Parallel phase-sensitive three-dimensional imaging camera
| DWPI Title: Three-dimensional imaging camera for generating three-dimensional image of scene has computational unit that receives each integrator output signal associated with each photodetector to generate intensity and range information |
| Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for generating a three-dimensional (3-D) image of a scene illuminated by a pulsed light source (e.g. a laser or light-emitting diode). The apparatus, referred to as a phase-sensitive 3-D imaging camera utilizes a two-dimensional (2-D) array of photodetectors to receive light that is reflected or scattered from the scene and processes an electrical output signal from each photodetector in the 2-D array in parallel using multiple modulators, each having inputs of the photodetector output signal and a reference signal, with the reference signal provided to each modulator having a different phase delay. The output from each modulator is provided to a computational unit which can be used to generate intensity and range information for use in generating a 3-D image of the scene. The 3-D camera is capable of generating a 3-D image using a single pulse of light, or alternately can be used to generate subsequent 3-D images with each additional pulse of light. |
| Use: For generating three-dimensional image of scene illuminated by light source. Used for e.g. robotic vision, collision avoidance, inspection, navigation, target recognition, aim point refinement for munitions. |
| Advantage: Generates three-dimensional image based on single pulse of light. Enables simultaneous determination of intensity and range information for constructing three-dimensional image. Provides continuous imaging at video rate. |
| Novelty: A computational unit (38) receives each integrator (34) output signal associated with each photodetector (112) to generate intensity and range information about the scene (110) illuminated by a light source (14) to produce the three-dimensional image of the scene. Each integrator receives a modulated output signal (32) from one modulator (26) to generate the integrator output signal. Each modulator receives an electrical output signal from the photodetector and an alternating current signal reference signal with a different phase delay for each modulator. |
| Filed: 10/9/2003 |
| Application Number: US2003681961A |
| Tech ID: SD 6589.0 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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