US 2016/0103224 A1 · AUTOMATIC RANGE CORRECTED FLASH LADAR CAMERA

Abstract

A three dimensional imaging camera comprises a system controller, pulsed laser transmitter, receiving optics, an infrared focal plane array light detector, and an image processor. The described invention is capable of developing a complete 3-D scene from a single point of view. The 3-D imaging camera utilizes a pulsed laser transmitter capable of illuminating an entire scene with a single high power flash of light. The 3-D imaging camera employs a system controller to trigger a pulse of high intensity light from the pulsed laser transmitter, and counts the time from the start of the transmitter light pulse. The light reflected from the illuminated scene impinges on a receiving optics and is detected by a focal plane array optical detector. An image processor applies image enhancing algorithms to improve the image quality and develop object data for subjects in the field of view of the flash ladar imaging camera.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A flash ladar adapted for use with a vehicle, said flash ladar comprising:

a pulsed laser transmitter and pulsed light output and diffusing optic adapted to illuminate a field of view,
receive optics adapted to collect and condition an optical pulse comprised of pulsed light reflected from the field of view,
a detector array comprised of light detecting elements, and positioned at a focal plane of said receive optics,
a readout integrated circuit comprising a corresponding regular geometric array of unit cell electrical circuits,
an optical sampler comprising an optical pickup positioned to intercept an optical sample of the pulsed light output, and an optical waveguide to transmit said optical sample to a reference detector and said reference detector adapted to provide a zero time reference electrical output to each unit cell of said readout integrated circuit,
each unit cell electrical circuit having an amplifier, a counter, and a threshold detector, and said threshold detector adapted to produce a logic signal indicating the arrival of an electrical pulse,
a timing clock connected to the counter in each unit cell electrical circuit, and
wherein the counter started counting by the zero time reference electrical output, and the counter accumulating the number of cycles of said timing clock, and the counter stopped counting by said logic signal.

5 more elements

A flash ladar designed to sense objects in the path of a moving platform and having a field of view, said flash ladar comprising:

a pulsed laser transmitter with an optical axis and pulsed light output and diffusing optic adapted to illuminate a scene in the field of view with a pattern of light intensity,
receive optics boresighted along said optical axis adapted to collect and condition an optical pulse comprised of pulsed light reflected from said scene in the field of view,
a detector array comprised of a regular geometric array of light detecting elements, said detector array positioned at a focal plane of said receive optics,
a readout integrated circuit comprising a corresponding regular geometric array of unit cell electrical circuits,
each light detecting element in said detector array intercepting a portion of said optical pulse, and each light detecting element of said focal plane array producing an electrical pulse in response to said optical pulse, and said electrical pulse corresponding to a pixel of a three dimensional image,
each light detecting element of said focal plane array connected to an input of a unit cell electrical circuit of said readout integrated circuit,
drive electronics adapted to select a pixel upon command from the system controller by addressing the row and column of the readout integrated circuit, and
output electronics adapted to output the range and intensity for each selected pixel.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automatic range corrected flash ladar camera

Life of this patent

Automatic range corrected flash ladar camera

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25