LIGHT RANGING WITH MOVING SENSOR ARRAY

摘要

A light ranging device is mounted on a moveable platform, for example an airplane. The light ranging device may include an illumination source for providing a pulse of light, beam shaping optics to form a beam of light directed at a target, and collection optics for providing reflected light of the beam to a light-sensitive sensor array. A processor may determine range to the target based on spatial displacement of received light on the sensor array compared to expected position of the light due to platform movement.

主权项

1. A light ranging system for measuring distances from a moving platform to a target, comprising:
an illumination source couplable to a moveable platform, the illumination source capable of being pulsed to form a pulse of light to be directed towards said target; a light-sensitive sensor array; collection optics to image reflections of said light from a target onto said sensor array during movement of the platform, whereby position of said image on said sensor array corresponds to distance between said platform and said target.