Method and system for scanning ladar transmission with pulse modulation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- controlling a scan pattern for a scanning ladar transmission system to target a plurality of range points according to the scan pattern, wherein the controlling step comprises (1) scanning a first mirror of the scanning ladar transmission system to a plurality of first mirror scan positions to target the scanning ladar transmission system along a first axis based on a first control signal, and (2) scanning a second mirror of the scanning ladar transmission system to a plurality of second mirror scan positions to target the scanning ladar transmission system along a second axis based on a second control signal, wherein the first and second axes are orthogonal to each other, and wherein the combination of the first and second mirror scan positions define where the scanning ladar transmission system is targeted; and
transmitting, by the controlled scanning ladar transmission system, a plurality of modulated ladar pulses toward the range points in accordance with the scan pattern, wherein the transmitting step comprises (1) firing a light source of the scanning ladar transmission system to transmit a modulated ladar pulse toward the scanning first mirror, whereupon the modulated ladar pulse is reflected toward the scanning second mirror, whereupon the modulated ladar pulse is reflected toward a targeted range point, and (2) repeating the firing step for a plurality of the targeted range points as the first and second mirrors continue to scan.
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Abstract
Various embodiments are disclosed for improved scanning ladar transmission, including but not limited to an example embodiment where a scanning ladar transmission system employs pulse modulation.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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controlling a scan pattern for a scanning ladar transmission system to target a plurality of range points according to the scan pattern, wherein the controlling step comprises (1) scanning a first mirror of the scanning ladar transmission system to a plurality of first mirror scan positions to target the scanning ladar transmission system along a first axis based on a first control signal, and (2) scanning a second mirror of the scanning ladar transmission system to a plurality of second mirror scan positions to target the scanning ladar transmission system along a second axis based on a second control signal, wherein the first and second axes are orthogonal to each other, and wherein the combination of the first and second mirror scan positions define where the scanning ladar transmission system is targeted; and transmitting, by the controlled scanning ladar transmission system, a plurality of modulated ladar pulses toward the range points in accordance with the scan pattern, wherein the transmitting step comprises (1) firing a light source of the scanning ladar transmission system to transmit a modulated ladar pulse toward the scanning first mirror, whereupon the modulated ladar pulse is reflected toward the scanning second mirror, whereupon the modulated ladar pulse is reflected toward a targeted range point, and (2) repeating the firing step for a plurality of the targeted range points as the first and second mirrors continue to scan. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20)
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2. An apparatus comprising:
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a scanning ladar transmission system configured to control a scan pattern for the scanning ladar transmission system and target a plurality of range points according to the scan pattern, the scanning ladar transmission system comprising (1) a first mirror, (2) a second mirror, and (3) a light source; wherein the light source is configured to generate a plurality of ladar pulses; and wherein the scanning ladar transmission system is further configured to (1) scan the first mirror to a plurality of first mirror scan positions to target the scanning ladar transmission system along a first axis based on a first control signal, (2) scan the second mirror to a plurality of second mirror scan positions to target the scanning ladar transmission system along a second axis based on a second control signal, wherein the first and second axes are orthogonal to each other, and wherein the combination of the first and second mirror scan positions define where the scanning ladar transmission system is targeted, (3) fire the light source to transmit a modulated ladar pulse toward the scanning first mirror, whereupon the modulated ladar pulse is reflected toward the scanning second mirror, whereupon the modulated ladar pulse is reflected toward a targeted range point, and (4) repeat the fire operation for a plurality of the targeted range points as the first and second mirrors continue to scan to thereby transmit a plurality of the modulated ladar pulses toward the range points in accordance with the scan pattern. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification