Enhanced optical detection and ranging

• US 9,746,323 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2014
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Wood, Rhande P., Jones, Michael I.
• Primary Examiner(s): RATCLIFFE, LUKE D
• Application Number:
  US14/341,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20160025488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/08 Use of electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/236 using varifocal lenses or mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/58 Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/75 by influencing optical camera components

Abstract

In an embodiment, a method includes, for each field of view of a plurality of fields of view forming a field of regard, positioning a rotating disk in a first position corresponding to a first section of a plurality of sections. Each section of the plurality of sections may have a different focal length. The method further includes receiving a first image representing a first field of view, analyzing the first image, adjusting the plurality of mirrors based on the analysis, positioning the rotating disk in a second position corresponding to a second section, and receiving a second image representing the first field of view captured while the rotating disk was in the second position. The method further includes generating a range image of the field of view using at least the first image and the second image, and determining a range to a target using the range image.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

one or more memory units; and

one or more processors communicatively coupled to the one or more memory units and operable to;

for each field of view of a plurality of fields of view forming a field of regard;

position a rotating disk in a first position corresponding to a first section of a plurality of sections of the rotating disk, each section of the plurality of sections having a different focal length;

receive a first image representing a first field of view captured while the rotating disk was in the first position;

analyze the first image to determine whether to adjust a plurality of mirrors on a spatial light modulator;

adjust the plurality of mirrors based on the analysis;

position the rotating disk in a second position corresponding to a second section of the plurality of sections; and

receive a second image representing the first field of view captured while the rotating disk was in the second position;

generate a range image of the field of view using at least the first image and the second image; and

determine a range to a target using the range image.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each section of the plurality of sections of the rotating disk has a different thickness or a different index of refraction.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable to analyze the first image by determining a level of brightness associated with the image.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein, for at least one of the plurality of fields of view, the rotating disk is positioned in each of the plurality of sections a plurality of times.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotating disk is positioned a number of times corresponding to a number of sections of the rotating disk and the plurality of mirrors are adjusted each instance that the rotating disk is positioned.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the target is an airborne object.

7. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising logic, the logic operable, when executed by a processor, to:

for each field of view of a plurality of fields of view forming a field of regard;

position a rotating disk in a first position corresponding to a first section of a plurality of sections of the rotating disk, each section of the plurality of sections having a different focal length;

receive a first image representing a first field of view captured while the rotating disk was in the first position;

analyze the first image to determine whether to adjust a plurality of mirrors on a spatial light modulator;

adjust the plurality of mirrors based on the analysis;

position the rotating disk in a second position corresponding to a second section of the plurality of sections; and

receive a second image representing the first field of view captured while the rotating disk was in the second position;

generate a range image of the field of view using at least the first image and the second image; and

determine a range to a target using the range image.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein each section of the plurality of sections of the rotating disk has a different thickness.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein each section of the plurality of sections of the rotating disk has a different index of refraction.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the logic is further operable to analyze the first image by determining a level of brightness associated with the image.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein, for at least one of the plurality of fields of view, the rotating disk is positioned in each of the plurality of sections a plurality of times.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the rotating disk is positioned a number of times corresponding to a number of sections of the rotating disk and the plurality of mirrors are adjusted each instance that the rotating disk is positioned.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the target is an airborne object.

14. A method, comprising:

for each field of view of a plurality of fields of view forming a field of regard;

positioning a rotating disk in a first position corresponding to a first section of a plurality of sections of the rotating disk, each section of the plurality of sections having a different focal length;

receiving a first image representing a first field of view captured while the rotating disk was in the first position;

analyzing the first image to determine whether to adjust a plurality of mirrors on a spatial light modulator;

adjusting the plurality of mirrors based on the analysis;

positioning the rotating disk in a second position corresponding to a second section of the plurality of sections; and

receiving a second image representing the first field of view captured while the rotating disk was in the second position;

generating a range image of the field of view using at least the first image and the second image; and

determining a range to a target using the range image.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein each section of the plurality of sections of the rotating disk has a different thickness.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein each section of the plurality of sections of the rotating disk has a different index of refraction.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein analyzing the first image comprises determining a level of brightness associated with the image.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the rotating disk is positioned a number of times corresponding to a number of sections of the rotating disk and the plurality of mirrors are adjusted each instance that the rotating disk is positioned.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the spatial light modulator receives light from a collimator.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein:

adjusting the plurality of mirrors on the spatial light modulator based on the analysis comprises adjusting the plurality of mirrors to change an amount of light passed to a focal plane array; and

positions of the rotating disk are synchronized with adjustments to the plurality of mirrors on the spatial light modulator.