SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING RANGE IN 3D IMAGING SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. A method for calibrating a device having a laser, two or more detectors, timing electronics connected to the detectors and a processor, wherein the processor determines transit time for output pulses transmitted from the laser to a remote target and back to the detector, the method comprising:
- providing a means for selectively coupling a variable portion of the output pulses into one or more resonators;
periodically injecting output pulses from the laser in one end of the resonator such that a pulse train exits the other end of the resonator;
monitoring pulses exiting the fiber with the detectors and generating a signal when a pulse is detected at each detector;
passing the signal through the timing electronics to be calibrated;
monitoring variations in delay between pulses in the pulse train exiting the fiber; and
calibrating the timing electronics as a function of the variations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of imaging an object. An array of detectors is mounted in an image plane. Each detector in the array of detectors is connected to a timing circuit having an interpolator, wherein the interpolator includes a first circuit which charges a first capacitor at a different rate than it discharges. An optical pulse is transmitted toward an object so that a portion of the optical pulse is reflected from the object as a reflected pulse and a first value representative of when the optical pulse was transmitted toward the object is recorded. The reflected pulse is detected at one or more detectors and a pulse characteristic of the pulse and a second value representative of when the reflected pulse arrived at the detector are recorded. Range to the object is then calculated as a function of the first and second values and the reflected pulse characteristic.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for calibrating a device having a laser, two or more detectors, timing electronics connected to the detectors and a processor, wherein the processor determines transit time for output pulses transmitted from the laser to a remote target and back to the detector, the method comprising:
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providing a means for selectively coupling a variable portion of the output pulses into one or more resonators; periodically injecting output pulses from the laser in one end of the resonator such that a pulse train exits the other end of the resonator; monitoring pulses exiting the fiber with the detectors and generating a signal when a pulse is detected at each detector; passing the signal through the timing electronics to be calibrated; monitoring variations in delay between pulses in the pulse train exiting the fiber; and calibrating the timing electronics as a function of the variations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of correcting measurements of a three dimensional object comprising the steps of:
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taking a set of spatial measurements of the three dimensional object; determining an approximation to the surface normals of said object; estimating a range correction based on the surface normal; and applying the range correction to the set of measurements.
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8. A method of increasing the spatial resolution of the measurements of a three dimensional object comprising the steps of:
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estimating a blur function of the range measurements; taking a set of spatial measurements of the three dimensional object; and making a new set of spatial estimates based on the estimated blur function and the spatial measurements.
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9. A resonator/attenuator for calibrating an imaging system, comprising:
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an attenuator; a fiber coupler connected to the attenuator, wherein the fiber coupler includes a first and a second output port and wherein the fiber coupler receives an optical pulse from the attenuator and distributes a portion of the optical pulse to the first and second output ports; a fiber resonator connected to the first output port of the fiber coupler, wherein the fiber resonator receives the optical pulse transmitted by the first output port and generates a pulse train; and means for directing the pulse train on one or more detectors of an imaging system. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A resonator/attenuator for calibrating an imaging system, comprising:
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an attenuator; a fiber resonator connected to the attenuator, wherein the fiber resonator includes a fiber bundle having a plurality of optical fibers, wherein each optical fiber provides a different delay, wherein the fiber bundle receives an optical pulse transmitted by the attenuator and transmits the pulse through the fiber bundle to an output; and means for directing the output of the fiber bundle on one or more detectors of an imaging system. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification