Scannerless laser range imaging using loss modulation
| DWPI Title: Scannerless three-dimensional imaging apparatus for e.g. facial recognition, has array detector detecting backscattered light transmitted through loss modulator and generating electrical output signal, where image of target is constructed |
| Abstract: A scannerless 3-D imaging apparatus is disclosed which utilizes an amplitude modulated cw light source to illuminate a field of view containing a target of interest. Backscattered light from the target is passed through one or more loss modulators which are modulated at the same frequency as the light source, but with a phase delay δ which can be fixed or variable. The backscattered light is demodulated by the loss modulator and detected with a CCD, CMOS or focal plane array (FPA) detector to construct a 3-D image of the target. The scannerless 3-D imaging apparatus, which can operate in the eye-safe wavelength region 1.4-1.7 μm and which can be constructed as a flash LADAR, has applications for vehicle collision avoidance, autonomous rendezvous and docking, robotic vision, industrial inspection and measurement, 3-D cameras, and facial recognition. |
| Use: Scannerless three-dimensional (3-D) imaging apparatus. Uses include but are not limited to vehicle collision avoidance, autonomous rendezvous and docking, robotic vision, industrial inspection and measurement, 3-D cameras, and facial recognition. |
| Advantage: The apparatus provides the 3-D image of the target within a field of view while improving resolution of the target, thus preventing exposure of a sensitive retina to potentially damaging laser radiation. The apparatus eliminates the need for a mechanical beam scanner, thus making the apparatus to be more compact and rugged, while allowing higher data rates. |
| Novelty: The apparatus (10) has a continuously-emitting light source (12) e.g. fiber laser, which is amplitude modulated in response to a sinusoidal modulation signal (16) at a frequency. A loss modulator (24) is modulated at the same frequency in response to another sinusoidal modulation signal (26) including a variable phase delay with respect to the former sinusoidal modulation signal. An array detector (28) detects backscattered light (20) transmitted through the modulator and generates electrical output signal (30), where three-dimensional (3-D) image of a target (110) is constructed. |
| Filed: 6/29/2006 |
| Application Number: US2006477248A |
| Tech ID: SD 7857.0 |
| 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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