Imaging System for Wire Detection

• US 20140293262A1
• Filed: 03/27/2013
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Hunt, Jeffrey H., Koumvakalis, Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 9,348,029 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/4.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/933 of aircraft or spacecraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4802 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/484 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/487 Extracting wanted echo signals , e.g. pulse detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/499 using polarisation effects

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a system, method, and apparatus for detection and imaging. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves transmitting, with a first optical transmitter, a first transmit signal to an object (e.g., a wire); and transmitting, with a second optical transmitter, a second transmit signal to the object. The method further involves receiving, with an optical receiver, a receive signal that is reflected from the object. In one or more embodiments, the receive signal is a function of the first transmit signal and the second transmit signal. Further, the method involves detecting, with a detector, the receive signal. The frequency of the receive signal is the sum of the frequency of the first transmit signal and the frequency of the second transmit signal, and/or is the difference between the frequency of the first transmit signal and the frequency of the second transmit signal.

Claims

1. A method for detection and imaging, the method comprising:

transmitting, with a first optical transmitter, a first transmit signal to an object;

transmitting, with a second optical transmitter, a second transmit signal to the object;

receiving, with an optical receiver, a receive signal that is reflected from the object,

wherein the receive signal is a function of the first transmit signal and the second transmit signal; and

detecting, with a detector, the receive signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a frequency of the receive signal is at least one of the sum of a frequency of the first transmit signal and a frequency of the second transmit signal, and the difference between a frequency of the first transmit signal and a frequency of the second transmit signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first optical transmitter and the second optical transmitter are each a laser.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first transmit signal and the second transmit signal are each pulsed signals.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first transmit signal and the second transmit signal are synchronized to each other and to the detector.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical receiver is a telescope.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises generating, with at least one signal generator, the first transmit signal and the second transmit signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises polarizing, with at least one polarizer, the first transmit signal and the second transmit signal.

9. The method claim 8, wherein the first transmit signal is polarized to be one of horizontal polarization, vertical polarization, right-hand polarization, and left-hand polarization;

and

the second transmit signal is polarized to be one of horizontal polarization, vertical polarization, right-hand polarization, and left-hand polarization.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises filtering, by at least one filter, the receive signal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises amplifying, with at least one amplifier, the receive signal.

12. A system for detection and imaging, the system comprising:

a first optical transmitter to transmit a first transmit signal to an object;

a second optical transmitter to transmit a second transmit signal to the object;

an optical receiver to receive a receive signal that is reflected from the object,

wherein the receive signal is a function of the first transmit signal and the second transmit signal; and

a detector to detect the receive signal.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein a frequency of the receive signal is at least one of the sum of a frequency of the first transmit signal and a frequency of the second transmit signal, and the difference between a frequency of the first transmit signal and a frequency of the second transmit signal.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the first optical transmitter and the second optical transmitter are each a laser.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the first transmit signal and the second transmit signal are each pulsed signals.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the first transmit signal and the second transmit signal are synchronized to each other and to the detector.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the optical receiver is a telescope.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the system further comprises at least one signal generator to generate the first transmit signal and the second transmit signal.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the system further comprises at least one polarizer to polarize the first transmit signal and the second transmit signal.

20. The system claim 19, wherein the first transmit signal is polarized to be one of horizontal polarization, vertical polarization, right-hand polarization, and left-hand polarization;

and

the second transmit signal is polarized to be one of horizontal polarization, vertical polarization, right-hand polarization, and left-hand polarization.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the system further comprises at least one filter to filter the receive signal.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the system further comprises at least one amplifier to amplify the receive signal.