Lidar device with combined optical sight

• US 5,221,956 A
• Filed: 08/14/1991
• Issued: 06/22/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PATCO Properties, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kustom Signals Incorporated (MPD Incorporated)
• Inventors: Samuels, Mark A., Patterson, Scott W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner, Mark
• Application Number:
  US07/744,950
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 356/4, 356/28, 359/13
• US Class Current: 356/28
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/10 using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves determination of distance by phase measurements G01S17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/58 Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/481 Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/51 Display arrangements

Abstract

A laser transmitting and receiving speed and/or range detection device has coaxial internal beam directing and receiving paths for the transmitted and received (reflected) laser energy. A sight is provided having an optical combiner which presents a projected display of the detected speed or range of a target that may be observed by the operator while aiming the device at the target. A telephoto effect is utilized in the projection of the display onto the sight such that the operator need not divert his head from the sight or refocus his eye to read the projected target speed or range.

Claims

1. A speed or range detection device comprising:

means for transmitting a beam of energy, including a laser for generating said beam and a barrel-like aiming component for directing the laser beam axially through said component along a predetermined path of travel,

a sight on said component presenting a view in a direction generally along said path of travel for aiming said beam at a target,

means for displaying speed or range information relating to a target,

processing means connected with said display means and responsive to reflected energy from a target for determining said information and causing said display means to indicate the same,

means mounting said display means proximal to said sight and establishing a relatively short optical path from the display means to the sight,

optical means in said optical path providing an effective focal length substantially greater than the length of said optical path and sufficient to cause an image produced by the display means to appear at a distance from the sight that will permit the human eye to focus simultaneously upon said image and a target, and

said component having inner and outer ends and a pair of coaxial pathways therein for said laser beam and said reflected energy respectively, said transmitting means further including means adjacent said inner end of the component for establishing said pathways for energy from said laser entering said inner end and reflected energy entering said outer end.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pathway established means comprises a beam-splitting device for receiving energy from said laser and redirecting the same along the axis of the said component, and providing a substantially straight, continuing pathway for said reflected energy as it emanates from said inner end of the component.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said processing means includes a detector aligned with said continuing pathway for receiving the reflected energy.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means mounting said display means and establishing a relatively short optical path includes a tubular element extending generally along said component a limited distance from said inner end towards said outer end thereof, said tubular element having a distal end portion and said display means being positioned on said end portion of the element, and wherein said optical means establishes said optical path from the display means to the sight along said tubular element and then transversely therefrom into said sight.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said optical means includes a telephoto lens arrangement for increasing said effective focal length sufficiently to cause said image produced by the display means to appear at said distance from the sight.

6. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said sight has a combiner means therein having forward transmittance generally along said path of travel parallel to said axis of the component and rearward reflectance toward the eye of an operator when the device is in use, whereby the image produced by the display means will be seen by the operator simultaneously with viewing the target.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein an illuminated reticle is provided associated with said display means, and wherein said optical means causes an image from said reticle to be projected onto said combiner means.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said optical means includes a telephoto lens arrangement for increasing said effective focal length sufficiently to cause said image produced by the display means to appear at said distance from the sight.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sight has a combiner means therein for receiving said image and providing forward transmittance generally along said path of travel and rearward reflectance toward the eye of an operator when the device is in use, whereby the image produced by the display means will be seen by the operator simultaneously with viewing the target.

10. A speed or range detection device comprising:

means for transmitting a beam of energy, including a barrel-like aiming component for directing said beam along a predetermined path of travel,

a sight on said component having a sighting window providing a view in a forward direction clear of the component generally along said path of travel for aiming said beam at a target, and further having structure defining said window which permits an obstructed view around the window in said forward direction to thereby provide a wide field-of-view for an operator aiming the device,

means for displaying speed or range information relating to a target and establishing a relatively short optical path from the display means to said sight,

processing means connected with said display means and responsive to reflected energy from a target for determining said information and causing said display means to indicate the same,

said sight having a combiner means therein presenting said window for receiving an image from the display means and providing forward transmittance generally along said path of travel and rearward reflectance toward the eye of an operator when the device is in use, whereby the image produced by the display means will be seen by the operator simultaneously with viewing the target, and

optical means in said optical path providing an effective focal length substantially greater than the length of said optical path and sufficient to cause said image produced by the display means to appear at a distance from the sight that will permit the human eye to focus simultaneously upon said image and the target.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said optical means includes a telephoto lens arrangement for increasing said effective focal length sufficiently to cause said image produced by the display means to appear at said distance from the sight.

12. A speed or range detection device comprising:

means for transmitting a beam of energy, including a laser for generating said beam and a barrel-like aiming component for directing the laser beam axially through said component along a predetermined path of travel,

a sight on said component having a sighting window providing a view in a forward direction clear of the component generally along said path of travel for aiming said beam at a target, and further having structure defining said window which permits an obstructed view around the window in said forward direction to thereby provide a wide field-of-view for an operator aiming the device,

means for displaying speed or range information relating to a target and establishing an optical path from the display means to said sight,

processing means connected with said display means and responsive to reflected energy from a target for determining said information and causing said display means to indicate the same,

said sight having a combiner means therein presenting said window for receiving an image from the display means and providing forward transmittance generally along said path of travel and rearward reflectance toward the eye of an operator when the device is in use, whereby the image produced by the display means will be seen by the operator simultaneously with viewing the target, and

said component having inner and outer ends and a pair of coaxial pathways therein for said laser beam and said reflected energy respectively, said transmitting means further including means adjacent said inner end of the component for establishing said pathways for energy from said laser entering said inner end and reflected energy entering said outer end.

13. A speed or range detection device comprising:

means for transmitting a beam of energy, including a laser for generating said beam and a barrel-like aiming component for directing the laser beam axially through said component along a predetermined path of travel,

a sight on said component presenting a view in a direction generally along said path of travel for aiming said beam at a target,

means for displaying speed or range information relating to a target and presenting the displayed information at said sight,

processing means connected with said display means and responsive to reflected energy from a target for determining said information and causing said display means to indicate the same, and

said component having inner and outer ends and a pair of coaxial pathways therein for said laser beam and said reflected energy respectively, said transmitting means further including means adjacent said inner end of the component for establishing said pathways for energy from said laser entering said inner end and reflected energy entering said outer end.

14. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said pathway establishing means comprises a beam-splitting device for receiving energy from said laser and redirecting the same along the axis of said component, and providing a continuing pathway for said reflected energy as it emanates from said inner end of the component.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said processing means includes a detector aligned with said continuing pathway for receiving the reflected energy.