US007297913B2

( 12) United Sta tes Pa tent

Tholl et a l.
US 7, 297, 913 B2
N ov . 20, 2007
( 10) Pa tent N 0. :
( 4 5 ) Da te of Pa tent:
( 5 4 ) MODULE FOR A LASER MEASURIN G FOREIGN PATEN T DOCUMEN TS
DEVICE
DE 39 15 627 C2 11/ 1990
( 75 ) Inv entor s : Ha ns Dieter Tholl, _ _ Uhlding en ( DE) ; WO WO2003098263 A2 * 11/ 2003
Ra iner Ba u m a nn, Ub er ling en ( DE) ;
J oa c him Ba r enz , Uhlding en ( DE)
( 73) As s ig nee: Diehl BGT Gm b H & Co. KG, OTHER PUBLICATION S
Ub er ling en ( DE)
Chr is tia n N . L. ; Pa s s a u er , L. K. ( 1989) . Fib er Op tic Com p onent
( * ) N otic e: Su b j ec t to a ny dis c la im er , the ter m Of this Des ig n, Fa b r ic a tion, Tes ting , Op er a tion, Relia b ility a nd Ma inta in
p a tent is ex tended or a dj u s ted u nder 35 a b ility . ( p p . 62) . Willia m Andr ew Pu b lis hing / N oy es . Online v er s ion
U_ S_ C_ 15 4 ( 1) ) b y 137 da y s _ a v a ila b le a t: http : / / WWWk nov el. c om / k nov el2/ TOC.
j s p ? Book ID: 191&VeItic a lID: 0. *
21 A 1. N o. : 11/ 101 681
( ) p p ( Continu ed)
( 22) Filed: Ap r . 8, 2005
( 65 ) Pr ior Pu b lic a tion Da ta Pr im a r y Ex a m iner Geor g ia Ep p s
As s is ta nt Ex a m iner 4 Chr is top her M Y ea ly
Us 2005 / 0230601 A1 Oc t' 20 2005 ( 74 ) Attor ney , Ag ent, or Fir m iSc u lly , Sc ott, Mu r p hy &
P PC.
( 30) For eig n Ap p lic a tion Pr ior ity Da ta r es s er
Ap r . 20, 2004 ( DE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 2004 018 974 ( 5 7) ABSTRACT
( 5 1) Int. Cl.
G02B 6/ 4 2 2006. 01
GOIC 3/ 08 E2006 01; In a c om p a c t la s er m ea s u r ing dev ic e With a hig h lev el of
( 5 2) U 5 Cl ' 25 0/ 206 1_ 25 0/ 227 28 tr a ns m is s ion p oWer the p r ob lem a r is es of the la s er detec tor
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 35 6/ 4 01, b eing da z z led b y u nwa nted Str a y lig ht
( 5 8) Field of Cla s s i? c a tion Sea r c h . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 0/ 214 . 1, _ _
25 002728 2061; 35 6/ 5 02, 285 4 01; To r es olv e tha t p r ob lem ther e 15 p r ov lded a m odu le ( 2) f or
35 9/ 34 12. 398/ 14 3 15 7 139 a la s er m ea s u r ing dev ic e ( 4 ) Whic h inc lu des a la s er s ou r c e
See a p p lic a tion ? le f or c om p lete s ea r c h his tor y . ( 6 36) a tr a ns m is s ion lig ht g u ide ( 8 38 1' d) Op tic a lly
_ c onnec ted to the la s er s ou r c e ( 6, 36) , a la s er detec tor ( 10) ,
( 5 6) Ref er enc es Clted a r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide ( 12) op tic a lly c onnec ted to the la s er
U_ S_ PATEN T DOCUMEN TS detec tor ( 10) , a tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide ( 16,
5 05 0 986 A * 9/ 1991 G H t l 35 6/ 5 05 4 2a - d, 5 4 ) a nd a c ou p ling elem ent ( 14 , 4 0a - d) Whic h op ti
5 272 5 l3 A * 12/ 1993 v g hole ta ' l " " " " " " " " 35 6/ 2' 8 5 c a lly c onnec ts the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide ( 16,
5 5 34 993 A * 7/ 1996 Ba ne; : 1 a ' 35 6/ 5 09 4 2a - d, 5 4 ) to the la s er s ou r c e ( 6, 36) a nd the la s er detec tor
5 , 5 4 8, 4 38 A 4 8/ 1996 Dela v a u x ' _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ " 35 9/ 34 12 ( 10) , Wher ein the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide ( 16,
5 35 74 35 89 A * ll/ l996 Feu er eta l. . . . . . . . 398/ 92 4 20- 4 5 4 ) is Op er a tiv e/ 1y Connec ted to a lig ht a m p li? er
5 , 694 , 4 08 A * 12/ 1997 Bott et a 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372/ 6 elem ent ( 22)
5 , 835 , 199 A 11/ 1998 Phillip s et a l.
