Goodrich Corporation

James B Johnson

Ian Peter Humphrey

Scott W Ramsey

John Anthony Tejada

Jonathan C Jarok

Michael C Marden

Michael Marden

A LIDAR system includes an imaging sensor optically aligned with imaging optics along a first optical path. A laser source is optically aligned with laser optics along a second optical path. A single scanning mechanism is aligned with both the first optical path and the second optical path for directing outgoing laser illumination from the laser source in a scanning direction and for directing incoming laser return illumination from the scanning direction.

LIDAR camera systems

A hybrid LIDAR systemincludes a flash-based LIDAR detector array. A broad laser emitter is operatively connected to the LIDAR detector array for flash-based LIDAR sensing. A first beam steering mechanism is operatively connected with the broad laser emitter for scanning a scene with a broad beam from the broad laser emitter. A second beam steering mechanism is operatively connected with the LIDAR detector array for directing returns of the broad beam from the scene to the LIDAR detector array.

Hybrid lidar system

An imaging system includes a first risley sensor pointed along a first axis and a second risley sensor pointed along a second axis, the second axis intersecting the first axis, the second risley sensor has at least a wide field of view and a narrow field of view. A controller is operably connected to the second risley sensor and configured to select one of the wide field of view and the narrow field of view for image data acquired by the second risley sensor. Vehicles including the imaging system and imaging methods are also described.

Imaging systems and methods

A beamsplitter includes an optical substrate with a first surface configured to receive a beam of multi-spectral light, to reflect a first band of the multi-spectral light and to transmit a second band of the multi-spectral light through the optical substrate to be emitted from a second surface of the optical substrate opposite the first surface. The second surface is a freeform surface. A system includes a telescope configured to focus multi-spectral light into a beam. The system also includes a beamsplitter as described above optically coupled to the telescope so the first surface of the beamsplitter is configured to receive the beam of multi-spectral light from the telescope.

Aberration correction

An in-flight detection system includes a camera mounted to a platform aircraft configured to define a field of regard containing a target aircraft. A lidar system is mounted to the platform aircraft and is configured to continuously scan the field of regard defined by the camera. The lidar system determines position data between the platform aircraft and the target aircraft. A controller is operatively connected to the camera and the lidar system and is configured to activate the lidar system after the camera defines the field of regard.

Object detection system

A telescope and beam expander assembly includes a primary telescope mirror. An optical element is spaced apart from the primary mirror. The optical element includes front and rear surfaces, wherein an outward facing aspect of the rear surface is mounted opposite the primary mirror and includes a reflective portion that forms a secondary mirror to reflect gathered light from the primary mirror toward a focal point. An inward facing aspect of the front surface includes a reflective portion that forms a secondary expander mirror configured to reflect a beam onto an inward facing aspect of the rear surface for beam expansion. The optical element can include a monolithic body of optically-transmissive material on which the front and rear surfaces are located.

Telescope and beam expander assemblies

A collimator unit includes an on-axis collimator tube fixedly attached to at least two off-axis collimator tubes. The off-axis collimator tubes are angled relative to the on-axis collimator tube. Each collimator tube can include a lens, a light source, and a target placed at the lens' focal point. The collimator tubes can be positioned within a housing such that the on-axis collimator tube is coaxial and centered with respect to the housing.

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Medford, MA, United States of America

James B Johnson