SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MODULAR LADAR SCANNING

• US 20160306043A1
• Filed: 04/15/2015
• Published: 10/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Moss, Robert Douglas, Standridge, Alexander C., Singer, Scott B., Yuan, Ping, Sudharsanan, Rengarajan
• Granted Patent: US 10,436,904 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/34 using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/87 Combinations of systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4817 relating to scanning

Abstract

A laser distance and ranging (LADAR) array is provided. The LADAR array includes a plurality of LADAR modules, each LADAR module configured to scan a laser beam through a field of view (FOV) and output a signal indicative of a distance between each LADAR module and objects in the FOV that the laser beam is incident upon, and a central processing device communicatively coupled to the plurality of LADAR modules, the central processing device configured to generate an output based at least in part on the signals of each LADAR module.

Claims

1. A laser distance and ranging (LADAR) array comprising:

a plurality of LADAR modules, each said LADAR module configured to scan a laser beam through a field of view (FOV) and output a signal indicative of a distance between each said LADAR module and objects in the FOV that the laser beam is incident upon; and

a central processing device communicatively coupled to said plurality of LADAR modules, said central processing device configured to generate an output based at least in part on the signals of each said LADAR module.

2. A LADAR array in accordance with claim 1, wherein each said LADAR module has a first FOV, and wherein said central processing device is configured to generate an image having a second FOV that is larger than the first FOV.

3. A LADAR array in accordance with claim 1, wherein said central processing device comprises

a central analog-to-digital conversion unit;

and

a central fast Fourier transformation unit, said central analog-to-digital conversion unit and said central fast Fourier transformation unit configured to process the signals from each said LADAR module.

4. A LADAR array in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of LADAR modules comprises at least a first LADAR module having a first FOV and a second LADAR module having a second FOV, and wherein said first and second LADAR modules are arranged such that the first FOV is non-overlapping with the second FOV.

5. A LADAR array in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of LADAR modules comprises at least a first LADAR module having a first FOV and a second LADAR module having a second FOV, and wherein said first and second LADAR modules are arranged such that the first FOV partially overlaps with the second FOV.

6. A LADAR array in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of LADAR modules comprises at least a first LADAR module having a first FOV and a second LADAR module having a second FOV, and wherein said first and second LADAR modules are arranged such that the first FOV entirely overlaps with the second FOV.

7. A LADAR array in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of LADAR modules comprises at least a first LADAR module operating at a first phase and a second LADAR module operating at a second phase, and wherein the first phase is offset with respect to the second phase.

8. A method of assembling a laser distance and ranging (LADAR) array, said method comprising:

arranging a plurality of LADAR modules, each LADAR module configured to scan a laser beam through a field of view (FOV) and output a signal indicative of a distance between each LADAR module and objects in the FOV that the laser beam is incident upon; and

communicatively coupling the plurality of LADAR modules to a central processing device, wherein the central processing device is configured to generate an output based at least in part on the signals output from each LADAR module.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein arranging a plurality of LADAR modules comprises arranging a plurality of LADAR modules each having a first FOV, and wherein communicatively coupling the plurality of LADAR modules to a central processing device comprises communicatively coupling the plurality of LADAR modules to a central processing device configured to generate an image having a second FOV that is larger than the first FOV.

10. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein communicatively coupling the plurality of LADAR modules to a central processing device comprises communicatively coupling the plurality of LADAR modules to a central processing device that includes a central analog-to-digital conversion unit, and a central fast Fourier transformation unit, the central analog-to-digital conversion unit and the central fast Fourier transformation unit configured to process the signals from each of the plurality of LADAR modules.

11. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein arranging a plurality of LADAR modules comprises arranging a first LADAR module having a first FOV and a second LADAR module having a second FOV such that the first FOV is non-overlapping with the second FOV.

12. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein arranging a plurality of LADAR modules comprises arranging a first LADAR module having a first FOV and a second LADAR module having a second FOV such that the first FOV partially overlaps with the second FOV.

13. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein arranging a plurality of LADAR modules comprises arranging a first LADAR module having a first FOV and a second LADAR module having a second FOV such that the first FOV entirely overlaps with the second FOV.

14. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein arranging a plurality of LADAR modules comprises arranging a first LADAR module operating at a first phase and a second LADAR module operating at a second phase, and wherein the first phase is offset with respect to the second phase.

15. A method of operating a LADAR array, said method comprising:

receiving, at a central processing unit, signals from each of a plurality of LADAR modules, each LADAR module configured to scan a laser beam through a field of view (FOV) and output a signal indicative of a distance between each LADAR module and objects in the FOV that the laser beam is incident upon; and

processing, at the central processing unit, the received signals to generate an output.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein processing the received signals comprises processing the received signals to generate a three-dimensional image of an environment within the FOVs of the plurality of LADAR modules.

17. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein receiving signals comprises receiving signals from at least a first LADAR module having a first FOV and a second LADAR module having a second FOV, and wherein the first and second LADAR modules are arranged such that the first FOV is non-overlapping with the second FOV.

18. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein receiving signals comprises receiving signals from at least a first LADAR module having a first FOV and a second LADAR module having a second FOV, and wherein the first and second LADAR modules are arranged such that the first FOV partially overlaps with the second FOV.

19. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein receiving signals comprises receiving signals from at least a first LADAR module having a first FOV and a second LADAR module having a second FOV, and wherein the first and second LADAR modules are arranged such that the first FOV entirely overlaps with the second FOV.

20. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein receiving signals comprises receiving signals from a first LADAR module operating at a first phase and a second LADAR module operating at a second phase, and wherein the first phase is offset with respect to the second phase.