( Continu ed) 7 Cla im s , 2 Dr a wing Sheets
30 2
28 24
>
/ / l / | I l\ /
10/ 12 14 / 6 \ 18K32/
2O 26 8 4 22 1 6 34
US 7, 297, 913 B2
Pa g e 2
Us . PATEN T DOCUMEN TS
6, 788, 4 07 B1 * 9/ 2004 Hig don et a l. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 6/ 301
7, 031, 05 1 B2 * 4 / 2006 Liu et a l. . . . . . . . 35 9/ 34 12
7, 05 0, 663 B2 * 5 / 2006 N ik onov et a 1. . . . . . . 385 / 14
2002/ 0075 4 72 A1* 6/ 2002 Holton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 6/ 4 . 01
OTHER PUBLICATION S
L. Mor v a n, et a l. Op tic a lly p r e- a m p li? ed LIDAR- RADAR, Doc u
m ent N o. X P- 002332680, La s er Ra da r Tec hnolog y a nd Ap p lic a
tions VI, Pr oc eeding s of SPIE, v ol. 4 377, p p . 284 - 293, 2001.
S. W. J a m es , et a l. , Fib r e op tic b a s ed r ef er enc e b ea m la s er Dop p ler
v eloc im etr y , Doc u m ent N o. X P 0005 21060, Op tic s Com m u nic a
tions , 119, N os . 5 / 6, p p . 4 60- 4 64 , Sep . 15 , 1995 ; a nd.
S. Ra dic , et a l. , Fea s ib ility of Hy b r id Ra m a n/ EDFA Am p li? c a tion
in Bidir ec tiona l Op tic a l Tr a ns m is s ion, Doc u m ent N o.
X P- 001123195 , 1EEEPhotonic s Tec hnolog y Letter s , v ol. 14 , N o. 2,
p p . 221- 293, Feb . 2002.
* c ited b y ex a m iner
U. S. Pa tent N ov . 20, 2007 Sheet 1 of 2 US 7, 297, 913 B2
V/ 30 2
LL- 3
28 24
Q 5
)
U. S. Pa tent N ov . 20, 2007 Sheet 2 of 2 US 7, 297, 913 B2
Fig . 3
US 7, 297, 913 B2
1
MODULE FOR A LASER MEASURIN G
DEVICE
BACKGROUN D OF THE IN VEN TION
1. Field of the Inv ention
The inv ention c onc er ns a m odu le f or a la s er m ea s u r ing
dev ic e.
In r eg a r d to op tic a l r ec onna is s a nc e of the s p a c e a r ou nd a n
a ir c r a f t or m is s ile it c a n b e a dv a nta g eou s to s c a n ob j ec ts of
inter es t Whic h a r e detec ted in tha t s u r r ou nding s p a c e, u s ing
a n a c tiv e m ea s u r ing b ea m . Su c h a n a c tiv e m ea s u r ing b ea m
c a n b e a la s er b ea m Whos e r a dia tion Whic h is r e? ec ted b y the
ob j ec t is inv es tig a ted f or ex a m p le in r es p ec t of tr a ns it tim e,
p ha s e p os ition, p ola r is a tion or f r eq u enc y .
2. Dis c u s s ion of the Pr ior Ar t
In or der to k eep the s tr u c tu r a l s p a c e f or a la s er m ea s u r ing
dev ic e u s ed f or tha t p u r p os e s m a ll, it is des ir a b le to u s e only
a s ing le a p er tu r e f or tr a ns m itting a nd r ec eiv ing the tr a ns
m is s ion r a dia tion a nd the r ec eiv ed r a dia tion. In tha t r es p ec t,
the di? ic u lty Whic h a r is es is tha t of p r otec ting the detec tor
of the la s er m ea s u r ing dev ic e f r om tr a ns m is s ion lig ht Whic h
is r e? ec ted in a n u nWa nted m a nner Within the dev ic e. As the
dif f er enc e in s ens itiv ity of the detec tor in r ela tion to the
p oWer of the la s er s ou r c e is s ev er a l or der s of m a g nitu de,
s c r eening of the detec tor is di? ic u lt, in p a r tic u la r if the la s er
m ea s u r ing dev ic e is s u b j ec ted to v ib r a tion du r ing op er a tion.
SUMMARY OF THE IN VEN TION
Ther ef or e the ob j ec t of the p r es ent inv ention is to p r ov ide
a m odu le f or a la s er m ea s u r ing dev ic e, Whic h p er m its the
la s er m ea s u r ing dev ic e to b e of a c om p a c t s tr u c tu r e a nd
Whic h a t the s a m e tim e g u a r a ntees a hig h lev el of s a f eg u a r d
a g a ins t the detec tor b eing da Z Z led b y s tr a y lig ht.
Tha t ob j ec t is a tta ined b y a m odu le f or a la s er m ea s u r ing
dev ic e Whic h in a c c or da nc e With the inv ention inc lu des a
la s er s ou r c e, a tr a ns m is s ion lig ht g u ide op tic a lly c onnec ted
to the la s er s ou r c e, a la s er detec tor , a r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide
op tic a lly c onnec ted to the la s er detec tor , a tr a ns m is s ion
r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide a nd a c ou p ling elem ent Whic h op tic a lly
c onnec ts the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide to the la s er
s ou r c e a nd the la s er detec tor , Wher ein the tr a ns m is s ion
r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide is op er a tiv ely c onnec ted to a lig ht
a m p li? er elem ent.
The inv ention is b a s ed on the c ons ider a tion tha t the
c om p onent of the la s er m ea s u r ing dev ic e, Whic h is m os t
enda ng er ed in r es p ec t of s tr a y lig ht, is the c ou p ling elem ent
b y Whic h the tr a ns m is s ion lig ht of the la s er s ou r c e is f ed into
the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide. The inv ention is
f u r ther b a s ed on the c ons ider a tion tha t, With a loW lev el of
tr a ns m is s ion lig ht p oWer , the da ng er of da Z Z ling of the
detec tor b y s tr a y lig ht c a n b e r edu c ed. The r is k of s tr a y lig ht
im p ing ing on the detec tor c a n thu s b e r edu c ed if the p oWer
of the tr a ns m is s ion lig ht is loW a t the m om ent of tim e of the
f eed into the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide. To a v oid a
long integ r a tion tim e ther ef or e, s u b s eq u ent a m p li? c a tion of
the tr a ns m is s ion lig ht is a dv a nta g eou s . The r is k of the
detec tor b eing da Z Z led c a n b e f u r ther r edu c ed if the detec tor
ha s a hig h lev el of s a tu r a tion p oWer a nd a c c or ding ly a n only
m oder a te deg r ee of s ens itiv ity . The r ec ep tion s ig na l s hou ld
b e a m p li? ed f or tha t p u r p os e.
The inv ention is f u r ther b a s ed on the c ons ider a tion tha t
the tr a ns m is s ion lig ht a nd the r ec ep tion s ig na l c a n b e
a m p li? ed j ointly b y j u s t one s ing le lig ht a m p li? er elem ent if
the lig ht a m p li? er elem ent is a r r a ng ed in a j ointly u s ed b ea m
p a th. Tha t m a k es it p os s ib le to s a v e on c om p onents a nd
20
25
30
35
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
2
s tr u c tu r a l s p a c e. The op er a tiv e c onnec tion of the lig ht a m p li
? er elem ent With the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide
m a k es it p os s ib le to a c hiev e a c om p a c t s tr u c tu r e a nd a hig h
lev el of r a dia tion em is s ion p oWer f or the la s er m ea s u r ing
dev ic e With a m oder a te tr a ns m is s ion p oWer f r om the la s er
s ou r c e a nd s ens itiv ity in r es p ec t of the la s er detec tor a nd
thu s With a loW lev el of r is k of the la s er detec tor b eing
da Z Z led.
The la s er m ea s u r ing dev ic e c a n b e p r ov ided f or m ea s u r
ing the tr a ns it tim e, p ha s e p os ition, p ola r is a tion or f r eq u enc y
of the inc ident la s er lig ht, f or ex a m p le f or the p u r p os es of
m ea s u r ing dis ta nc e or s p eed, f or s p a tia l m ea s u r em ent or
s c a nning the s u r f a c e na tu r e or a b s or p tion or s c a tter p r op er
ties of the ob j ec t in q u es tion, a n ob j ec t c lou d, f or ex a m p le
a n a er os ol c lou d, or f or p r odu c ing a n im a g e of a n ob j ec t
s c ene. The ter m lig ht is u s ed her eina f ter to denote elec tr o
m a g netic r a dia tion f r om the inf r a r ed to the u ltr a v iolet f r e
q u enc y r a ng e.
A p a r tic u la r ly hig h lev el of p oWer of tr a ns m is s ion r a dia
tion f r om the la s er m ea s u r ing dev ic e c a n b e a c hiev ed b y
p u ls e op er a tion of the la s er m ea s u r ing dev ic e. For tha t
p u r p os e the lig ht a m p li? er elem ent is des ir a b ly c onnec ted to
a p u m p s ou r c e f or op tic a lly p u m p ing the lig ht a m p li? er
elem ent. Op tic a l p u m p ing c a u s es elec tr ons to b e r a is ed to a
lev el of inc r ea s ed ener g y in the lig ht a m p li? er elem ent a nd
they a r e de- ex c ited b y a n ex c ita tion of tr a ns m is s ion lig ht of
the la s er s ou r c e Within a s hor t tim e inter v a l, ther eb y im p le
m enting the em is s ion of a n a m p li? ed lig ht p u ls e f r om the
la s er m ea s u r ing dev ic e.
A lig ht a m p li? er elem ent Whic h is in the f or m of a n
a m p li? er ? b r e is p a r tic u la r ly s im p le a nd c om p a c t. Su c h a
lig ht g u ide is u s u a lly a ? b r e- f or m , dop ed a nd in p a r tic u la r
? ex ib le elem ent With lig ht- c ondu c ting p r op er ties .
In the s im p les t c a s e the c ou p ling elem ent c a n b e in the
f or m of a p a s s iv e op tic a l- ? b r e c onnec ting c ou p ler in Whic h
[ WO4 OI p os s ib ly ev en m or eilig ht g u ides a r e dis p os ed in
p a r a llel r ela tions hip With ea c h other a nd a r e m er g ed tog ether
ov er a p or tion ther eof . The r a dia tion f r om the la s er s ou r c e is
f ed With a loW lev el of los s into the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion
lig ht g u ide While the r ec ep tion s ig na l is c ou p led into the
r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide With a t lea s t 3 dB los s .
Des ir a b ly the c ou p ling elem ent is a s Witc hing elem ent
With Whic h the tr a ns m is s ion lig ht g u ide c a n b e op tic a lly
s ep a r a ted f r om the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide. Bea m
div is ion of the r ec eiv ed lig ht a nd a c onc om ita nt los s of
r a dia tion p oWer c a n b e a v oided.
Op tic a l c los u r e of the r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide c a n b e
a c hiev ed b y a c ou p ling elem ent in the f or m of a s Witc hing
elem ent With Whic h the r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide c a n b e op ti
c a lly s ep a r a ted f r om the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide.
