Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device where by detecting the presence of floating droplet and by measuring transverse scattering of the beam when laser beam penetrates clouds, information reflecting profile of the diameter of these droplets is provided. SOLUTION: An in-flight multiple field-of-view water droplet sensor includes an illumination portion and a detection portion. The illumination portion includes a first optical beam emitter configured to output a light beam. The detection portion includes a kaleidoscope configured to channel a first portion of the backscattered light towards an inner reflective surface of a circle-to-line converter, a multiple field-of-view subsystem having at least a first detector configured to receive light reflected by the circle-to-line converter, and a single field-of-view subsystem configured to receive a second portion of the backscattered light, the second portion not having been reflected by the circle-to-line converter. The single field-of-view subsystem may include a dual channel circular polarization detector for distinguishing between liquid water droplets and ice crystals based on information in the single field-of-view. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for optically detecting and identifying liquid waterdrops and ice crystals in the air, including an irradiation part and a detection part. SOLUTION: The irradiation part outputs irradiated beams of circularly polarized light. The detection part receives back-scattered light of circularly polarized light from water content in clouds, in response to irradiation beam. The back-scattered light of circularly polarized light is passed through a circularly polarized light device and converted to the back scattered light of linearly polarized light, and the converted light is divided into two components. By an optional selection, each of the two components is subjected to further receiving a linearly polarized light for removing all orthogonally polarized light of leakage type. Next, two components are detected optically and by using the resulting detection signal, one or more parameters reflecting the presence/absence of ice crystal and/or waterdrops in the air are calculated. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide block optical element constitution used as a transceiver for a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system. SOLUTION: This block optical element constitution is provided with a plurality of glass modules aligned each other as a block to form a plurality of optical paths in an inside, and fixed each other to maintain the alignment, a collimated light source for generating a coherent light beam on at least one of the optical paths in the block for guiding the coherent light beam to an outlet point of the block, and a light detector fixed onto the block. The block receives a reflected coherent light beam and transmits the reflected coherent light beam to the light detector through at least one of the other optical paths formed in the block. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
A combined system of a LOAS and a LIDAR system comprises: a LIDAR arrangement of optical elements for generating a first coherent beam of light at a first predetermined wavelength; a LOAS arrangement of optical elements for generating a second coherent beam of light at a second predetermined wavelength; a dichroic filter optical element for directing the first and second coherent beams of light substantially on a first common optical path towards an aperture of a beam expander; at least one output optical element which directs both of the expanded first and second coherent beams of light from the system, the at least one output optical element also for receiving and directing reflections of the first and second coherent beams of light to the beam expander wherein the beam reflections are collected; and wherein the dichroic filter optical element separates and directs the collected light corresponding to the first coherent beam back to the LIDAR arrangement of optical elements for use in determining flow velocity, and separates and directs the collected light corresponding to the second coherent beam back to the LOAS arrangement of optical elements for use in detecting at least one object.
Abstract:
A method of laser scanning a perimeter zone of a target site for the detection of potential threats comprises: scanning a pulsed laser beam across the perimeter zone; receiving echoes from the pulsed laser beam and forming for a plurality of perimeter zone scans to form scene images. In addition, a method of authenticating a potential threat detected in a perimeter zone of a target site comprises: detecting the potential threat, interrogating the potential threat by a wireless transmission; declaring the potential threat unauthorized if no response is transmitted within a predetermined time interval or if the received response is determined not to comprise the proper access code.
Abstract:
A laser-based altimeter for use on-board an aircraft comprises: a first housing including a hollow cavity and an exit aperture, and a second housing including a hollow cavity and an entrance aperture. A laser source and a plurality of first optical elements are fixedly supported in a compact configuration within the hollow cavity of the first housing. The plurality of first optical elements directs laser beams generated by the laser source from a first optical path to a second optical path which exits the first housing through the exit aperture. At least one second optical element is configured within the hollow cavity of the second housing to form a telescope with a predetermined field of view. The telescope receives at the entrance aperture reflections of the pulsed laser beams from objects within the field of view thereof and focuses the received reflections substantially to a focal point. A light detector is included for receiving and converting the focused reflections into electrical signals representative thereof. The first and second housings are fixedly secured in alignment with respect to each other to permit the second optical path of the pulsed laser beams to be adjusted within the field of view of the telescope. A mirror apparatus is the only first optical element of the plurality that is fixedly adjustable for directing the second optical path within the field of view of the telescope, the mirror apparatus being lockable in place after final adjustment. The first and second housings may be part of a common housing.
Abstract:
In one aspect, methods of determining a size distribution of water droplets in a cloud are described herein. In some embodiments, a method of determining a size distribution of water droplets in a cloud comprises sampling a depth of a cloud with a beam of electromagnetic radiation, measuring echo intensities of the electromagnetic radiation returned from the cloud with a detector, determining a measured optical extinction coefficient from the measured echo intensities, determining a measured backscatter coefficient from the measured echo intensities, determining a lidar ratio from the measured optical extinction coefficient and the measured backscatter coefficient, determining from the lidar ratio a value pair comprising a shape parameter (µ) and median volume diameter (D MVD) of the water droplets, and determining a size distribution of the water droplets using the value pair (µ, D MVD).
Abstract:
IN-FLIGHT MULTIPLE FIELD OF VIEW DETECTOR FOR SUPERCOOLED AIRBORNE WATER DROPLETS An airborne multiple field-of-view water droplet sensor includes an illumination portion and a detection portion. The illumination portion includes a first optical beam emitter configured to output a light beam. The detection portion includes a kaleidoscope configured to channel a first portion of the backscattered light towards an inner reflective surface of a circle-to-line converter, a multiple field of view subsystem having at least a first detector configured to receive light reflected by the circle-to-line converter, and a single field-of-view subsystem configured to receive a second portion of the backscattered light, the second portion not having been reflected by the circle-to-line converter. The single field-of-view subsystem may include a dual channel circular polarization detector for distinguishing between liquid water droplets and ice crystals based on information in the single field-of-view. Clj cc (D ou cc =3 Cl- CL C'M Lo co U o .4- I= C%4 (D .s .4= J C:L c) L9-j, Cj CM cis cc CM cm d Cl C=
Abstract:
A method for determining a range to a target comprises rotating a mirror unit around a scan axis. A light pulse is reflected off of a transmitting portion of the mirror unit toward the target. A light pulse, received from the target, is reflected off of a receiving portion of the mirror unit toward a receiver. The method includes compensating for a lag angle, caused by the rotation of the mirror unit around the axis, between the time the light pulse is reflected from the transmitting portion and the time the received light pulse is reflected from the receiving portion. The compensation includes angularly offsetting the transmitting portion about the scan axis from a surface plane of the receiving portion.