LIDAR device and method for clear and degraded environmental viewing conditions
US10078137B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 21, 2014 |
| Grant date | Sep 18, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 21, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R31/382
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A LIDAR system that can accommodate both a clear atmosphere and be adaptable to environments in which smoke, dust or other particulates (i.e., a degraded environment) exist in the atmosphere around the target is described. The system operates in two fields of regard: clear view mode (wide field of regard) and a degraded view mode (narrow field of regard). The wide field of regard allows the output laser energy to be concentrated over a large number of detector pixels and thus resulting in high scene scan rate. The narrow field of regard allows concentrating the laser output energy on fewer pixels to compensate for the loss of laser energy due to atmospheric degradation. The combination of the ROIC and LIDAR modes of operation result in a system that is capable of operation under clear and degraded environments.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.