Range measurement device

• US 7,852,463 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2007
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Hartman, Randolph G., Elgersma, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ratcliffe; Luke D
• Application Number:
  US11/837,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20090046270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 356 501- 515, 356 301- 315, 356 401- 41, 356 6- 22
• US Class Current: 356/5.01
• 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 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/66 Tracking systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• 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 17/87 Combinations of systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/894 3D imaging with simultaneous measurement of time-of-flight at a 2D array of receiver pixels, e.g. time-of-flight cameras or flash lidar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4808 Evaluating distance, position or velocity data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4814 of transmitters alone
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4816 of receivers alone

Abstract

A range measurement device is disclosed. The device comprises a flash laser radar configured to produce a first laser pulse at a first time. The device receives, at a second time, reflections of the first laser pulse from at least one object within a 360 degree field of view. The device further comprises a timing electronics module, an image sensor in communication with the timing electronics module, a mirror element coupled between the image sensor and the laser radar, and a lens. The mirror element includes a first reflector configured to disperse the reflections of the first laser pulse within at least a portion of the 360 degree field of view and a second reflector configured to collect returning reflections of the first laser pulse from the at least one object into the image sensor. The lens is configured to focus the returning reflections onto the image sensor.

Claims

1. A range measurement device, comprising:

a flash laser radar configured to produce a first laser pulse;

a timing electronics module including one or more timers;

an image sensor in communication with the timing electronics module;

a mirror element coupled between the image sensor and the flash laser radar, the mirror element including;

a first reflector configured to disperse reflections of the first laser pulse into a 360 degree field of view; and

a second reflector configured to collect returning reflections of the first laser pulse from at least one object within the 360 degree field of view into the image sensor; and

a lens configured to focus the returning reflections of the first laser pulse onto the image sensor.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a processor coupled to an output of the image sensor, the processor operable to provide range, azimuth, and location measurements with three-dimensional images produced by the image sensor, and determine at least one of a relative location and an absolute location of a host vehicle having the range measurement device based on the range, azimuth, and location measurements provided.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the timing electronics module is operable to:

monitor a sensitivity of the image sensor; and

control initiation of the first laser pulse to illuminate the target.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the timing electronics module is further operable to measure signal transit timing of the first laser pulse as a propagation time between the initiation of the first laser pulse and the returning reflections.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the image sensor is a charge-coupled device operable to measure a light intensity of the returning reflections.

6. The device of claim 1, where the first and second reflectors of the mirror element comprise a single reflector.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the second reflector of the mirror element returns at least one three-dimensional image of a targeted object.