Chromatic optical ranging sensor

A chromatic optical ranging sensor comprising:

• means for time modulating optical energy by wavelength to produce a time modulated beam;
• means for focusing said time modulated beam onto a target from a known location, whereby different wavelengths of said time modulated beam are focused at different distances from said known location;
• means for collecting a reflected beam from said target;
• and
• means for detecting and interpolating said reflected beam to determine a distance of said target from said known location,
• said means for detecting and interpolating including means for separating said reflected beam into a focused portion and an unfocused portion and means for indicating a function of an amplitude of said focused portion and an amplitude of said unfocused portion.

A three-dimensional sensor, comprising:

• means for providing broadband, high intensity optical energy;
• said optical energy including a plurality of individual wavelength components;
• means for polarizing said optical energy;
• means for tuning said polarized optical energy so that said range of polarizations of said optical energy corresponds to a range of optical wavelengths;
• means for selectively transmitting said optical energy according to a particular oriented polarization;
• means for focusing said optical energy onto a target from a known location;
• means for collecting a reflected beam from said target;
• and
• means for detecting said reflected beam and thereby determining a distance of said target from said known location.

A precision ranging sensor comprising:

• a polychromatic source of light;
• means for illuminating a target with a spot of said polychromatic light to produce a reflected beam;
• means for applying dispersion to said polychromatic light, whereby different wavelengths of said polychromatic light are focusable at different distances;
• and
• means for detecting a wavelength at which said reflected beam has a maximum amplitude, wherein said maximum amplitude is related to a distance between said target and said means for applying dispersion.

A precision ranging sensor comprising:

• a polychromatic source of light;
• means for illuminating a target with a spot of said polychromatic light to produce a reflected beam;
• means for applying dispersion to said polychromatic light, whereby different wavelengths of said polychromatic light are focusable at different distances;
• and
• means for detecting a wavelength at which said reflected beam has a maximum amplitude wherein said maximum amplitude is related to a distance between said target and said means for applying dispersion,
• said means for detecting a wavelength including means for simultaneously reflecting at least a plurality of wavelengths of said polychromatic light from said spot to produce a reflected beam;
• means for applying dispersion to said reflected beam;
• means for transversely deflecting said reflected beam an amount related to each of said plurality of wavelengths;
• and
• means for detecting a transverse position of a maximum amplitude of the transversely deflected reflected beam, whereby said transverse position is related to a distance between said target and said means for applying dispersion.

A precision ranging sensor comprising:

• a polychromatic source of light;
• means for illuminating a target with a spot of said polychromatic light to produce a reflected beam;
• means for applying dispersion to said polychromatic light, whereby different wavelengths of said polychromatic light are focusable at different distances;
• and
• means for detecting a wavelength at which said reflected beam has a maximum amplitude, said means for detecting a wavelength including a linear position sensing detector.

A chromatic optical ranging sensor, comprising:

• means for modulating a plurality of optical energy wavelengths over time to produce a time modulated beam;
• means for focusing said time modulated beam onto a target from a known location, whereby different wavelengths of said time modulated beam are focused at different distances from said known location;
• means for collecting a reflected beam from said target;
• means for detecting said reflected beam and thereby determining a distance of said target from said known location;
• and
• means for compensating for wavelength dependent reflectivity in said target.

A chromatic optical ranging sensor, comprising:

• means for focusing a source beam of optical energy onto a target from a known location, whereby different wavelengths of said source beam are focused at different distances from said known location;
• means for collecting a reflected beam from said target;
• means for detecting said reflected beam and thereby determining a distance of said target from said known location;
• and
• means for compensating for wavelength dependent reflectivity in said target.

A three-dimensional sensor, comprising:

• means for providing broadband, high intensity optical energy;
• said optical energy including a plurality of individual wavelength components;
• means for polarizing said optical energy;
• means for tuning said polarized optical energy so that said range of polarizations of said optical energy corresponds to a range of optical wavelengths;
• means for selectively transmitting said optical energy according to a particular oriented polarization;
• means for focusing said optical energy onto a target from a known location;
• means for collecting a reflected beam from said target;
• means for detecting said reflected beam and thereby determining a range of said target from said known location;
• and
• means for compensating for wavelength dependent reflectivity in said target.

A precision ranging sensor comprising:

• a polychromatic source of light;
• means for illuminating a target with a spot of said polychromatic light to produce a reflected beam;
• means for applying dispersion to said polychromatic light, whereby different wavelengths of said polychromatic light are focusable at different distances;
• means for detecting a wavelength at which said reflected beam has a maximum amplitude, wherein said maximum amplitude is related to a distance between said target and said means for applying dispersion;
• and
• means for compensating for wavelength dependent reflectivity in said target.

A chromatic optical ranging sensor, comprising:

• means for modulating a plurality of optical energy wavelengths over time to produce a time modulated beam;
• means for focusing said time modulated beam onto a target from a known location, whereby different wavelengths of said time modulated beam are focused at different distances from said known location;
• means for collecting a reflected beam from said target;
• and
• means for detecting said reflected beam and thereby determining a distance of said target from said known location;
• said means for detecting including means for compensating for a variation in reflectivity with wavelength of said target, said means for compensating including means for detecting first and second portions of said reflected beam, said first portion being focused at a point and said second portion being unfocused, said means for compensating further including means for generating a signal combining a result of said detecting said first portion with a result of said detecting a second portion.

A chromatic optical ranging sensor, comprising:

• an optical device;
• said optical device focusing collimated light at a point of focus;
• said collimated light being light reflected from a surface illuminated by a source focused on said surface by a chromatically dispersive optical element so that a wavelength of reflected collimated light from said surface is dependent on a range of said surface from said dispersive element, whereby said point of focus depends on said range;
• a receiver having a first receiver portion sized to detect maximum amount of said collimated light when said point of focus coincides with said first receiver portion;
• a first portion of said collimated light that falls on a second portion of said receiver being directed to a first detector of said receiver, said first detector outputting a first signal;
• a second portion of said collimated light that falls on said first receiver portion being directed to a second detector to produce a second intensity signal;
• and
• an indicator connected to receive both said first and said second signals and outputting a third signal responsive to both said first and said second signals.

A chromatic optical ranging system comprising:

• a light source;
• means for focusing a spot of said light source on a surface;
• said light having at least first and second selectable optical wavelengths;
• said first and second optical wavelengths being present at different times;
• a chromatically dispersive optical element in a path of said light from said spot;
• a first lens effective to focus said light on an object;
• a second lens effective to produce a focus of light from said object;
• chromatic dispersivity of said chromatically dispersive optical element producing said focus for said first optical wavelength at a position displaced from said focus for said second optical wavelength;
• a first detector at said focus for said first optical wavelength;
• said first detector having an area effective to receive substantially all of said first optical wavelength;
• and
• a second detector receiving a portion of said second optical wavelength which falls outside said area.