Combined range-finding, sighting and scanning system and method

• US 6,717,654 B1
• Filed: 02/08/2000
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vantageport Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vantageport Incorporated
• Inventors: Ressl, Michael G., Rajchel, Suzanne K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buczinski, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US09/500,176
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 356/141.1, 356/4.01, 356/5.01, 356/5.1, 356/139.04
• US Class Current: 356/4.01
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/065 Structural association of sighting-devices with laser telemeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/00 Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/08 Use of electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4812 transmitted and received beams following a coaxial path
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4817 relating to scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/499 using polarisation effects

Abstract

An optical system is provided which combines range-finding (distance measurement), sighting (target acquisition) and scanning capabilities. This single beam system uses a polarization selector and a retardation plate to take advantage of the polarization properties of light from a transmit source and of light reflected to a receiver. The system further includes scanning optics for moving the optical beam of light in relation to object in order gather information from the object. Methods for using the system are also provided.

Claims

1. A combined ranging/scanning system, comprising:

a ranging transmit source aligned with a retardation plate on a beam path to transmit an outbound ranging beam of light;

a scanning transmit source aligned with the ranging transmit source to transmit an outbound scanning beam of light;

a lens aligned on the beam path to allow the outbound beam to pass through the retardation plate and through the lens;

a receiver aligned on the beam path to receive an inbound ranging beam and an inbound scanning beam, the inbound ranging beam and the inbound scanning beam being reflected from an object;

at least one scanning optic aligned on the beam path with the lens, wherein the lens and the scanning optic simultaneously process the outbound ranging beam, the outbound scanning beam, the inbound ranging beam and the inbound scanning beam; and

a first selector aligned with the receiver to differentiate beam, the outbound ranging beam, the outbound scanning beam, the inbound ranging beam and the inbound scanning beam.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the ranging transmit source is substantially transparent to the outbound aiming beam and the outbound scanning beam.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the scanning optic is positioned between the retardation plate and the lens in the beam path.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the scanning optic is positioned after the lens in the beam path.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the ranging transmit source is selected from the group consisting of:

laser sources, incandescent sources, fluorescent sources, microwave sources, semiconductor sources, maser sources and plasma sources.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the scanning transmit source is selected from the group consisting of:

laser sources, incandescent sources, fluorescent sources, microwave sources, semiconductor sources, maser sources and plasma sources.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the selector is a polarization selector that differentiates between at least two beams of light based on polarization of the light.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the selector is substantially transparent to a ranging wavelength of the inbound ranging beam and to a ranging wavelength of the inbound scanning beam.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the selector is positioned to allow the outbound ranging beam and the outbound scanning beam to pass through the selector before passing through the retardation plate.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one additional selector aligned with the receiver on the beam path.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver is a substrate that receives light.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the retardation plate is a device that rotates at least one polarization of light.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the ranging transmit source, the scanning transmit source, the retardation plate, the scanning optic, the receiver and the selector are positioned within a housing.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the ranging inbound beam and the scanning inbound beam are coincident on the receiver.

15. A method of transmitting light in a combination ranging/scanning system comprising the steps of:

transmitting an outbound scanning beam of light from a scanning transmit source;

transmitting an outbound ranging beam of light from a ranging transmit source to a retardation plate, the ranging transmit source being aligned in a beam path with the scanning transmit source;

rotating polarization of the outbound ranging beam with the retardation plate so that the outbound ranging beam has an outbound ranging polarization;

further transmitting the outbound ranging beam through a scanning optic, the scanning optic bag aligned in the beam path;

further transmitting the outbound ranging beam through a lens to an object;

reflecting the outbound ranging beam from the object, creating an inbound ranging beam directed to the lens, wherein the inbound ranging e caries ranging information about the object;

reflecting the outbound scanning beam from the object, creating an inbound scanning beam;

rotating polarization of the inbound ranging beam so that the inbound ranging beam has an inbound ranging polarization different from the outbound ranging polarization; and

receiving the inbound ranging beam and the inbound scanning beam at a single receiver aligned in the beam path.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

transmitting the outbound ranging beam through the selector before transmitting the outbound ranging beam through the retardation plate.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the outbound ranging beam, the outbound scanning beam, the inbound ranging beam and the inbound scanning beam are processed simultaneously.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the ranging transmit source, the retardation plate, the lens, the scanning optic, the receiver and the first selector are aligned on a single beam path.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the ranging transmit source is substantially transparent to the inbound ranging beam, further comprising:

sending the inbound ranging beam to the receiver through the ranging transmit source.

20. An apparatus for gathering information about an object comprising:

a housing;

a ranging transmit source for transmitting an outbound ranging beam, the ranging transmit source being attached to the housing;

a retardation plate for rotating polarization of light the retardation plate being aligned in a beam path with the ranging transmit source in the housing;

a scanning source for transmitting an outbound scanning beam, the scanning source being aligned in the beam path;

at least one scanning optic for moving the outbound scanning beam relative to the object, the scanning optic being aligned in the beam path;

a receiver for receiving an inbound ranging beam and an inbound scanning beam, wherein the inbound ranging beam comprises the outbound ranging beam reflected from an object and the inbound scanning beam comprises the outbound scanning beam reflected from the object, the receiver being aligned in the beam path;

a lens aligned on the beam path so that the outbound ranging beam passes through the retardation plate and the lens, wherein the lens and the scanning optic simultaneously process the outbound ranging beam, the outbound scanning beam, the inbound ranging beam and the inbound scanning beam; and

a selector aligned on the beam path to differentiate between the outbound ranging beam, the outbound scanning beam, the inbound ranging beam and the inbound scanning beam.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the scanning optic is positioned between the retardation plate and the lens.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

an additional selector aligned with the receiver in the beam path.