Optical object detection system
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a transmitter system configured to transmit a first optical signal having a first frequency and a second optical signal having a second frequency to a location on a surface of a ground such that the first optical signal and the second optical signal overlap each other at the location on the surface of the ground, wherein overlap of the first optical signal and the second optical signal at the location on the surface of the ground generates a third optical signal having a difference frequency that is a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency, and wherein the third optical signal is configured to travel into the ground; and
a receiver system configured to detect a response to the third optical signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting an object. A first optical signal having a first frequency is transmitted to a location on a surface of a ground. A second optical signal having a second frequency is transmitted to the location on the surface of the ground such that the first optical signal and the second optical signal overlap each other at the location on the surface of the ground. The overlap of the first optical signal and the second optical signal at the location generates a third optical signal having a difference frequency that is a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency. The third optical signal is configured to travel into the ground. A response to the third optical signal is detected. A determination is made as to whether an object is present in the ground using the response to the third optical signal.
45 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a transmitter system configured to transmit a first optical signal having a first frequency and a second optical signal having a second frequency to a location on a surface of a ground such that the first optical signal and the second optical signal overlap each other at the location on the surface of the ground, wherein overlap of the first optical signal and the second optical signal at the location on the surface of the ground generates a third optical signal having a difference frequency that is a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency, and wherein the third optical signal is configured to travel into the ground; and a receiver system configured to detect a response to the third optical signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for detecting an object, the method comprising:
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transmitting a first optical signal having a first frequency to a location on a surface of a ground; transmitting a second optical signal having a second frequency to the location on the surface of a ground such that the first optical signal and the second optical signal overlap each other at the location on the surface of the ground, wherein overlap of the first optical signal and the second optical signal at the location on the surface of the ground generates a third optical signal having a difference frequency that is a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency, and wherein the third optical signal is configured to travel into the ground; detecting a response to the third optical signal; and determining whether an object is present in the ground using the response to the third optical signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification