Apparatus and methods for obtaining multi-dimensional spatial and spectral data with LIDAR detection
First Claim
1. A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) apparatus, comprising:
- a laser generator configured to generate an output laser signal toward a target area;
at least one detector configured as an array of light sensitive elements, the array including a plurality of rows and columns of light sensitive elements;
at least one wavelength dispersion element positioned in a return path of a returning laser signal returning from the target area, the at least one wavelength dispersion element configured to separate wavelengths of the returning laser signal onto the plurality of rows and columns of the array, wherein the columns of the plurality of columns of the array are associated with the separated wavelengths that correspond with a position along a row of the array, the position along the row of the array corresponding with a spatial position of the target area along a first axis; and
a processor including control logic configured to calculate three-dimensional (3D) spatial data and combine the 3D spatial data with spectral data including the separated wavelengths, wherein the 3D spatial data includes;
data associated with the first axis;
data associated with a second axis based, at least in part, on a position in a direction of movement of the at least one detector; and
data associated with a third axis based, at least in part, on a time conversion of a time interval between reception of the returning laser signal and generation of the output laser signal.
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Abstract
A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) apparatus comprises a laser generator configured to generate an output laser signal toward a target area, at least one detector configured as an array of light sensitive elements, the array including a plurality of rows and columns of the light sensitive elements, and at least one wavelength dispersion element positioned in a return path of a returning laser signal returning from the target area. The at least one wavelength dispersion element is configured to separate wavelengths of the returning laser signal onto the plurality of rows and columns of the array, wherein the plurality of columns of the array are associated with the separated wavelengths that correspond with a position along a row of the array, the position along the row of the array corresponding with a spatial position of the target area along a first axis. Methods for scanning a target area and obtaining spectral and spatial data are disclosed herein.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) apparatus, comprising:
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a laser generator configured to generate an output laser signal toward a target area; at least one detector configured as an array of light sensitive elements, the array including a plurality of rows and columns of light sensitive elements; at least one wavelength dispersion element positioned in a return path of a returning laser signal returning from the target area, the at least one wavelength dispersion element configured to separate wavelengths of the returning laser signal onto the plurality of rows and columns of the array, wherein the columns of the plurality of columns of the array are associated with the separated wavelengths that correspond with a position along a row of the array, the position along the row of the array corresponding with a spatial position of the target area along a first axis; and a processor including control logic configured to calculate three-dimensional (3D) spatial data and combine the 3D spatial data with spectral data including the separated wavelengths, wherein the 3D spatial data includes; data associated with the first axis; data associated with a second axis based, at least in part, on a position in a direction of movement of the at least one detector; and data associated with a third axis based, at least in part, on a time conversion of a time interval between reception of the returning laser signal and generation of the output laser signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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5. A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) apparatus, comprising:
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a laser generator configured to generate an output laser signal toward a target area; at least one detector configured as an array of light sensitive elements, the array including a plurality of rows and columns of light sensitive elements; at least one wavelength dispersion element positioned in a return path of a returning laser signal returning from the target area, the at least one wavelength dispersion element configured to separate wavelengths of the returning laser signal onto the plurality of rows and columns of the array, wherein the columns of the plurality of columns of the array are associated with the separated wavelengths that correspond with a position along a row of the array, the position along the row of the array corresponding with a spatial position of the target area along a first axis; at least one additional detector configured as an additional array of light sensitive elements, the additional array including a plurality of additional rows and columns of light sensitive elements; and at least one additional wavelength dispersion element associated with the at least one additional detector, wherein the at least one additional wavelength dispersion element is configured to separate the returning laser signal into a column of separated wavelengths associated with a position of a row in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the at least one additional detector; wherein the at least one wavelength dispersion element is configured to pass one of Raman data and Rayleigh data to the at least one detector, and the at least one additional wavelength dispersion element is configured to pass the other one of Raman data and Rayleigh data to the at least one additional detector.
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10. A method for obtaining hyper-spectral imaging data correlated with spatial data, the method comprising:
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generating, with a laser generator, a first output laser signal toward a target area; receiving, with at least one detector, a first returning laser signal from the target area; dispersing, with at least one wavelength dispersion element, the first returning laser signal into a plurality of wavelengths within a field of view of an array of detector elements to be detected thereby, wherein a column of the array views the plurality of wavelengths that correspond to a spatial location of the target area in a first axis; and calculating, with a processor, three-dimensional (3D) spatial data and combining the 3D spatial data with spectral data including the separated wavelengths, wherein the 3D spatial data includes; data associated with the first axis; data associated with a second axis based, at least in part, on a position in a direction of movement of the at least one detector; and data associated with a third axis based, at least in part, on a time conversion of a time interval between reception of the returning laser signal and generation of the output laser signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for obtaining hyper-spectral imaging data correlated with spatial data, the method comprising:
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generating, with a laser generator, a first output laser signal toward a target area; receiving, with at least one detector, a first returning laser signal from the target area; dispersing, with at least one wavelength dispersion element, the first returning laser signal into a plurality of wavelengths within a field of view of an array of detector elements to be detected thereby, wherein a column of the array views the plurality of wavelengths that correspond to a spatial location of the target area in a first axis; and scanning the target area with the first output laser signal over a plurality of scan steps at different locations along a y-axis of the target area, wherein each of the generating the first output laser signal, the receiving the first returning laser signal, and the dispersing the first returning laser signal are included in each scan step of the plurality of scan steps; wherein generating a first output laser signal toward the target area comprises generating the first output laser signal toward the target area by transmitting the first laser output signal along a z-axis of the target area; and wherein each scan step further includes; time-gating at least one detector at time intervals after transmitting the output laser signal; and detecting the plurality of wavelengths during the time intervals, wherein the at least one detector receives a spectrum of the plurality of wavelengths into columns of an array of detectors of the at least one detector, the columns corresponding to different locations along an x-axis of the target area.
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Specification