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US 12,761,331 B2Granted
Rotatable light sources and associated pulse detection and imaging systems and methods
AssigneeTeledyne FLIR Defense, Inc.
InventorsFalgun D. Patel, Peter Dalmatoff, Timothy A. Strand
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Abstract
Techniques are disclosed for rotatable light sources and associated pulse detection and imaging systems and methods. In one example, a laser light source includes a laser light emitter configured to transmit a laser light beam. The laser light source includes an optical element configured to disperse the laser light beam to provide a vertical plane of light. The laser light source includes a control device configured to rotate the optical element. Rotation of the optical element causes rotation of the vertical plane of light. Related systems and methods are also provided.
Claims16
A system comprising:
- a beacon configured to mark a location, the beacon comprising a laser light source comprising:
- a laser light emitter configured to transmit a mid-wave infrared (MWIR) laser light beam;
- an optical element configured to disperse the laser light beam to provide a vertical plane of laser light, wherein the optical element comprises a dispersing lens configured to disperse the vertical plane of laser light as a fan of light;
- a control device configured to control a rotation speed of the optical element and rotate the optical element about a vertical axis of the optical element according to the rotation speed, wherein rotation of the optical element causes rotation of the fan of light;
- and
- a light pulse detection device comprising an MWIR imaging sensor and configured to detect pulses by detecting light as it flashes briefly over a position of the light pulse detection device during the rotation of the fan of light, wherein the light pulse detection device is configured to:
- detect a first light pulse, wherein the first light pulse is a detection of a portion of the laser light during a first rotation at a first rotation speed of the optical element;
- detect two or more second light pulses, wherein the two or more second light pulses are a portion of the vertical plane of laser light during subsequent rotations at a different rotation speed of the optical element from the first rotation speed;
- determine that the first light pulse is associated with a first pulse sequence of a plurality of predetermined pulse sequences based at least on a time difference between detection of the first light pulse and detection of the two or more second light pulses;
- determine first timing information associated with a third light pulse of the first pulse sequence, wherein the third light pulse is subsequent to the first light pulse and the two or more second light pulses;
- and
- generate first data associated with the first timing information;
- and
- an imaging device configured to:
- determine when a first integration period of the imaging device will overlap the third light pulse based on the first data;
- and
- capture, using the first integration period, a first image that includes the third light pulse of the first pulse sequence.
14 more elements
A method comprising:
- transmitting, by a beacon including a laser light source having a laser light emitter, a mid-wave infrared (MWIR) laser light beam;
- dispersing, by an optical element, the laser light beam to provide a vertical plane of light, wherein the optical element comprises a dispersing lens configured to disperse the vertical plane of laser light as a fan of light;
- rotating, by a control device, the optical element about a vertical axis of the optical element, wherein rotation of the optical element causes rotation of the vertical plane of light;
- detecting, by a light pulse detection device comprising an MWIR imaging sensor and configured to detect pulses by detecting light as it flashes briefly over a position of the light pulse detection device during the rotation of the fan of light, a first light pulse, wherein the first light pulse is a detection of a portion of the laser light during a first rotation at a first rotation speed of the optical element;
- detecting, by the light pulse detection device, two or more second light pulses, wherein the two or more second light pulses are second light pulse is a portion of the vertical plane of laser light during subsequent rotations at a different rotation speed of the optical element from the first rotation speed;
- determining, by the light pulse detection device, that the first light pulse is associated with a first pulse sequence of a plurality of predetermined pulse sequences based at least on a time difference between detection of the first light pulse and detection of the two or more second light pulses;
- determining, by the light pulse detection device, first timing information associated with a third light pulse of the first pulse sequence, wherein the third light pulse is subsequent to the first light pulse and the two or more second light pulses;
- generating, by the light pulse detection device, first data associated with the first timing information;
- determining, by an imaging device, when a first integration period of the imaging device will overlap the third light pulse based on the first data;
- and
- capturing, by the imaging device and using the first integration period, a first image that includes the third light pulse of the first pulse sequence.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.