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Method and apparatus for three dimensional range resolving imaging

  • US 5,249,046 A
  • Filed: 03/30/1992
  • Issued: 09/28/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting and imaging an object enveloped by a backscattering medium which is at least partially transmitting to light, the method comprising the steps of:

  • generating a light pulse of a first wavelength;

    splitting said light pulse into first and second light pulses;

    homogenizing said first light pulse to provide a third light pulse having a uniformly illuminated field-of-view;

    inducing a first angular deviation in said third light pulse and projecting said third light pulse having said first angular deviation toward the backscattering medium and at the object enveloped by the medium, wherein a fourth light pulse is generated by the reflection of said third light pulse having said first angular deviation back from the object;

    inducing a second angular deviation in said fourth light pulse, wherein said second angular deviation is oriented in a direction generally opposite to said first angular deviation;

    filtering said fourth light pulse having said second angular deviation to provide a fifth light pulse;

    generating a pulse train from said second light pulse;

    converting photon energy received at an array of detectors from said pulse train into at least one first electrical signal and converting photon energy received at said array of detectors from said fifth light pulse into at least one second electrical signal; and

    processing said first electrical signal to determine compensating factors indicative of the differences in gain and offset between each of said array of detectors and processing said compensating factors and said second electrical signal to generate an imaging signal indicative of the object.

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