Control Modules for Laser Systems Having Auto-Ranging and Control Capability

• US 20090219962A1
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brad E. Meyers & Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Brad E. Meyers & Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Shannon, David C., Meyers, Brad E., Straka, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,203,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 372/29.14
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/484 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/491 Details of non-pulse systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4911 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating

Abstract

Control modules for automatically adjusting a laser output based on a range to an object detected within a field of view are disclosed.

Claims

1. A control module assembly for adjusting an output of a laser, comprising:

an emitter configured to emit a ranging beam toward a target;

a detector configured to receive a reflected beam from the target; and

a control module operable to communicate with the emitter and the detector to determine a distance to the target, to determine a reference distance based on one or more operating conditions of the laser, to compare the distance to the target with the reference distance, and based on the comparison to provide a control signal to controllably adjust one or more aspects of the laser output to provide an improved comparison between the distance to the target and the reference distance.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the laser output comprises a warning pulse from a warning laser operating at a visible wavelength.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the ranging beam comprises a non-visible beam operating at a non-visible wavelength.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the control module is further operable to detect a movement of the control module, and to provide a control signal to controllably adjust one or more aspects of the laser output based on the movement.

6. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a remote switch operatively coupled to the control module and operable to enable remote control of the control module.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the reference distance is a nominal ocular hazard distance (NOHD), and wherein the distance to the target compares favorably with the NOHD when the target distance exceeds the NOHD.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the control module is operable to determine the distance to the target based on one or more of a time of flight method, a triangulation method, and a modulation method.

5. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the control module includes an accelerometer operable to detect the movement of the control module.

9. A method for adjusting an output of a laser, comprising:

emitting a ranging beam toward a target;

receiving a reflected beam from the target;

determining a distance to the target;

determining a reference distance based on one or more operating conditions of the laser;

comparing the distance to the target with the reference distance; and

based on the comparison, controllably adjusting one or more aspects of the operating conditions of the laser to provide an improved comparison between the distance to the target and the reference distance.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein receiving a reflected beam from the target includes receiving a portion of the ranging beam that is reflected from the target.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein emitting a ranging beam toward a target includes emitting one or more pulses toward the target, and wherein receiving a reflected beam from the target includes receiving one or more reflected pulses.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein controllably adjusting one or more aspects of the operating conditions of the laser comprises controllably adjusting one or more aspects of the operating conditions of a warning laser operating at a visible wavelength.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein controllably adjusting one or more aspects of the operating conditions of a warning laser operating at a visible wavelength comprises controllably adjusting one or more aspects of the operating conditions of a warning laser operating at a visible wavelength having an intensity configured to dazzle an observer located at the target.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein emitting a ranging beam toward a target comprises emitting a non-visible ranging beam toward the target.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein emitting a non-visible ranging beam toward the target comprises emitting an infrared ranging beam toward the target.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein controllably adjusting one or more aspects of the operating conditions of the laser includes controllably adjusting one or more of a laser output power, an intensity, and a divergence angle of the output of the laser.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein determining a reference distance based on one or more operating conditions of the laser includes determining a nominal ocular hazard distance (NOHD) based on one or more operating conditions of the laser.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein controllably adjusting one or more aspects of the operating conditions of the laser to provide an improved comparison between the distance to the target and the reference distance includes controllably adjusting one or more aspects of the operating conditions of the laser to cause the distance to the target to be greater than the NOHD.

19. The method of claim 9 wherein determining a distance to the target includes determining a distance to the target based on one or more of a time of flight method, a triangulation method, and a modulation method.