The Boeing Company

University of California

William D Sherman

Jonathan Martin Saint Clair

Mitchell D Voth

Barbara A Capron

David Christien Soreide

Minas Hagop Tanielian

Dennis Gary Koshinz

Fong Shi

Harold E Hager

Philip E Cassady

Michael J Sailor

Robert Paul Higgins

John A Bell

Stephen Kerry Wilcken

Ordie Dean Butterfield

Bentley Edwin Northon

Ronald N Murata

Paul Frederic Sjoholm

James Ridgeway Gillis

Jamie R Link

John A McGarvey

Jason Dorvee

Robert Roland Keever

Ronald L Hagman

Peter J deGroot

W Randall Babbitt

A method and apparatus comprising a group of passive sensor systems, an active sensor system, and a processor unit. The group of passive sensor systems is configured to generate first sensor information from light in an environment around the group of passive sensor systems. The active sensor system is configured to send signals, receive responses from the signals, and generate second sensor information from the responses. The processor unit is configured to control the active sensor system to send the signals in a direction toward an object using the first sensor information and generate information about the object using the second sensor information.

Object detection system for mobile platforms

A laser metrology system may include a modulated measurement beam, a beam splitter for splitting the measurement beam into a local oscillator beam and a transmitted beam, an optical assembly for projecting the transmitted beam to a measured area on a surface of a target structure and for receiving a reflected beam from the measured area, a beam combiner for combining the reflected beam and the local oscillator beam into a detection beam, a detector for processing the detection beam, the detector including a micro-lens for projecting the detection beam, a photodetector for carrying out coherent detection of the detection beam and detector electronics in communication with the photodetector for generating informational data from the detection beam, and a range processor for computing dimensional data about the measured area from the informational data.

Laser metrology system and method

Systems and methods for measuring a surface of an object. The system, in one embodiment, includes a laser projector device mounted at a fixed location relative to an object being formed by a fabrication process, and a videogrammetry device mounted at another fixed location relative to the object. The laser projector device includes a laser element mounted on a two-axis gimbal assembly, and the gimbal assembly directs laser beams from the laser element onto target points on a surface of the object. The laser projector device measures angles of the laser beams to the target points, while the videogrammetry device simultaneously performs measurements of the target points by capturing video images of the laser beams reflecting off of the target points. A controller processes the measurements from the laser projector device and the videogrammetry device to calculate x, y, z coordinates of the target points in a 3D coordinate system.

Laser videogrammetry

A wide angle scanning system includes a plurality of rotationally symmetrical transmissive optical elements each having a non-refracting surface and a refracting surface; and a mechanical beam steering system including micro-mechanical steering elements, each being coupled to a respective one of the plurality of rotationally symmetrical transmissive optical elements for rotating a respective rotationally symmetrical transmissive optical element about a center of rotation that coincides with a center of the non-refracting surface.

Agile conformal scanner

Systems and methods to control projection of a pattern are provided. A particular method includes receiving first three-dimensional coordinates that specify one or more locations on a surface of a workpiece where the one or more locations correspond to a part definition to be projected onto the surface. The method also includes computing scan angles for a scanning system based on the first three-dimensional coordinates. The scan angles specify angles used by the scanning system to direct a beam of light to project the part definition onto the surface. The method also includes sending control signals to the scanning system based on the scan angles.

Controlling a projected pattern

Systems and methods are provided for targetless optical measurement and optical information projection. A non-contact optical measurement device is provided for determining at least one of position and orientation of a workpiece. A projector is provided for projecting a part definition on the workpiece. Advantageously, beams from the non-contact optical measurement device and the projector pass through common optics.

Method and apparatus for combining a targetless optical measurement function and optical projection of information

A system and method for free space, optical remote sensing of a potential threat agent using spectrally responsive sensor material. In one example the sensor material is formed by particles, which in one particular form are porous photonic crystals. The particles are dispersed into an area being monitored for the presence of the potential threat agent. A pair of lasers is used to generate optical light beams that are directed at the sensor particles after the particles have been dispersed. The light reflected by the sensor particles is then analyzed. The presence of the potential threat agent causes a shift in the spectral peak of light reflected from the sensor particles that can be sensed using photo detectors and a processing subsystem. The system can be tuned to remotely detect for specific chemical, biological or environmental agents that may be present within a given area.

System and method for remote, free-space optical detection of potential threat agent

An optical detection apparatus includes a housing having a circumferential opening therein. A primary mirror reflects light rays to form a first set of light rays to a secondary mirror that has a generally concave shape coupled to the housing. A tertiary mirror having a generally concave shape coupled to the housing spaced apart from the secondary mirror directs light to detection optics that form an image using the third set of light rays. The detection optics include a micro-mirror array that redirect the image to a detector. A controller controls the micro-mirror array and determines an event characteristic based upon the image thereon.

Method for optically detecting and identifying a threat

Method and apparatus for optically detecting and identifying a threat

Apparatus and methods for calibrating an optical detector. In one embodiment an optical reference apparatus includes a body having an outer surface. At least a portion of the outer surface has a reflectance that can vary. The optical reference apparatus is adapted to be deployed with a cloud of optical sensors and has a terminal velocity that is about the same as the terminal velocity of the sensors. Further, the variation of the reflectance can be caused by a rotation of the optical reference apparatus (caused by an aerodynamic member). The sensors may be made from porous silicon and the optical reference apparatus may include a retroreflector. The apparatus also provides a method of referencing an optical signal. The method includes deploying an optical reference apparatus with a cloud of sensors and detecting a variation in its reflectance.

Co-deployed optical referencing for responsive dust-based sensing system

The invention performs coordinate measurement employing multiple-frequency intensity-modulated laser radar. A laser diode source is intensity modulated by variation of its excitation current. Its output beam is directed to a target using scanning mirrors or other opto-mechanical means, and the light returned from the target is detected. The modulation frequency is alternated between two or more values, creating a dataset of several relative phase measurements that uniquely determine the distance to the target without ambiguity. A device for carrying out such a method includes a laser whose output is modulated by a high frequency signal generator, optics for directing the output signal to the target to a detector, a signal generator which generates reference signals offset in frequency from the intensity modulation frequencies by a predetermined amount; mixers for combining the return signals with the reference signals to form a first set of intermediate frequency signals, and for combining the modulation signals with the reference signals to form a second set of intermediate frequency signals, and a computer which calculates phase differences between the output beam and the return signals for each modulation frequency from the intermediate frequencies, and determines the distance to the target from the phase differences.

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Renton, WA, United States of America

William D Sherman