LIGHT MODULATING LIDAR APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A LIDAR apparatus comprising:
- a laser source generating a first beam of laser light;
an imaging device having a field of view and generating an image signal representing an object within the field of view;
an object detection module in communication with the imaging device to receive the image signal therefrom and to determine if the object is a protected object matching the characteristics of an object susceptible to vision impairment from exposure to laser light; and
wherein the LIDAR apparatus is configured to reduce the intensity of the laser light directed toward the protected object.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A LIDAR apparatus includes a laser source generating a beam of laser light and an imaging device generating an image signal of a pattern of points overlaid upon an image of one or more objects. A controller includes an object detection module receiving the image signal and determining if the object is a protected object, such as a person susceptible to vision impairment from exposure to laser light. A laser intensity module provides an intensity control signal to the laser source and causes the laser source to vary the intensity of the laser light directed toward each of the protected objects. A spatial light modulator may modulate the first beam to project the pattern of points. An SUM control module varies the intensity of the laser light by providing the SIN with an intensity control signal describing one or more low intensity regions corresponding to each of the protected objects,
7 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A LIDAR apparatus comprising:
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a laser source generating a first beam of laser light; an imaging device having a field of view and generating an image signal representing an object within the field of view; an object detection module in communication with the imaging device to receive the image signal therefrom and to determine if the object is a protected object matching the characteristics of an object susceptible to vision impairment from exposure to laser light; and wherein the LIDAR apparatus is configured to reduce the intensity of the laser light directed toward the protected object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A LIDAR apparatus comprising:
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a laser source generating a first beam of laser light; an imaging device generating an image signal representing an object; the laser light being projected upon the object as a pattern of points; an object detection module in communication with the imaging device to process the image signal; the pattern of points projected upon the object having a reduced intensity in response to the object detection module determining that the object is a protected object matching the characteristics of an object susceptible to vision impairment from exposure to laser light. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method for operating a LIDAR apparatus comprising:
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generating a first beam of laser light by a laser source; generating by an imaging device, an image signal of an image of an object within a field of view; identifying, by an object detection module, the object as a protected object susceptible to vision impairment from exposure to laser light; and reducing the intensity of the laser light projected toward the protected object. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification