Three-dimensional laser imaging transmitter/receiver

摘要

Apparatus and method are disclosed for transmitting modulated, collimated light and receiving reflected light that is used in providing a three-dimensional display of a field being viewed. The apparatus includes a pair of counter-rotating optical wedges in both the transmitter and receiver sections of the apparatus. An elevation mirror communicates with both the light transmitted to and the light reflected by objects in the field of view. The counter-rotating wedges and the elevation mirror cooperate to provide a raster scan of the field of view using the transmitted light beam. The reflected light communicates with further optical and electronic hardware for subsequent filtering and processing. Each of the four optical wedges is rotated using a secondary gear, with each secondary gear on the transmitter section being aligned with a secondary gear on the receiver section of the apparatus. Each of the aligned secondary gears is driven by the same primary gear. Each of the two primary gears is aligned along a common axis of rotation, but with the primary gears rotating in opposite directions. The transmitter/receiver apparatus cooperates with the accompanying hardware to detect and display objects found in the field of view and also provides an indication as to the distance a displayed object is located from the transmitter/receiver apparatus.