Combined LOAS and LIDAR system

A block arrangement of optical elements for use as a transmitter/receiver for a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system, said block arrangement comprising:

• a plurality of glass modules aligned together as a block to form a plurality of optical paths therein and secured together to maintain said alignment;
• a collimated light source for generating a coherent beam of light over at least one optical path in said block which guides said coherent beam of light to an exit point of said block;
• a light detector;
• said block for receiving a return coherent beam of light and configured to conduct said return coherent beam of light to said light detector over at least one other optical path formed in said block;
• and
• wherein said block includes an opening for securing an acousto-optic modulator (AOM).

A combined system of a laser obstacle awareness system (LOAS) and a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system for obstacle detection and flow velocity measurement, said combined system comprising:

• a LIDAR arrangement of optical elements for generating a first coherent beam of light at a first predetermined wavelength;
• a LOAS arrangement of optical elements for generating a second coherent beam of light at a second predetermined wavelength;
• a dichroic filter optical element for directing said first and second coherent beams of light substantially along a common optical path;
• a scan head including a beam expander for accepting and expanding light from said common optical path;
• and at least one output optical element, for directing both of said expanded first and second coherent beams of light from said scan head, said at least one output optical element also for receiving reflections of said first and second coherent beams of light and directing said reflections to said beam expander wherein said beam reflections are collected and returned to said dichroic filter optical element along said common optical path;
• said dichroic filter optical element for separating the collected light corresponding to said first coherent beam from the collected light corresponding to said second coherent beam, the separated light corresponding to said first coherent beam being directed back to said LIDAR arrangement of optical elements, and the separated light corresponding to said second coherent beam being directed back to said LOAS arrangement of optical elements;
• a first light detector for converting light representative of the separated light corresponding to said first coherent beam to first electrical signals representative thereof;
• a second light detector for converting light representative of the separated light corresponding to said second coherent beam to second electrical signals representative thereof;
• and
• processing means coupled to the first and second light detectors for detecting at least one object and determining flow velocity using said first and second electrical signals.

A combined system of a laser obstacle awareness system (LOAS) and a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system for obstacle detection and flow velocity measurement, said combined system comprising:

• a LIDAR arrangement of optical elements for generating a first coherent beam of light at a first predetermined wavelength;
• a LOAS arrangement of optical elements for generating a second coherent beam of light at a second predetermined wavelength;
• a dichroic filter optical element for directing said first and second coherent beams of light substantially along a common optical path;
• a scan head for accepting light from said common optical path;
• and including at least one output optical element, for directing both of said first and second coherent beams of light from said scan head, said at least one output optical element also for receiving reflections of said first and second coherent beams of light and directing said reflections to said common optical path wherein said beam reflections are collected and returned to said dichroic filter optical element;
• said dichroic filter optical element for separating the collected light corresponding to said first coherent beam from the collected light corresponding to said second coherent beam, the separated light corresponding to said first coherent beam being directed back to said LIDAR arrangement of optical elements, and the separated light corresponding to said second coherent beam being directed back to said LOAS arrangement of optical elements;
• a first light detector for converting light representative of the separated light corresponding to said first coherent beam to first electrical signals representative thereof;
• a second light detector for converting light representative of the separated light corresponding to said second coherent beam to second electrical signals representative thereof;
• and
• processing means coupled to the first and second light detectors for detecting at least one object and determining flow velocity using said first and second electrical signals.

A combined system of a laser obstacle awareness system (LOAS) and a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system for obstacle detection and flow velocity measurement, said combined system comprising:

• a LIDAR arrangement of optical elements for generating a first coherent beam of light at a first predetermined wavelength;
• a LOAS arrangement of optical elements for generating a second coherent beam of light at a second predetermined wavelength;
• a dichroic filter optical element for directing said first and second coherent beams of light substantially along a common optical path;
• a plurality of scan heads;
• an optical switch controllable to couple light between the common optical path and a selected scan head of said plurality along a corresponding optical path;
• each scan head for accepting light from said optical switch;
• and including at least one output optical element for directing both of said first and second coherent beams of light from said scan head, said at least one output optical element also for receiving reflections of said first and second coherent beams of light and directing said reflections to said optical switch wherein said beam reflections are collected and returned to said dichroic filter optical element;
• and
• said dichroic filter optical element for separating the collected light corresponding to said first coherent beam from the collected light corresponding to said second coherent beam, the separated light corresponding to said first coherent beam being directed back to said LIDAR arrangement of optical elements for use in determining flow velocity, and the separated light corresponding to said second coherent beam being directed back to said LOAS arrangement of optical elements for use in detecting at least one object.