Control modules for laser systems having auto-ranging and control capability

• US 8,203,698 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brad E. Meyers & Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: BE Meyers & Co Incorporated
• Inventors: Meyers, Brad E., Shannon, David C., Straka, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): RATCLIFFE, LUKE D
• Application Number:
  US12/195,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20090219962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 356 301- 315, 356 401- 41, 356 501- 515, 356 6- 22
• US Class Current: 356/5.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/484 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/491 Details of non-pulse systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4911 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating

Abstract

Control modules for automatically adjusting a laser output based on a range to an object detected within a field of view are disclosed.

Claims

1. A control module assembly for adjusting an output of a laser, comprising:

an emitter emitting a ranging beam of continuous periodic pulses toward a target;

a detector configured to receive a reflected ranging beam from the target; and

a control module operable to communicate with the laser, the emitter and the detector to determine a distance to the target, to determine a reference distance based on one or more operating conditions of the laser, the reference distance being based at least partially on a distance associated with harm to human vision, to compare the distance to the target with the reference distance, and adjust one or more operating conditions of the laser to adjust the reference distance if the distance to the target is less than the reference distance.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the output of the laser comprises a pulse operating at a visible wavelength.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the ranging beam comprises a non-visible beam operating at a non-visible wavelength.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the control module is further operable to detect a movement of the control module, and to provide a control signal to controllably adjust one or more operating conditions of the output of the laser based on the movement.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the control module includes an accelerometer operable to detect the movement of the control module.

6. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a remote switch operatively coupled to the control module and operable to enable remote control of the control module.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the reference distance is a nominal ocular hazard distance (NOHD).

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the control module is operable to determine the distance to the target based on one or more of a time of flight method, a triangulation method, and a modulation method.

20. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the control module is further configured to determine the reference distance based at least partially on the distance associated with harm to human vision and based at least partially on one or more operating conditions of the emitter.

9. A method for adjusting an output of a laser, comprising:

emitting a ranging beam of continuous periodic pulses toward a target from an emitter;

receiving a reflected ranging beam from the target by a detector;

communicating with the laser, the emitter, and the detector with a controller;

determining a distance to the target using the reflected ranging beam;

determining a reference distance based on one or more operating conditions of the laser, the reference distance being based at least partially on a distance associated with harm to human vision;

comparing the distance to the target with the reference distance with the controller; and

adjusting one or more operating conditions of the laser to adjust the reference distance if the distance to the target is less than the reference distance.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving a reflected ranging beam from the target includes receiving a portion of the ranging beam that is reflected from the target.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein emitting a ranging beam toward a target includes emitting one or more pulses toward the target, and wherein receiving a reflected ranging beam from the target includes receiving one or more reflected pulses.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein controllably adjusting one or more operating conditions of the laser comprises controllably adjusting the laser operating at a visible wavelength.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein controllably adjusting one or more operating conditions of the laser operating at a visible wavelength comprises having an intensity configured to dazzle an observer located at the target.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein emitting a ranging beam toward a target comprises emitting a non-visible ranging beam toward the target.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein emitting a non-visible ranging beam toward the target comprises emitting an infrared ranging beam toward the target.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein controllably adjusting one or more operating conditions of the laser includes controllably adjusting one or more of a laser output power, an intensity, and a divergence angle of the output of the laser.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein determining a reference distance includes determining a nominal ocular hazard distance (NOHD) based on one or more operating conditions of the laser.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein controllably adjusting one or more operating conditions of the laser to adjust the reference distance includes controllably adjusting one or more aspects of the operating conditions of the laser to cause the distance to the target to be greater than the NOHD.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein determining a distance to the target includes one or more of a time of flight method, a triangulation method, and a modulation method.