Doppler rotational velocity sensor
First Claim
1. A method of determining the rotational velocity of an object, the method comprising:
- directing at least one beam of light at the object;
sensing at least one beam of light reflected or backscattered from the object;
determining the Doppler spectral bandwidth of the sensed beam of light reflected or backscattered from the object;
determining the width of the area subtended by the intersection of the at least one beam of light and the surface of the rotating object; and
determining the angle at which the at least one beam of light intercepts the rotating object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosed invention concept utilizes a homodyne/heterodyne interferometer technique in a modified lidar in such a manner as to sense the rotational velocity magnitude and sense of a rotating (or “spinning”) object. Sensing is accomplished in assessing either the Doppler bandwidth of a single axis system or in sensing the frequency separation of Doppler spectrums in a “two” axis system. The technique is unique in that the Doppler bandwidth is linearly proportional to rotational velocity and independent of intercept position in the rotation plane. The technique as disclosed is based on optical fiber lidar techniques, but can be implemented in free-space optics as well. The disclosed invention therefore comprises both a technique for utilization of an optical fiber lidar and a new arrangement of lidar elements. Compact and cost effective, standoff rotation velocity sensors and systems can be fabricated with this technique.
23 Citations
3 Claims
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1. A method of determining the rotational velocity of an object, the method comprising:
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directing at least one beam of light at the object;
sensing at least one beam of light reflected or backscattered from the object;
determining the Doppler spectral bandwidth of the sensed beam of light reflected or backscattered from the object;
determining the width of the area subtended by the intersection of the at least one beam of light and the surface of the rotating object; and
determining the angle at which the at least one beam of light intercepts the rotating object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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Specification