Image null-balance system with multisector-cell direction sensing
US8203703B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 18, 2010 |
| Grant date | Jun 19, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 18, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B26/105
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A light beam is detected/localized by multisector detector—quad-cell, or 5+ sectors handling plural beams. Preferences: Beams focus to diffraction limit on the detector, which reveals origin direction by null-balance—shifting spots to a central sector junction, and measuring shifts to reach there. One or more MEMS reflectors, and control system with programmed processor(s), sequence the spot toward center: following a normal to an intersector boundary; then along the boundary. One afocal optic amplifies MEMS deflections; another sends beams to imaging optics. After it's known which sector received a spot, and the beam shifts, source direction is reported. The system can respond toward that (or a related) direction. It can illuminate objects, generating beams reflectively. Optics define an FOR in which to search; other optics define an FOV (narrower), for imaging spots onto the detector. The FOR:FOV angular ratio is on order of ten—roughly 180:20°, or 120:10°.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.