Spectrally dispersive imaging lidar system
First Claim
1. A method for remotely and non-destructively probing the spectrally, temporally and distance-dependent optical properties of a target volume using a single integrated optical sensor having multiple modes of operation including an imaging mode and a spectral analysis mode, including the steps of:
- selecting a mode of operation for the optical sensor to operate in an imaging mode or a spectral analysis mode with said imaging mode including steps (a)-(e) and said spectral analysis mode including steps (f)-(i);
(a) selectively generating short pulses of light using laser transmitter means;
(b) projecting said short pulses of light toward the backscattering medium and at a target volume enveloped by the medium;
(c) receiving said pulses of light backscattered from said target volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said target volume using receiver means;
(d) converting said received pulses of light to a video image of said target defining a target volume image, said target volume image having an image intensity pattern associated therewith; and
(e) scanning the wavelength of the laser transmitter means to identify the wavelength-dependent differences in said image intensity pattern to thereby improve said video image of said target volume image;
(f) generating short pulses of light from laser transmitter means;
(g) projecting said generated short pulses of light toward a target volume;
(h) detecting said pulses of light backscattered from said target volume after a selected time delay using gated detector means; and
(i) spectrally analyzing said detected pulses of light in spectrometer means to create a selected spectra of said target volume.
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Abstract
An imaging UV/visible fluorosensing and Raman lidar system comprises an optical sensor for simultaneously measuring temporally, spatially and spectrally resolved laser backscatter from on the land, on or beneath the surface of bodies of water and in the atmosphere. The present invention utilizes "active" interrogation or "passive" interrogation for remotely and non destructively probing the spectrally-dependent optical properties of a scene. In the "active" mode, the optical sensor of this invention comprises a transmitter (preferably a tunable solid state laser) which emits pulses of coherent light through a variable or adjustable field-of-view telescope whereupon the light pulses are then propagated towards a scene (e.g., land, sea or atmosphere). Thereafter, laser backscatter is collected by a second variable field-of-view telescope and directed to an imaging system and spectrally dispersive optical subsystem.
85 Citations
59 Claims
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1. A method for remotely and non-destructively probing the spectrally, temporally and distance-dependent optical properties of a target volume using a single integrated optical sensor having multiple modes of operation including an imaging mode and a spectral analysis mode, including the steps of:
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selecting a mode of operation for the optical sensor to operate in an imaging mode or a spectral analysis mode with said imaging mode including steps (a)-(e) and said spectral analysis mode including steps (f)-(i); (a) selectively generating short pulses of light using laser transmitter means; (b) projecting said short pulses of light toward the backscattering medium and at a target volume enveloped by the medium; (c) receiving said pulses of light backscattered from said target volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said target volume using receiver means; (d) converting said received pulses of light to a video image of said target defining a target volume image, said target volume image having an image intensity pattern associated therewith; and (e) scanning the wavelength of the laser transmitter means to identify the wavelength-dependent differences in said image intensity pattern to thereby improve said video image of said target volume image; (f) generating short pulses of light from laser transmitter means; (g) projecting said generated short pulses of light toward a target volume; (h) detecting said pulses of light backscattered from said target volume after a selected time delay using gated detector means; and (i) spectrally analyzing said detected pulses of light in spectrometer means to create a selected spectra of said target volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for remotely and non-destructively probing the spectrally, temporally and distance-dependent optical properties of a target volume using a single integrated optical sensor having multiple modes of operation including an imaging mode and a spectral analysis mode, including the steps of:
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selecting a mode of operation for the optical sensor to operate in an imaging mode or a temporal luminescence decay measurement mode, including the steps of; selecting a mode of operation for the optical sensor to operate in an imaging mode or a temporal luminescence decay measurement mode with said imaging mode including steps (a)-(e) and said temporal luminescence decay measurement mode including steps (f)-(i); (a) selectively generating short pulses of light using laser transmitter means; (b) projecting said short pulses of light toward the backscattering medium and at a target volume enveloped by the medium; (c) receiving said pulses of light backscattered from said target volume after a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said target volume using receiver means; (d) converting said received pulses of light to a video image of said target defining a target volume image, said target volume image having an image intensity pattern associated therewith; and (e) scanning the wavelength of the laser transmitter means to identify the wavelength-dependent differences in said image intensity pattern to thereby improve said video image of said target volume image; (f) generating short pulses of light from laser transmitter means; (g) projecting said generated short pulses of light toward a target volume; (h) detecting said pulses of light backscattered from said target volume after a selected time delay using gated detector means; and (i) sweeping the selected time delay of said gated detector means for measuring the temporal luminescence decay of said target volume. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An apparatus for remotely and non-destructively probing the spectrally, temporally and distance-dependent optical properties of a target volume including:
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a single, integrated optical sensor having multiple modes of operation including an imaging mode and a spectral analysis mode; mode selection means for selecting a mode of operation for the optical sensor to operate in an imaging mode or a spectral analysis mode; said imaging mode including; (a) laser transmitting means for selectively generating short pulses of light; (b) means for projecting said short pulses of light toward the backscattering medium and at a target volume enveloped by the medium; (c) means for receiving said pulses of light backscattered from said target volume after a a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said target volume using receiver means; (d) means for converting said received pulses of light to a video image of said target defining a target volume image, said target volume image having an image intensity pattern associated therewith; and (e) means for scanning the wavelength of the laser transmitter means to identify the wavelength-dependent differences in said image intensity pattern to thereby improve said video image of said target volume image; said spectral analysis mode including; (f) laser transmitting means for generating short pulses of light; (g) means for projecting said generated short pulses of light toward a target volume; (h) means for detecting said pulses of light backscattered from said target volume after a selected time delay using gated detector means; and (i) spectrometer means for spectrally analyzing said detected pulses of light to create a selected spectra of said target volume. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. An apparatus for remotely and non-destructively probing the spectrally, temporally and distance-dependent optical properties of a target volume including:
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a single, integrated optical sensor having multiple modes of operation including an imaging mode and a temporal luminescence decay measurement mode; mode selection means for selecting a mode of operation for the optical sensor to operate in an imaging mode or a temporal luminescence decay measurement mode; said imaging mode including; (a) laser transmitting means for selectively generating short pulses of light; (b) means for projecting said short pulses of light toward the backscattering medium and at a target volume enveloped by the medium; (c) means for receiving said pulses of light backscattered from said target volume after a a time delay corresponding to the round-trip propagation time of said light pulses to and from said target volume using receiver means; (d) means for converting said received pulses of light to a video image of said target defining a target volume image, said target volume image having an image intensity pattern associated therewith; and (e) means for scanning the wavelength of the laser transmitter means to identify the wavelength-dependent differences in said image intensity pattern to thereby improve said video image of said target volume image; said temporal luminescence decay measurement mode including; (f) laser transmitter means for generating short pulses of light; (g) means for projecting said generated short pulses of light toward the said target volume; (h) means for detecting said pulses of light backscattered from said target volume after using a selected time delay using gated detector means; and (i) means for sweeping the selected time delay of said gated detector means for measuring the temporal luminescence decay of said target volume. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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Specification