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3-dimensional hybrid camera and production system

  • US 8,743,176 B2
  • Filed: 05/19/2010
  • Issued: 06/03/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A hybrid three dimensional camera system comprising:

  • a pulsed infrared laser transmitter providing an output laser pulse upon command from a system controller;

    an optical sampler adapted to sample the output of the laser transmitter and provide the optical sample via optical transmission path to a laser power detector, said laser power detector having a laser power detector electrical signal indicating the time of transmission of the laser pulse;

    a two dimensional visible light camera, having a field of view, the two dimensional visible light camera incorporating an array of visible light optical detectors positioned at the focal plane of a motorized zoom lens and a two dimensional image output, said zoom lens adapted to optimize overlap of the two dimensional visible light camera field of view and the output laser pulse;

    a pixilated infrared optical receiver incorporating an array of infrared optical detectors positioned at the focal plane of a lens system and each optical detector of said array producing an electrical output pulse at a terminal of said optical detector in response to a reflected laser pulse, and each optical detector having said terminal electrically connected to an input of a unit cell electrical circuit of a readout integrated circuit;

    said readout integrated circuit having an array of unit cell electrical circuits, and each unit cell electrical circuit having an input adapted to receive an electrical output pulse from an optical detector of said array of infrared optical detectors, and each unit cell electrical circuit having a timing circuit initiated by said laser power detector electrical signal, and said timing circuit terminating upon receipt of an electrical output pulse from an optical detector of said array of infrared optical detectors; and

    said readout integrated circuit having an output providing range and intensity data for each optical detector of said array of infrared optical detectors receiving an incident reflected light portion of said output laser pulse;

    an image processor which merges the output of said two dimensional visible light camera with the range and intensity data output of said infrared optical receiver to produce a three dimensional visible picture output;

    a system controller which initiates the pulsing of said pulsed laser transmitter and which controls the operation of said two dimensional visible light camera zoom lens, as well as the timing of the output of said infrared optical receiver and the timing of said image processor three dimensional visible picture output.

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