Other

Cognex Corporation

University of Colorado

Chiaro Technologies LLC

Cascade Microtech, Inc.

Umech Technologies

Daniel Feldkhun

Eric Moore

Benjamin Braker

Michael Stephen Mermelstein

Kelvin Wagner

Milos A Popovic

Charles Cameron Abnet

Abraham McAllister

Cameron Abnet

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for estimating a location on an object in a three-dimensional scene. Multiple radiation patterns are produced by spatially modulating each of multiple first radiations with a distinct combination of one or more modulating structures, each first radiation having at least one of a distinct radiation path, a distinct source, a distinct source spectrum, or a distinct source polarization with respect to the other first radiations. The location on the object is illuminated with a portion of each of two or more of the radiation patterns, the location producing multiple object radiations, each object radiation produced in response to one of the multiple radiation patterns. Multiple measured values are produced by detecting the object radiations from the location on the object due to each pattern separately using one or more detector elements. The location on the object is estimated based on the multiple measured values.

Multiple channel locating

A serpentine delay-line waveguide feeding an array of grating couplers can be fabricated in a silicon photonic chip, or tile, with the grating couplers emitting light at an angle that varies with wavelength and delay between the couplers imparted by the waveguide. The beam-steering tile can be used to transmit or receive light from a scene. The tile can be arrayed with one or more other tiles for bistatic radar-lidar operation. A tile in the array may transmit probe and frequency-shifted reference beams, while another tile may receive a return at a heterodyne frequency giving a range to the scene. The pitch of the serpentine delay line may be different for transmitting and receiving tiles to suppress returns from unwanted directions. Pairs of phase-cohered tiles may illuminate a spot in the scene with fringe patterns, producing oscillating returns that can be processed to form a high-resolution sub-image by Fourier synthesis.

Self-calibration adaptive lidar aperture building-block light engine

Methods and systems are provided for estimating locations of sub-wavelength-sized emitters, which may be sparsely arrayed among inactive emitters, in one or more dimensions to synthesize a super-resolved image. The emitter emits light in response to structured illumination, which may be acousto-optically generated. The structured illumination is translated, and a detector, such as a camera pixel, senses the emitted linear or nonlinear response, producing a periodic signal. A processor computes a phase of the signal using phase shifting interferometry and uses it to estimate the emitter location with resolution finer than a quarter of the illumination wavelength. Modulation depth and/or amplitude of the signal may be used to estimate emitter size and/or evaluate location fidelity. Optical sectioning or extended depth of field may be provided by controlling spatial coherence of the illumination. Encoding and decoding emitter locations with non-periodic patterns is also described.

Structured light active localization microscopy

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for measuring and mapping ranges, reflectivities, and/or velocities of multiple locations on an object by illuminating the locations with uniquely frequency-encoded sensing beams, which may be generated using one or more acousto-optic devices. A detector is used to sense the interference of the sensing beams reflected from the object and one or more reference beams, which may be co-propagating with the sensing beams to/from the object and/or may be provided via a separate reference path. A processor is used to estimate lateral coordinates, ranges, reflectivities, and/or velocities of the illuminated locations based on the frequencies, phases, amplitudes, and Doppler shifts, respectively, of the corresponding spectral components of the temporal beat signal produced by the detector in response to the interference of the sensing and reference beams. The processor may also disambiguate the range at each measured location using a pair of closely-spaced spectral components.

Frequency multiplexed ranging

Methods and systems are provided for suppressing speckle and/or diffraction artifacts in coherent structured illumination sensing systems. A coherent radiation pattern forms an interference pattern at an illumination image plane and illuminates an object. Radiation scattered or otherwise emitted by the object is detected to produce a signal, which is integrated in time. Coherent artifact suppression is attained by using a spatial modulator, such as an acousto-optic device, to vary a phase gradient at the illumination image plane during the signal integration time. Various embodiments are provided for purposes including without limitation: preserving the depth of field of the coherent illumination; using the same acousto-optic device for pattern generation and coherent artifact suppression; electronically controlling the effective spatial coherence of the illumination system; and reducing errors due to coherent artifacts in a laser-based three dimensional imaging system.

Systems and methods for suppressing coherent structured illumination artifacts

Improved methods and systems for imaging are provided. Specifically, systems and methods for extending the range of a digital zoom are provided in which an imaging system provides continuous magnification over a plurality of interleaved optical pathways and digital zooming imagers. Systems and methods of centering an image as the field of view changes, and for masking out undesirable obstacles from a magnified image are also provided.

Optically enhanced digital imaging system

Methods and systems are disclosed of sensing an object. A first radiation is spatially modulated to generate a structured second radiation. The object is illuminated with the structured second radiation such that the object produces a third radiation in response. Apart from any spatially dependent delay, a time variation of the third radiation is spatially independent. With a single-element detector, a portion of the third radiation is detected from locations on the object simultaneously. At least one characteristic of a sinusoidal spatial Fourier-transform component of the object is estimated from a time-varying signal from the detected portion of the third radiation.

Fourier domain sensing

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for measuring one or more sinusoidal Fourier components of an object. A structured second radiation is generated by spatially modulating a first radiation. The structured second radiation illuminates the object, The structured second radiation is scaled and oriented relative to the object. The object produces a third radiation in response to the illuminating. A single-element detector detects a portion of the third radiation from multiple locations on the object substantially simultaneously for each spatial modulation of the first radiation and for each orientation of the second radiation. A time-varying signal is produced based on said detected portion of the third radiations. One or more characteristics of the one or more sinusoidal Fourier components of the object are estimated based on the time-varying signal.

Microscopic motions of a target are measured by illuminating the target, receiving the image of the illuminated target, and controlling illumination with a computer. The real-time image of the illuminated target may be displayed.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Daniel Feldkhun