Laser sensor system

• US 9,247,215 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2006
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Custom Manufacturing & Engineering, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Custom Manufacturing & Engineering, Inc.
• Inventors: Athan, Stephan P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prabhakher, Pritham
• Application Number:
  US11/409,290
• Time in Patent Office: 3,567 Days
• Field of Search: 348143-159, 348370-371, 34821199-21114
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/04 Adaptation of rangefinders for combination with telescopes or binoculars
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/06 Use of electric means to obtain final indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/08 Use of electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/10 using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves determination of distance by phase measurement G01S15/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/10 using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves determination of distance by phase measurements G01S17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/021 Auxiliary means for detecting or identifying radar signals or the like, e.g. radar jamming signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19663 Surveillance related processing done local to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

A device is disclosed for detecting and imaging an object comprising a sensor node including a sensor for sensing the object and a camera for recording an image of the object. A wireless sensor radio is connected to the camera for transmitting the recorded image of the object to a display node for displaying the image of the object at a remote location.

Claims

1. A device for detecting and imaging an object, comprising:

a sensor node including;

a sensor microcomputer;

a laser range finder for sensing the presence and determining the range of the object;

a night vision optical amplifier coupled to said laser range finder;

an active range detector connected to said sensor microcomputer for determining if the object is located within a desired active range from the sensor node;

said active range detector providing an output to a camera trigger only when the range of the object falls within said desired active range from the sensor node for distinguishing between objects within said active range from fault objects found outside of said active range;

a camera comprising an electronic imaging device optically coupled to said night vision optical amplifier for recording an image of the object with a matrix of electronic pixels upon an output from said laser range finder;

a connector for connecting said camera to said sensor microcomputer;

an infrared sensor for sensing the infrared emission from the object;

an infrared laser connected to said sensor microcomputer for emitting an infrared waveform toward the object upon actuation by said microcomputer;

a first and a second lenticular lenses interposed between the infrared laser and the object for expanding said infrared waveform in two additional dimensions for illuminating the object;

said microcomputer actuating said infrared laser upon said infrared sensor sensing an insufficient light level from the object for illuminating the object through said first and second lenticular lenses for enabling said camera to record an image of the object by said camera;

a sensor radio connected to said sensor microcomputer for transmitting said recorded image of the object;

a display node including;

a display microcomputer;

a display radio connected to said display microcomputer for receiving said recorded image of the object; and

a display device for displaying the image of the object.

2. A device for detecting and imaging an object as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sensor radio is a wireless radio frequency sensor transceiver.

3. A device for detecting and imaging an object as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sensor radio is a sensor transceiver selected from the group consisting of a 802.15 wireless transceiver, a cellular transceiver and a satellite transceiver.

4. A device for detecting and imaging an object as set forth in claim 1, including a sensor auxiliary device selected from the group consisting of:

a motion sensor for sensing a motion of the object,

a presence sensor for sensing a presence of the object,

a heat sensor for sensing a heat emission from the object,

an infrared sensor for sensing an infrared emission from the object,

an acoustic sensor for sensing an acoustical output from the object,

an ultrasonic sensor for sensing an ultrasonic output from the object,

a vibration sensor for sensing the level of vibration from the object,

an acceleration sensor for sensing the level of acceleration of the object,

a pressure sensor for sensing the level of pressure from the object,

an inclination sensor for sensing the level of inclination of the object,

a magnetic sensor for sensing a magnetic field of the object,

an aroma sensor for sensing an aroma from the object,

a sonar sensor for sensing a sonar signal from the object, and

a radar sensor for sensing a radar signal from the object, and

a radio frequency sensor for sensing a the radio frequency signal from the object,

a magnetic compass for sensing a magnetic direction; and

a light sensor for determining the level of ambient light.

5. A device for detecting and imaging an object as set forth in claim 1, including a sensor auxiliary device selected from the group consisting of:

a disabling circuit for disabling said sensor node;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver for determining the geographical position of said sensor node; and

a light emitting device for illuminating the object for recording an image of the object in a low light condition.

6. A device for detecting and imaging an object as set forth in claim 1, wherein said camera includes a night vision unit coupled to said camera for enabling said camera to record an image of the object in a low light condition.

7. A device for detecting and imaging an object as set forth in claim 1, wherein said display radio is a display transceiver selected from the group consisting of:

an 802.15 wireless transceiver,

a cellular transceiver,

a satellite transceiver, and

a USB port.

8. A device for detecting and imaging an object as set forth in claim 1, wherein said display node includes a display auxiliary device selected from the group consisting of:

an alarm circuit for alerting an operator upon said display radio receiving said recorded image of the object; and

a GPS receiver.