The detec tor c a n b e p r otec ted f r om inc ident a nd u nWa nted
r a dia tion. The s Witc hing elem ent c a n b e a n op tic a l c ir c u la tor
Whic h a lloWs in tem p or a l s u c c es s ion either the op tic a l
c onnec tion b etWeen the tr a ns m is s ion lig ht g u ide a nd the
tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide or the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep
tion lig ht g u ide a nd the r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide. It is a ls o
p os s ib le f or the s Witc hing elem ent to b e in the f or m of a n
elec tr o- op tic a l s Witc h in Whic h, b y u tilis ing the elec tr o
op tic a l ef f ec t, the c ha ng e in the r ef r a c tiv e index n of a
m a ter ia l of the s Witc hing elem ent, When a v olta g e is a p p lied,
is u s ed f or lig ht b ea m de? ec tion.
A p a r tic u la r ly loW lev el of r a dia tion los s du e to the
c ou p ling elem ent c a n b e a c hiev ed if the c ou p ling elem ent
inc lu des a m ic r o- op tic a l, in p a r tic u la r a m ic r o- op tom ec ha ni
c a l elem ent. A m ic r o- op tic a l elem ent c a n b e a s Witc ha b le
m ic r o- op tic a l g r a ting s tr u c tu r e or a m ic r o- op tic a l c los u r e
s hu tter in the f or m of a s o- c a lled ? ip p ing p ix el . Su c h a n
US 7, 297, 913 B2
3
op tic a l s hu tter elem ent Whic h is a ls o r ef er r ed to a s a ? ix el
p er m its s witc hing b etween tWo s ta tes in Whic h the lig ht c a n
p a s s u np ola r is ed a nd With a hig h deg r ee of tr a ns m is s ion
thr ou g h a n op ening or ia f ter the op ening is c ov er ed ov er i
it c a n b e r e? ec ted. A m ic r o- op tom ec ha nic a l elem ent ha s a
m ov a b le m ec ha nis m Whic h is dr iv en b y a m ic r o- m ec ha nic a l
dr iv e, s u c h a s f or ex a m p le a p ieZ oelec tr ic dr iv e. The elem ent
c a n b e a m ic r om ir r or Whic h s Witc hes dig ita lly b etWeen tWo
s ta tes or Whic h is in the f or m of a n os c illa tor . It is a ls o
p os s ib le to env is a g e a n os c illa ting m ic r o- tu ning f or k in
Whic h a m ir r or or a c ov er ing m ea ns is m ov ed in f r ont of a
m ic r o- a p er tu r e on the b a s is of the p r inc ip le of r es ona nc e
os c illa tion. Mic r o- op tic a l elem ents p er m it u np ola r is ed lig ht
to p a s s thr ou g h a nd a r e thu s p a r tic u la r ly s u ita b le f or u s e
j ointly With m u lti- Wa v e or m u lti- m ode lig ht g u ides .
Des ir a b ly the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide is a
m u lti- m ode g u ide. In tha t Wa y it is p os s ib le to a c hiev e a loW
lev el of s ens itiv ity in r es p ec t of the la s er m ea s u r ing dev ic e
in r ela tion to v ib r a tion a s the nu m er ic a l a p er tu r e of a
m u lti- m ode g u ide is g r ea ter tha n the nu m er a l a p er tu r e of a
s ing le- m ode g u ide. It is p os s ib le to a c hiev e s im p le c ou p ling
of the tr a ns m is s ion lig ht or a m ea s u r ing s ig na l into the lig ht
g u ide. In a ddition it is p os s ib le to a c hiev e hig h deg r ees of
a m p li? c a tion b y the lig ht a m p li? er elem ent.
A f u r ther a dv a nta g e is a c hiev ed if the r ec ep tion lig ht
g u ide inc lu des a n op tic a l s hu tter elem ent. The la s er detec tor
c a n b e s c r eened f r om u nWa nted s tr a y lig ht b y a n op tic a l
s hu tter elem ent. The s hu tter elem ent is s Witc ha b le s o tha t the
r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide c a n b e c los ed du r ing the em is s ion of a
lig ht p u ls e b y the la s er s ou r c e a nd c a n b e op ened to r ec eiv e
a m ea s u r em ent s ig na l. The s hu tter elem ent is p r ov ided in
a ddition to the c ou p ling elem ent s o tha t the la s er detec tor
c a n b e s c r eened f r om s tr a y lig ht Whic h c a u s es inter f er enc e
a nd Whic h is p r odu c ed b y the c ou p ling elem ent or is not k ep t
a Wa y ther ef r om . The s hu tter elem ent c a n b e a m ic r o- op tic a l
s y s tem .
Des ir a b ly the s hu tter elem ent is a lig ht a m p li? er . Tha t
p r ov ides tha t the r ec ep tion s ig na l c a n b e a m p li? ed onc e
a g a in. Pa r tic u la r ly a dv a nta g eou s is a s em ic ondu c tor - b a s ed
s hu tter elem ent Whic h c a n b e op tic a lly p u m p ed. In the
p u m p ed c ondition the s hu tter elem ent is tr a ns p a r ent s o tha t
a r ec ep tion s ig na l c a n p a s s ther ethr ou g h. Du r ing em is s ion of
tr a ns m is s ion lig ht b y the la s er s ou r c e the s hu tter elem ent is
des ir a b ly in a n u np u m p ed c ondition in Whic h inc om ing la s er
lig ht is g r ea tly a b s or b ed b y the s hu tter elem ent. In tha t
c ondition the s hu tter elem ent a c ts a s a lig ht b a r r ier . The
b a r r ier a c tion is only r em ov ed a g a in b y a r eneWed p u m p
p u ls e.
