Patent · US Expired

Wide field scanning laser obstacle awareness system

US6650407B2 · kind B2 · utility

51Cited by
15References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 4, 2001
Grant dateNov 18, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 18, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S17/88
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A wide field scanning laser obstacle awareness system (LOAS) comprises: a plurality of first optical elements configured to direct a portion of a pulsed laser beam generated by a light source to a light detector, and to direct the pulsed laser beam to a beam expander wherein the pulsed laser beam is expanded; and at least one rotationally operated second optical element for directing the expanded pulsed laser beam from the system with a predetermined pattern scanned azimuthally over a wide field, the at least one rotationally operated second optical element also for receiving reflections of the pulsed laser beam from at least one object along the predetermined pattern and directing them to the laser beam expander wherein the laser beam reflections are focused; the plurality of first optical elements also configured to direct the focused laser beam reflections to the light detector for use in determining the location of the at least one object.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.