Multichannel laser radar

• US 5,953,110 A
• Filed: 04/23/1998
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: H. N. Burns Engineering Corporation
• Original Assignee: HN Burns Engineering Corporation
• Inventors: Burns, Hoyt N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buczinski, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US09/064,892
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 385/116, 385/72, 356/5.01, 356/5.04
• US Class Current: 356/5.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/894 3D imaging with simultaneous measurement of time-of-flight at a 2D array of receiver pixels, e.g. time-of-flight cameras or flash lidar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4815 using multiple transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4816 of receivers alone
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4818 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3861 Adhesive bonding adhesives in general C09J
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3878 comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3879 Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4202 for coupling an active element with fibres without intermediate optical elements, e.g. fibres with plane ends, fibres with shaped ends, bundles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4228 Passive alignment, i.e. without a detection of the degree of coupling or the position of the elements G02B6/4234 takes precedence

Abstract

A multichannel laser radar has a laser array transmitter for generating a multiple laser beam array and a multichannel laser beam receiver for receiving reflected multiple laser beam array signals transmitted by said laser array transmitter. The multichannel laser beam receiver has a plurality of optical fibers coupled to a plurality of multichannel optical receiver photonic hybrid circuit boards for receiving reflected signals and processing the received signal range information and forming an image therefrom. Each circuit board has at least one detector assembly mounted thereon and each detector assembly has a plurality of photodetectors mounted to receive one end of each optical fiber so that a multichannel laser radar generates and receives multiple laser beams and parallel processes the received multiple laser beams to generate an image therefrom. Each detector on the detector assembly is mounted in a microcage having an opening therein for mounting the one end of one optical fiber and each optical fiber has a ceramic ferrule mounted on the end thereof shaped to fit into an opening in the microcage to allow the rapid attachment and alignment of the optical fiber ends relative to the photodetector.

Claims

1. A multichannel laser radar comprising:

a laser array transmitter or flood illumination or knife edge for generating a multiple laser beam array; and

a multichannel laser radar receiver for receiving reflected multiple laser beam array signals transmitted by said laser array transmitter, said multichannel laser radar receiver having a plurality of optical fibers coupled to a plurality of multichannel optical receiver photonic hybrid circuit boards for receiving said reflected signals and processing said received signal range information and forming an image therefrom;

each said circuit board having at least one detector assembly mounted thereon, each detector assembly having a plurality of photodetectors mounted to receive one end of each said optical fiber, whereby a multichannel laser radar generates, and receives multiple laser beams and parallel processes the received multiple laser beams to generate an image therefrom.

2. A multichannel laser radar in accordance with claim 1 in which each said detector assembly has a plurality of optical detectors mounted on a circuit board, which circuit board is mounted to one multichannel optical receiver photonic hybrid circuit board.

3. A multichannel laser radar in accordance with claim 2 in which each said detector assembly has a plurality of detectors mounted thereto and each said detector is mounted in a microcage having an opening therein for mounting the end of one said fiber optic line.

4. A multichannel laser radar in accordance with claim 3 in which each said fiber optic line has a ceramic ferrule mounted on the end thereof shaped to fit into an opening in said detector microcage.

5. A multichannel laser radar in accordance with claim 4 in which each said fiber optic end is attached to said ferrule with an epoxy cement.

6. A multichannel laser radar in accordance with claim 1 in which each said ferrule has a flanged edge to position each said ferrule in said microcage to thereby position said fiber optic end in a predetermined position relative to said detector.

7. A multichannel laser radar in accordance with claim 6 in which said detector microcage is a ceramic microcage.

8. A multichannel laser radar in accordance with claim 7 in which each said detector assembly has a plurality of optical detectors mounted in microcages, each microcage being mounted at an angle to receive one said fiber optic line end mounted in a mounting ferrule.

9. A multichannel laser radar in accordance with claim 8 in which said detector assembly microcages are mounted to either side of a plurality of center fiber optic lines each terminating to one side in one microcage.