The inv ention a ls o p r op os es tha t a lig ht ? lter is a r r a ng ed
a t the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide. In tha t Wa y b a c k
g r ou nd r a dia tion Whic h im p ing es on the la s er m ea s u r ing
dev ic e a nd Whic h Wou ld p os s ib ly b e a m p li? ed b y the lig ht
a m p li? er elem ent tog ether With the m ea s u r em ent s ig na l c a n
b e ? lter ed ou t. The lig ht ? lter is des ir a b ly tu ned to the
f r eq u enc y of the la s er s ou r c e.
Tu na b le em is s ion, Whic h is p r ec is e in r es p ec t of tim e, of
a hig h- p oWer tr a ns m is s ion p u ls e c a n b e a c hiev ed b y a
p lu r a lity of tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ides Whic h ea c h
inc lu de a r es p ec tiv e lig ht a m p li? er elem ent Whic h is op ti
c a lly a c tiv a ta b le b y the la s er s ou r c e. The lig ht a m p li? er
elem ents c a n b e a c tiv a ted a t the s a m e tim e b y a tr a ns m is s ion
p u ls e em itted b y the la s er s ou r c e s o tha t this a f f or ds a
de? na b le tr a ns m is s ion p u ls e, Whic h is p r ec is e in r es p ec t of
tim e, in the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ides . Su c h tim e
s y nc hr onis ed a c tiv a tion c a n b e ef f ec ted b y de- ex c ita tion of
ex c ited elec tr ons in a s hor t tim e inter v a l. The lig ht f r om the
20
25
30
35
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
4
la s er s ou r c e c a n b e c ou p led into the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion
lig ht g u ides b y one or m or e tr a ns m is s ion lig ht g u ides .
A f u r ther a dv a nta g e is a c hiev ed if ther e is p r ov ided a
p u m p s ou r c e f or ex c iting the lig ht a m p li? er elem ents . Com
p onents a nd s tr u c tu r a l s p a c e c a n b e s a v ed b y v ir tu e of the
j oint p u m p ing of a p lu r a lity of lig ht a m p li? er elem ents b y
one p u m p s ou r c e. Des ir a b ly , ther e a r e p r ov ided a p lu r a lity of
p u m p s ou r c es Whic h j ointly p u m p a p lu r a lity of elem ents ,
f or ex a m p le thr ee p u m p s ou r c es f or nine lig ht a m p li? er
elem ents .
Sp a tia lly p r ec is e a nd ? ex ib le or ienta tion of a tr a ns m is s ion
p u ls e lea v ing the la s er m ea s u r ing dev ic e c a n b e a c hiev ed b y
a n op tic a l m u ltip lex er Whic h is c onnec ted to the tr a ns m is
s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide a nd Whic h is c onnec ted to a
p lu r a lity of f u r ther tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ides . In
tha t r es p ec t the f u r ther tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ides
a r e a dv a nta g eou s ly p r ov ided f or em is s ion of the tr a ns m is
s ion p u ls e in dif f er ent dir ec tions in s p a c e.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWIN GS
Fu r ther a dv a nta g es Will b e a p p a r ent f r om the des c r ip tion
of the dr a Wing her eina f ter . The dr a Wing s hoWs em b odim ents
b y Wa y of ex a m p le of the inv ention. The dr a Wing , the
des c r ip tion a nd the c la im s s et ou t nu m er ou s f ea tu r es in
c om b ina tion. The m a n s k illed in the a r t Will a ls o a p p r op r i
a tely c ons ider the f ea tu r es indiv idu a lly a nd c om b ine them
tog ether to p r ov ide f u r ther s u ita b le c om b ina tions .
In the dr a Wing :
FIG. 1 s hoWs a m odu le f or a la s er m ea s u r ing dev ic e,
FIG. 2 s hoWs a p lu r a lity of tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht
g u ides ea c h ha v ing a r es p ec tiv e lig ht a m p li? er elem ent, a nd
FIG. 3 s hoWs a n op tic a l m u ltip lex er ha v ing a p lu r a lity of
tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ides .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
IN VEN TION
FIG. 1 s hoWs a m odu le 2 f or a la s er m ea s u r ing dev ic e 4
ha v ing a la s er s ou r c e 6 s er v ing a s a m a s ter os c illa tor , a n
op tic a l tr a ns m is s ion lig ht g u ide 8 c onnec ted to the la s er
s ou r c e 6, a la s er detec tor 10 a nd a r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide 12
op tic a lly c onnec ted to the la s er detec tor 10. The m odu le 2
a ls o inc lu des a c ou p ling elem ent 14 Whic h c ou p les la s er
r a dia tion p r odu c ed b y the la s er s ou r c e 6 f r om the tr a ns m is
s ion lig ht g u ide 8 into a m u lti- m ode tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion
lig ht g u ide 16. A r es p ec tiv e lig ht ? lter 18, 20 is a r r a ng ed a t
ea c h of the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ides 16 a nd the
r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide 12. The lig ht ? lter s 18, 20 ea c h a lloW
tr a ns m is s ion in a na r r oW f r eq u enc y r a ng e Whic h is a r ou nd
the tr a ns m is s ion f r eq u enc y of the la s er s ou r c e 6.
