Stereo line scanner
US4234241A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 23, 1979 |
| Grant date | Nov 18, 1980 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 23, 1999 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B26/108
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A 45.degree. rotary mirror illuminates a detector through an optical colling system and while facing downwards picks up a direct or primary line scan of objects located below in the plane of scanning. While facing upwards, the rotary mirror picks up a secondary line scan indirectly from below by reflection from a non-revolving plane mirror at an acute angle to the axis of rotation of the rotary mirror, which angle corresponds to the base angle of stereo scanning when the primary line scans are correlated with corresponding secondary line scans that respectively precede them by an interval corresponding to the travel time of the movable craft upon which the line scanner is carried along a base line distance determined by the inclination of the non-revolving plane mirror. That inclination is adjustable about a hinge axis perpendicular to the direction of travel of the carrying aircraft or spacecraft. The average angle of sight of scanned objects is adjustable in elevation and also, for drift compensation purposes, in azimuth. The laser of the heightfinding system can be incorporated into the scanner, directing its light to another 45.degree. mirror rotating back to back with the firs…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.