Reflective device for use in an optical measuring system

• US 10,317,277 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2017
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus DS GMBH
• Original Assignee: Airbus DS GMBH
• Inventors: Mandel, Oliver, Weise, Dennis, Chwalla, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Thanh
• Application Number:
  US15/485,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20170299428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0414 using plane or convex mirrors, parallel phase plates, or plane beam-splitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/42 using electric radiation detectors optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/74 Systems using reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. IFF, i.e. identification of friend or foe
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/481 Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements

Abstract

A reflective device for an optical measuring system and for arranging in a measuring object, including an optical deflection device and a retroreflector. The deflection device can deflect a light beam at the optical deflection device from an incident axis. The retroreflector can reflect the beam parallel to its incoming direction for each of various incoming directions of a light beam onto the retroreflector. The reflective device can be arranged in the measuring object such that a measuring beam of the optical measuring system, pointed at the measuring object and arriving at the optical deflection device in a first direction, is deflected by the optical deflection device onto the retroreflector in a different, second direction and, following reflection at the retroreflector, is deflected by the optical deflection device in reverse parallel to the first direction. An optical measuring system, a flying object and a flying object system are further described.

Claims

1. A reflective device for use in an optical measuring system and for arranging in a measuring object, the reflective device comprising:

an optical deflection device configured to deflect a light beam arriving at the optical deflection device from an incident axis of the light beam, the optical deflection device comprising two mirrors that are aligned parallel to one another; and

a retroreflector configured to reflect the light beam parallel to its respective incoming direction for each of various incoming directions of a light beam onto the retroreflector,

wherein the retroreflector and the optical deflection device are arranged in the reflective device such that and the reflective device can be arranged in the measuring object such that a measuring beam of the optical measuring system, which is pointed at the measuring object and arrives in a first direction at the optical deflection device, is deflected by the optical deflection device onto the retroreflector in a second direction different from the first direction and, following reflection at the retroreflector, is deflected by the optical deflection device in reverse parallel to the first direction.

2. The reflective device according to claim 1, wherein the retroreflector is formed in one piece.

3. The reflective device according to claim 1, wherein the mirrors are arranged in different mirror planes.

4. The reflective device according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the mirrors and/or the mirror planes is adjustable.

5. The reflective device according to claim 1, wherein the optical deflection device comprises at least one beam splitter.

6. The reflective device according to claim 1, wherein the optical measuring system is configured to determine at least one of a distance and a change of distance between a first reference point, which is associated with the measuring object, and a second reference point, which is movable in relation to the measuring object.

7. The reflective device according to claim 6, wherein the reflective device is configured such that, and can be arranged in the measuring object such that, the first reference point is located outside the reflective device and in relation to the measuring beam, which arrives at the reflective device at least substantially from the direction of the second reference point, a reflection of the first reference point is produced within the reflective device.

8. The reflective device according to claim 7, wherein the reflection of the first reference point is produced outside of the retroreflector.

9. The reflective device according to claim 1, comprising a measuring device for detecting a phase position of the measuring beam and/or a beam source for producing or amplifying the measuring beam.

10. The reflective device according to claim 9, wherein the reflective device comprises the measuring device and the beam source, and wherein a measuring point of the measuring device and an injection of a beam from the beam source are arranged at least substantially at the same point.

11. An optical measuring system comprising at least one reflective device for use in an optical measuring system and for arranging in a measuring object, the at least one reflective device comprising:

an optical deflection device configured to deflect a light beam arriving at the optical deflection device from an incident axis of the light beam, the optical deflection device comprising two mirrors that are aligned parallel to one another; and

a retroreflector configured to reflect the light beam parallel to its respective incoming direction for each of various incoming directions of a light beam onto the retroreflector,

wherein the retroreflector and the optical deflection device are arranged in the reflective device such that and the reflective device can be arranged in the measuring object such that a measuring beam of the optical measuring system, which is pointed at the measuring object and arrives in a first direction at the optical deflection device, is deflected by the optical deflection device onto the retroreflector in a second direction different from the first direction and, following reflection at the retroreflector, is deflected by the optical deflection device in reverse parallel to the first direction.

12. The optical measuring system according to claim 11, wherein the retroreflector is formed in one piece.

13. The optical measuring system according to claim 11, wherein the mirrors are arranged in different mirror planes.

14. The optical measuring system according to claim 11, wherein a distance between the mirrors and/or the mirror planes is adjustable.

15. The optical measuring system according to claim 11, wherein the optical deflection device further comprises at least one beam splitter.

16. The optical measuring system according to claim 11, wherein the optical measuring system is configured to determine at least one of a distance and a change of distance between a first reference point, which is associated with the measuring object, and a second reference point, which is movable in relation to the measuring object.

17. The optical measuring system according to claim 11, comprising a measuring device for detecting a phase position of the measuring beam and/or a beam source for producing or amplifying the measuring beam.

18. The optical measuring system according to claim 17, wherein the reflective device comprises a measuring device and a beam source and wherein a measuring point of the measuring device and an injection of a beam from the beam source are arranged at least substantially at the same point.

19. A flying object comprising at least one reflective device for use in an optical measuring system and for arranging in a measuring object, the reflective device comprising:

an optical deflection device configured to deflect a light beam arriving at the optical deflection device from an incident axis of the light beam, the optical deflection device comprising two mirrors that are aligned parallel to one another; and

a retroreflector configured to reflect the light beam parallel to its respective incoming direction for each of various incoming directions of a light beam onto the retroreflector,

wherein the retroreflector and the optical deflection device are arranged in the reflective device such that and the reflective device can be arranged in the measuring object such that a measuring beam of the optical measuring system, which is pointed at the measuring object and arrives in a first direction at the optical deflection device, is deflected by the optical deflection device onto the retroreflector in a second direction different from the first direction and, following reflection at the retroreflector, is deflected by the optical deflection device in reverse parallel to the first direction.

20. A flying object system comprising at least two of the flying objects according to claim 19.