Wide-angle laser signal sensor having a 360 degree field of view in a horizontal plane and a positive 90 degree field of view in a vertical plane

• US 8,466,406 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2011
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Inventors: McFadden, Michael J., Hvass, Paul B.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US13/106,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20120286147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 250/214.1, 250/228, 250/216, 250/239, 250/221, 250/235, 250/203.4, 3561413-1415, 356/365, 244/3.16
• US Class Current: 250/214.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/781 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves

Abstract

A laser sensor comprising a sensor head to receive laser light. The sensor head may have a globe-shaped optical member, the globe-shaped optical member may be optically coupled to an optical-to-electrical converter, the optical-to-electrical converter may be configured to convert laser light from the sensor head to an electronic output signal, and the sensor head may be configured to provide a 360 degree field of view in a horizontal plane and a positive (+) 90 degree field of view in a vertical plane above the horizontal plane.

Claims

1. A laser signal sensor comprising:

a sensor head to receive laser light;

the sensor head comprising a globe-shaped optical member, the globe-shaped optical member optically coupled to an optical-to-electrical converter;

the optical-to-electrical converter operable to convert laser light from the sensor head to an electronic output signal; and

the sensor head operable to provide a 360 degree field of view in a horizontal plane and a positive (+) 90 degree field of view in a vertical plane above the horizontal plane.

2. The sensor of claim 1 wherein:

the sensor head is operable to provide a field of view in the vertical plane below the horizontal plane.

3. The sensor of claim 1 wherein:

the globe-shaped optical member is spherical.

4. The sensor of claim 1 wherein:

the globe-shaped optical member is a full sphere.

5. The sensor of claim 1 wherein:

the globe-shaped optical member is of a single piece monolithic construction.

6. The sensor of claim 1 wherein:

the globe-shaped optical member is at least one of translucent and transparent.

7. The sensor of claim 1 wherein:

the globe-shaped optical member is operable to diffuse incident laser light which contacts the globe-shaped optical member.

8. The sensor of claim 1 wherein:

the globe-shaped optical member has an outer surface; and

the globe-shaped optical member is operable to diffuse the incident laser light at the outer surface.

9. The sensor of claim 1 wherein:

the globe-shaped optical member has an outer surface; and

the outer surface is translucent.

10. The sensor of claim 1 wherein:

the globe-shaped optical member has an outer surface; and

the outer surface is at least one of sand blasted, acid etched and silk screened.

11. The sensor of claim 1 wherein:

the globe-shaped optical member has an outer surface; and

the outer surface is coated with a light diffusion coating.

12. The sensor of claim 1 wherein:

the globe-shaped optical member has an outer surface; and

the outer surface is coated with glass beads.

13. The sensor of claim 1 wherein:

the globe-shaped optical member has an outer surface; and

the outer surface is coated with powdered glass.

14. The sensor of claim 1 wherein:

the sensor head is operable to enable incident laser light to enter the globe-shaped optical member and subsequently emanate from the globe-shaped optical member to be received by the optical-to-electrical converter.

15. The sensor of claim 1 wherein:

the optical-to-electrical converter comprises at least one photo-detector.

16. The sensor of claim 15 wherein:

the photo-detector comprises a photo-diode, photo-resistor or photo-transistor.

17. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising:

a light concentrating optic; and

the light concentrating optic is operable to receive laser light from the globe-shaped optical member and concentrate the laser light prior to the laser light being received by the photo-detector.

18. The sensor of claim 17 wherein:

the light concentrating optic comprises a compound parabolic concentrator.

19. The sensor of claim 17 wherein:

the light concentrating optic comprises a mirrored concentrator.

20. The sensor of claim 17 wherein:

the light concentrating optic comprises a concentrator lens.

21. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising:

an optical filter operable to block wavelengths of light other than laser light wavelengths; and

the optical filter is operable to receive laser light which emanates from the globe-shaped optical member and arranged to filter the laser light prior to the laser light being received by the photo-detector.

22. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising:

an amplifier.

23. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising:

a power supply.

24. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising:

an electromagnetically shielded enclosure.

25. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising:

an electrical output connector.

26. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising:

a transmitter.

27. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising:

a coupling lens.

28. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising:

an optical fiber.

29. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising:

mounting means.