Ap a r t of the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide 16 is in the
f or m of a lig ht a m p li? er elem ent 22 in the f or m of a n
a m p li? er ? b r e Whic h is c onnec ted to a p u m p s ou r c e 24 .
Ar r a ng ed in the r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide 12 is a s hu tter elem ent
26 in the f or m of a s em ic ondu c tor dev ic e Whic h is c onnec ted
to a f u r ther p u m p s ou r c e 28. A c ontr ol u nit 30 is elec tr ic a lly
c onnec ted to the la s er detec tor 10, the p u m p s ou r c es 24 , 28,
the c ou p ling elem ent 14 a nd the la s er s ou r c e 6 f or c ontr ol of
the r es p ec tiv e elem ents .
For the p u r p os es of im p lem enting a m ea s u r em ent p r oc e
du r e With the la s er m ea s u r ing dev ic e 4 or f or r ec or ding a
p ix el of a n im a g e of a n ob j ec t s c ene s u r r ou nding the la s er
m ea s u r ing dev ic e 4 , a lig ht p u ls e is em itted b y the la s er
s ou r c e 6. The lig ht p u ls e is g u ided thr ou g h the tr a ns m is s ion
lig ht g u ide 8 to the c ou p ling elem ent 14 Whic h is in the f or m
of a ? ip p ing p ix el or ? ix el. The ? ix el is dis p os ed in a
US 7, 297, 913 B2
5
v ir tu a lly c los ed s ta te in Whic h the tr a ns m is s ion p u ls e is
r e? ec ted b y the ? ix el, m or e s p ec i? c a lly into the tr a ns m is
s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide 16. Ther e, the tr a ns m is s ion p u ls e
im p ing es on the lig ht a m p li? er elem ent 22 Whic h is in the
f or m of a n a m p li? er ? b r e. At tha t m om ent the lig ht a m p li? er
elem ent 22 is in a p u m p ed c ondition in Whic h ener g y
r a dia tion of the p u m p s ou r c e 24 into the lig ht a m p li? er 22
p r ov ides tha t a la r g e nu m b er of elec tr ons in the lig ht
a m p li? er 22 a r e ex c ited to a n inc r ea s ed- ener g y lev el. The
c onditions a r e de- ex c ited in s tim u la ted m ode b y the tr a ns
m is s ion p u ls e, Wher eb y the tr a ns m is s ion p u ls e is a m p li? ed.
The tr a ns m is s ion lig ht p a s s es thr ou g h the lig ht ? lter 18 a nd
a n end 32 of the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide 16 Whic h
is nea r the f oc a l p la ne of a teles c op e 34 . The tr a ns m is s ion
lig ht is c ollim a ted a nd em itted b y Wa y of the a p er tu r e of the
teles c op e 34 into a s p a c e s u r r ou nding the la s er m ea s u r ing
dev ic e 4 .
The tr a ns m is s ion lig ht is r e? ec ted a t a n ob j ec t f r om the
ob j ec t s c ene s u r r ou nding the la s er m ea s u r ing dev ic e 4 s o
tha t a r ec ep tion s ig na l im p ing es on the a p er tu r e of the
teles c op e 34 . Fr om ther e the r ec ep tion s ig na l is f oc u s s ed on
to the end 32 of the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide 16 a nd
p a s s es into the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide 16. The
r ec ep tion s ig na l p a s s es the lig ht ? lter 18 a nd is a m p li? ed
s im ila r ly to the tr a ns m is s ion p u ls e b y the lig ht a m p li? er
elem ent 22. The a m p li? ed r ec ep tion s ig na l then im p ing es on
the c ou p ling elem ent 14 Whic h is noW in its op ened s ta te s o
tha t the r ec ep tion s ig na l c a n s u b s ta ntia lly u nim p ededly p a s s
the c ou p ling elem ent 14 .
While the s hu tter elem ent 26 Wa s in a non- p u m p ed s ta te
a nd Wa s thu s s u b s ta ntia lly op a q u e in the p er iod inv olv ing
em is s ion of the tr a ns m is s ion p u ls e, the s hu tter elem ent 26,
When the a m p li? ed r ec ep tion s ig na l is r ec eiv ed, is in a
p u m p ed s ta te a nd thu s tr a ns m its the r ec ep tion s ig na l Whic h
is a m p li? ed onc e a g a in b y the s hu tter elem ent 26. The
a m p li? ed r ec ep tion s ig na l p a s s es thr ou g h the lig ht ? lter 20
a nd im p ing es on the la s er detec tor 10 a nd is c onv er ted b y its
diode detec tor elem ent Whic h is s ens itiv e in r ela tion to
inf r a r ed r a dia tion, into a n ev a lu a ta b le v olta g e p u ls e. The
v olta g e p u ls e is p a s s ed to the c ontr ol u nit 30 a nd ev a lu a ted
ther e. Af ter the r ec ep tion s ig na l ha s p a s s ed thr ou g h the
s hu tter elem ent 26 the la tter is not p u m p ed a ny f u r ther a nd
thu s b ec om es s u b s ta ntia lly op a q u e. The ? ix el of the c ou
p ling elem ent 14 s Witc hes into the r e? ec ting s ta te a nd the
la s er s ou r c e 6 em its a r eneWed tr a ns m is s ion lig ht p u ls e.
