US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Other

Bradley W Schilling

John E Nettleton

Dallas N Barr

Charlie W Trussell

Jonathan S Lei

Ting-Chung Poon

Michael M Quarles

Brian W Thomas

A system and method for registering 3D data sets is disclosed based on manual fiducial selection. The technique is useful in imaging obscured targets with 3-D imaging laser radars. For such an exemplary method, which defines a three-dimensional linear shift vector for each data voxel, four fiducials are required to completely define the mapping for a 3D space. An exemplary registration algorithm as disclosed provides an approach to automatically make fine adjustments to the 3D data registration. The tedious technique of shifting data sets relative to each other, in many degrees of freedom, is eliminated. Instead, a fine adjust is applied to the digital mapping function, through fiducial perturbation.

Digital registration of 3D laser radar data based on manually selected fiducials

A YAG/Nd:YAG block where an Nd:YAG block ends in a peak integrated inside a YAG block. The YAG block has reflective surfaces positioned at 45&#xb0; to one another. The angled reflective surfaces serve as a 'mirror' within the laser cavity to effectively increase the length of the cavity by a factor greater than 2. Fused to the output end of the laser cavity are a polarizer, an active/passive Q-switch, a one quarter waveplate and an output coupler. In operation, the laser cavity is pumped either from the side or the end of the cavity. The optical components of the present invention are bonded to form one optical 'block'. All the components are prealigned during the crystal manufacturing process to form the optical laser cavity. The width of the cavity should be selected such that nearly all of the laser diode pump output is absorbed by the cavity.

Mono-slab laser cavity

The laser obstacle avoidance device of the present invention includes an optical head which includes a laser source which produces a laser signal, crossed cylindrical lenses and through which the laser signal is transmitted, a transceiver including a receiving lens through which a reflected laser signal is received by the transceiver, a receiver and a line filter through which the reflected laser signal is filtered, and scanners which receive the reflected laser signal; and control electronics optically connected to the optical head, wherein the control electronics comprise scanner driver electronics, range processor electronics, power converters, and a display all which produce an x-y display of the terrain scanned by the laser signal wherein the X-axis is driven by a scanner position output and the Y-axis by range data. The system was designed to avoid hazards with emphasis simplicity and low cost. The device has been employed in the field to collect data from natural and man-made objects. A simple, single scan line, range discontinuity detection program has been written and tested. The next step in the process is to interface the output of the processor with driver's display indicating the location of the potential hazard for the operator's closer scrutiny.

Laser obstacle avoidance apparartus

A three dimensional true color holographic imaging system using three primary color Fresnel-Zone-Pattern laser generators combined as a single beam that scans the target and the reflections of which are sensed simultaneously by a single electronic detector. The detector signals corresponding to each generator are then separated electronically and independently recorded.

Multicolor electronic holography and 3D image projection system

A one piece laser assembly including a rod of gain medium with one end-face bonded to a broad end-face on a stack of optical wafers that process light differently and mirrors plated on the remaining exposed end-faces of the rod and the stack of wafers.

Monolithic solid state laser assembly and method of manufacture

A laser cavity assembly for high power optical range-finders consisting of two rods of lasing material co-axially mounted on a thin substrate of the same or thermally equivalent material, selected end-faces of the rods being bonded to layers or wafers of optical materials chosen from a group consisting of materials used in Q-switches, filters, matching transformers, linear polarizers and reflecting mirrors.

A subassembly for a high powered light pumped, Q-switched and linearly polarized laser with an optical parametric oscillator, the subassembly consisting of two or three rod shaped elements having precisely ground endfaces with selected coatings mounted on a special pallet that at least partially aligns the optical axes of the elements.

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Fredericksburg, VA, United States of America

Bradley W Schilling