Apparatus and methods for illuminating space and illumination sources for automotive collision avoidance system
First Claim
1. ) an optical illumination apparatus, comprising:
- a mid-IR laser having an optical gain media; and
a modulator in electrical communication with said laser, the modulator configured to drive periodic repetitive electrical pulses through the laser gain media.
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Abstract
Automotive collision avoidance systems operable in inclement weather and harsh environments such as motorways are presented. Anticollision systems of these inventions are configured with specialized source and detection subsystems to provide operation with energy beams having relatively long wavelengths. Optical beams characterized as middle infrared or ‘mid-IR’ are used for their ability to stand up against factors which tend to strongly attenuate optical beams of more common spectra such as near IR. In some versions, specialized quantum cascade lasers are arranged as optical beam sources. Quantum cascade lasers efficiently generate high energy beams of long wavelength; for example between 3 and 30 micrometers. These beams of long wavelength tend to better penetrate free-space contaminated with small particulate matter. In addition, these systems include specialized detection subsystems which operate with high detectivity in the mid-IR spectral region. Together, these source and detector combinations allow automotive collision avoidance systems which remain operable where other systems will surely fail.
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33 Claims
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1. ) an optical illumination apparatus, comprising:
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a mid-IR laser having an optical gain media; and
a modulator in electrical communication with said laser, the modulator configured to drive periodic repetitive electrical pulses through the laser gain media. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. ) A process for optically illuminating a spatial region, comprising:
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receiving an electronic signal having a repetitive temporal pattern;
modulating a mid-IR laser by direct current injection with a waveform which corresponds to said repetitive temporal pattern; and
coupling a resulting laser output beam into a field-of-regard. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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- 11. ) Collision avoidance apparatus comprising a middle infra-red solid state laser.
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22. ) Methods of preventing automotive collisions comprising steps including:
- transmitting an optical beam of mid-IR energy produced at a solid state laser away from its source into a field-of-regard.
- View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
Specification