FIG. 2 s hoWs a p or tion of a n a lter na tiv e m odu le f or a la s er
m ea s u r ing dev ic e ha v ing a la s er s ou r c e 36 Whic h is c on
nec ted to f ou r tr a ns m is s ion lig ht g u ides 38a - 38d. A tr a ns
m is s ion p u ls e p r odu c ed b y the la s er s ou r c e 36 c a n b e
c ou p led b y f ou r c ou p ling elem ents 4 0a - d into r es p ec tiv e
ones of tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ides 4 2a - d, ea c h of
Whic h inc lu des a lig ht a m p li? er elem ent 4 4 a - d in the f or m
of a ? b r e a m p li? er . The tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ides
4 2a - d a r e c onnec ted b y Wa y of the c ou p ling elem ents 4 0a - d
b y Wa y of a r es p ec tiv e r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide to one or m or e
detec tor s ( not s hoWn) . Ea c h of the lig ht a m p li? er elem ents
4 4 a - d is c onnec ted to tWo p u m p s ou r c es 4 6, 4 8 Whic h a r e
p r ov ided f or j ointly p u m p ing the f ou r lig ht a m p li? er ele
m ents 4 4 a - d.
Du r ing op er a tion a tr a ns m is s ion lig ht p u ls e is p r odu c ed
b y the la s er s ou r c e 36 a nd a t the s a m e tim e f ed b y Wa y of
the tr a ns m is s ion lig ht g u ides 38a - d a nd the c ou p ling ele
m ents 4 0a - d into the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ides
4 2a - d. The tr a ns m is s ion lig ht p u ls es Whic h a r e noW f ou r in
nu m b er a r e a m p li? ed s y nc hr onou s ly b y the f ou r lig ht a m p li
? er elem ents 4 4 a - d a nd a t the s a m e tim e ea c h r ea c h a
r es p ec tiv e c ollim a tor 5 0a - d. In the c ollim a ted c ondition the
20
25
30
35
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
6
r es p ec tiv e tr a ns m is s ion lig ht p u ls es p a s s into a n op tic a l
s y s tem 5 2 a nd a r e g u ided ther eb y into f ou r a dj a c ent p or tions
of a n ob j ec t s c ene s u r r ou nding the la s er m ea s u r ing dev ic e.
Re? ec ted f r om a n ob j ec t, f ou r r es p ec tiv e r ec ep tion s ig na ls
p a s s thr ou g h the op tic a l s y s tem 5 2 a nd the c ollim a tor s 5 0a - d
into the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ides 4 2a - d, they a r e
a m p li? ed ther e, a nd they a r e p a s s ed thr ou g h the tr a ns p a r ent
c ou p ling elem ents 4 0a - d to a r es p ec tiv e detec tor c ell of a
detec tor ( not s hoWn) a nd ev a lu a ted b y a c ontr ol u nit 30. The
s p a tia l c on? g u r a tion of a n ob j ec t of inter es t in a n ob j ec t
s c ene c a n b e s c a nned b y the em is s ion of f ou r tr a ns m is s ion
lig ht p u ls es .
A p or tion of a f u r ther m odu le of a la s er m ea s u r ing dev ic e
is s hoWn in FIG. 3. The end of a r ec ep tion tr a ns m is s ion lig ht
g u ide 5 4 Whic h is of a s im ila r c on? g u r a tion to tha t s hoWn in
FIG. 1 is a r r a ng ed in s p a tia l p r ox im ity With a lens 5 6 of a n
op tic a l m u ltip lex er 5 8. The lens 5 6 s er v es f or the c ollim a tion
of the tr a ns m is s ion p u ls es Whic h is s u e in s u b s ta ntia lly
u ndir ec ted m a nner f r om the m u lti- m ode tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep
tion lig ht g u ide 5 4 . The c ollim a ted b ea m of the tr a ns m is s ion
p u ls e is c ou p led into a n ob j ec tiv e 62 b y Wa y of a r ota r y
m ir r or 60. Tha t ob j ec tiv e 62, f or ex a m p le a telec entr ic
F- theta ob j ec tiv e, f oc u s es the c ollim a ted tr a ns m is s ion p u ls e
indep endently of the a ng le ther eof r ela tiv e to the op tic a l a x is
of the ob j ec tiv e 62 on to a n ob j ec t p la ne. Ap lu r a lity of g u ide
ends 66 of tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ides 64 a r e
a r r a ng ed in tha t ob j ec t p la ne linea r ly or in the f or m of a
tWo- dim ens iona l a r r a y , into Whic h the tr a ns m is s ion p u ls e is
c ou p led. In dep endenc e on the r ota r y p os ition of the r ota r y
m ir r or 60, the b ea m is s u ing f r om the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion
lig ht g u ide 5 4 is c ou p led in tha t Wa y in s p ec i? c a nd ta r g eted
m a nner into a des ir ed one of the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht
g u ides 64 . A u nif or m ly hig h lev el of c ou p ling e? ic ienc y into
the r es p ec tiv e tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide 64 is
a c hiev ed b y the telec entr ic , op tic a lly p a r a llel b ea m p a th of
the ob j ec tiv e 62, indep endently of the c hoic e of one of the
tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ides 64 .
