Optical system for object detection and location

US10267915B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Raytheon Company · US

Inventors

• Gerald P. Uyeno · Tucson, US
• Sean D. Keller · Tucson, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 7, 2016
• Grant date: Apr 23, 2019
• Expiry date: Jul 21, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S17/66
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Optical systems and methods for object detection and location. One example of an optical system includes a laser radar optical source positioned to emit a pulsed laser beam, a non-mechanical beamsteering device positioned to scan the beam in a linear scan over a first area of a scene, a laser radar detector positioned to receive and integrate a reflection of the beam, a read-out integrated circuit (ROIC) configured to provide a first read-out signal based on the integrated reflection, and a controller configured to receive the first read-out signal, determine a range to the first area based on a time of flight of the pulsed laser beam, and identify a presence of an object within the scene based on a signal level of the first read-out signal, the first signal level corresponding to a reflectivity of a portion of the object within the first area of the scene.