Methods and systems for detecting an object

• US 8,964,168 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2012
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Hunt, Jeffrey H., Koumvakalis, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): RATCLIFFE, LUKE D
• Application Number:
  US13/477,546
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 356 301- 315, 356 401- 41, 356 501- 515, 356 6- 22, 356/28, 356/28.5
• US Class Current: 356/5.09
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/08 Use of electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4811 common to transmitter and receiver

Abstract

A detection system for detecting an object includes a transmitter including a light source configured to emit a first light beam having a first frequency towards the object. The detection system also includes a receiver configured to receive a second light beam reflected from the object, and a detector positioned within the receiver. The second light beam has a second frequency as a result of a non-linear optical response of a surface of the object to the first light beam. The detector is configured to detect the object based on the second frequency of the second light beam.

Claims

1. A detection system for detecting an object, said detection system comprising:

a transmitter at a first location comprising a light source configured to emit a first light beam having a first frequency towards the object at an incident angle, such that a second light beam is reflected from the object at a reflection angle, wherein the reflection angle is dependent upon the first frequency;

a receiver at a second location configured to receive the second light beam, wherein the second light beam has a second frequency as a result of a non-linear response of a surface of the object to the first light beam; and

a detector positioned within said receiver, said detector configured to detect the object based on the second frequency of the second light beam.

2. A detection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said transmitter is a first transmitter, said detection system comprising a second transmitter configured to emit a third light beam having a third frequency towards the object.

3. A detection system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said first transmitter focuses the first light beam on a location on the surface of the object and said second transmitter focuses the third light beam on the location.

4. A detection system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the first light beam and the third light beam interact with each other and with the surface non-linearly to generate the second light beam having the second frequency that is a non-linear combination of the first frequency and the third frequency.

5. A detection system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said detector is configured to detect the non-linear combination of the first frequency and the third frequency.

6. A detection system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the non-linear combination of the first frequency and the third frequency is a second order combination of the first frequency and the third frequency.

7. A detection system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the second order combination of the first frequency and the third frequency is a sum of the first frequency and the third frequency.

8. A detection system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the second order combination of the first frequency and the third frequency is a difference between the first frequency and the third frequency.

9. A detection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said second location relative to said first location and the first frequency is adjustable to align said receiver and the second light beam.

10. A detection system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the incident angle and said second location are substantially constant, said transmitter is configured to sweep through a plurality of first frequencies such that the second light beam is reflected at a plurality of reflection angles until the second light beam is directed towards said second location.

11. A detection system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the first frequency and the incident angle are substantially constant, said receiver is configured to sweep through a plurality of second locations until the second light beam is aligned with said receiver.

12. A method of detecting an object, said method comprising:

emitting a first light beam having a first frequency from a first location towards the object at an incident angle, such that a second light beam is reflected from the object at a reflection angle, wherein the reflection angle is dependent upon the first frequency;

receiving the second light beam by a receiver at a second location, wherein the second light beam has a second frequency as a result of a non-linear response of a surface of the object to the first light beam; and

detecting the object based on the second frequency of the second light beam.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12, further comprising emitting a third light beam having a third frequency towards the object.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13, further comprising focusing the first light beam on a location on the surface of the object and focusing the third light beam on the location.

15. A method in accordance with claim 13, further comprising:

causing the first light beam and the third light beam to interact with each other and with the surface non-linearly to generate the second light beam having the second frequency that is a non-linear combination of the first frequency and the third frequency.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15, further comprising detecting the non-linear combination of the first frequency and the third frequency.

17. A method in accordance with claim 13, further comprising causing the first light beam and the third light beam to interact with each other and with the surface non-linearly to generate the second light beam having the second frequency that is a second order combination of the first frequency and the third frequency.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein generating the second light beam having the second frequency comprises generating the second light beam having the second frequency that is a sum of the first frequency and the third frequency.

19. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein generating the second light beam having the second frequency comprises generating the second light beam having the second frequency that is a difference between the first frequency and the third frequency.

20. A method in accordance with claim 12, further comprising adjusting at least one of the second location relative to the first location and the first frequency to align the receiver and the second light beam.

21. A method in accordance with claim 20, further comprising:

holding the incident angle and the second location substantially constant; and

sweeping through a plurality of first frequencies such that the second light beam is reflected at a plurality of reflection angles until the second light beam is directed towards the second location.

22. A method in accordance with claim 20, further comprising:

holding the incident angle and the first frequency substantially constant; and

sweeping the receiver through a plurality of second locations until the second light beam is aligned with the receiver.