The r ota r y m ir r or 60 a nd the ob j ec tiv e 62 c a n b e of s u c h
a c on? g u r a tion tha t the inc om ing b ea m of the tr a ns m is s ion
p u ls e c a n b e c ou p led into a linea r a r r a ng em ent of lig ht
g u ides . It is a ls o p os s ib le tha t the r ota r y m ir r or 60 a nd the
ob j ec tiv e 62 a r e s u ita b le f or de? ec tion of the inc om ing
r a dia tion into tWo a x es s o tha t the r a dia tion c a n b e c ou p led
into a tWo- dim ens iona l a r r a y of g u ide ends 66 of the
tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ides 64 . By m ea ns of a
s u ita b le op tic a l s y s tem ( not s hoWn in FIG. 3) , a tr a ns m is s ion
lig ht p u ls e Whic h is c ou p led into a tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion
lig ht g u ide 64 c a n b e dir ec ted to a des ir ed p or tion of a n
ob j ec t s c ene. In tha t Wa y , b y m ea ns of the m u ltip lex er 5 8, a
tr a ns m is s ion lig ht p u ls e c a n b e dir ec ted s p ec i? c a lly a nd
ta r g etedly f r om the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide 5 4
into a des ir ed p or tion a nd r ec eiv ed f r om ther e b y m ea ns of
the op tic a l s y s tem a nd f ed into the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion
lig ht g u ide 5 4 b y the m u ltip lex er 5 8.
LIST OF REFEREN CES
2 m odu le
4 la s er m ea s u r ing dev ic e
6 la s er s ou r c e
8 tr a ns m is s ion lig ht g u ide
10 la s er detec tor
12 r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide
14 c ou p ling elem ent
16 tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide
18 lig ht ? lter
20 lig ht ? lter
US 7, 297, 913 B2
7
22 lig ht a m p li? er elem ent
24 p u m p s ou r c e
26 s hu tter elem ent
28 p u m p s ou r c e
30 c ontr ol u nit
32 end
34 teles c op e
36 la s er s ou r c e
38a - d tr a ns m is s ion lig ht g u ide
4 0a - d c ou p ling elem ent
4 2a - d tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide
4 4 a - d lig ht a m p li? er elem ent
4 6 p u m p s ou r c e
4 8 p u m p s ou r c e
5 0a - d c ollim a tor
5 2 op tic a l s y s tem
5 4 tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide
5 6 lens
5 8 m u ltip lex er
60 r ota r y m ir r or
62 ob j ec tiv e
64 tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide
66 g u ide end
The inv ention c la im ed is :
1. A m odu le f or a la s er m ea s u r ing dev ic e c om p r is ing a
la s er s ou r c e, a tr a ns m is s ion lig ht g u ide, Whic h is op tic a lly
c onnec ted to the la s er s ou r c e, a la s er detec tor , a r ec ep tion
lig ht g u ide, Whic h is op tic a lly c onnec ted to the la s er detec
tor , a tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide a nd a c ou p ling
elem ent Whic h op tic a lly c onnec ts the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion
lig ht g u ide to the la s er s ou r c e a nd to the la s er detec tor ,
25
30
8
Wher ein the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide is op er a tiv ely
c onnec ted to a lig ht a m p li? er elem ent, the lig ht a m p li? er
elem ent is c onnec ted to a p u m p s ou r c e f or op tic a l p u m p ing
of the lig ht a m p li? er elem ent, the r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide
inc lu des a n op tic a l s hu tter elem ent in the f or m of a lig ht
a m p li? er elem ent, the lig ht a m p li? er elem ent is c onnec ted to
a p u m p s ou r c e f or op tic a l p u m p ing of the lig ht a m p li? er
elem ent a nd la s er detec tor , p u m p s ou r c es , c ou p ling elem ent
a nd la s er s ou r c e a r e elec tr ic a lly c onnec ta b le to a c ontr ol u nit
f or c ontr ol of the r es p ec tiv ely elem ents .
2. A m odu le a c c or ding to c la im 1, Wher ein the c ou p ling
elem ent is a s Witc hing elem ent thr ou g h Whic h the r ec ep tion
lig ht g u ide is op tic a lly s ep a r a b le f r om the tr a ns m is s ion
r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide.
3. A m odu le a c c or ding to c la im 1, Wher ein the tr a ns m is
s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide is a m u lti- m ode g u ide.
4 . A m odu le a c c or ding to c la im 1, Wher ein a lig ht ? lter is
a r r a ng ed a t the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ide.
5 . A m odu le a c c or ding to c la im 1, Wher ein a p lu r a lity of
s a id tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ides ea c h inc lu de,
r es p ec tiv ely , a lig ht a m p li? er elem ent, Whic h is op tic a lly
a c tiv a ta b le b y the la s er s ou r c e.
6. A m odu le a c c or ding to c la im 5 , Wher ein a p u m p s ou r c e
is p r ov ided f or ex c ita tion of the lig ht a m p li? er elem ents .
7. A m odu le a c c or ding to c la im 1, Wher ein a n op tic a l
m u ltip lex er is c onnec ted to the tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht
g u ide a nd Whic h is c onnec ted to a p lu r a lity of f u r ther
tr a ns m is s ion r ec ep tion lig ht g u ides .
* * * * *