;
- a receiver, wherein light reflected from the target location, passed by the window to the scanning device, directed to the transmit and receive optics by the scanning device, and passed by the transmit and receive optics to the receiver, is detected by the receiver, wherein the processor is operable to determine a range from the metrology system to the target location from light reflected from the target location;
- and
- an acoustic transceiver, wherein the processor controls operation of the acoustic transceiver.
A metrology system, comprising:
- a frame;
- a pan and tilt head mounted to the frame;
- a monitoring system mounted to the pan and tilt head, wherein a field of regard of the monitoring system can be varied by operating the pan and tilt head to move the monitoring system relative to the frame;
- and
- an acoustic transceiver mounted to the frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.