Laser Rangefinder Integrated Imaging Target Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser rangefinders face accuracy issues due to beam divergence, which causes uncertainty in distance measurements at long ranges as the laser beam widens, potentially illuminating and measuring incorrect targets, leading to erroneous readings.
Innovation Solution
Integrating an imaging device aligned with the laser rangefinder's optical path to capture images and verify the target, ensuring accurate distance measurements by correlating the displayed range with the imaged object, even as the beam diverges, using a camera that can be built into or attached to the housing and synchronized with the laser activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the laser beam is used for long-range measurement, then the measurement range is extended, but the beam divergence causes increased measurement uncertainty and potential target misidentification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the laser rangefinder with an imaging device (camera) into a single integrated system. The imaging device captures images of the target area simultaneously with the laser ranging, allowing visual verification of the target identity. This merging resolves the contradiction by enabling long-range measurement while providing visual confirmation to ensure measurement accuracy and prevent misidentification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback by displaying both the measured distance and the captured image together. This feedback mechanism allows the user to verify that the laser is indeed pointing at the intended target by comparing the visual image with the measured distance, thereby maintaining measurement precision even at extended ranges despite beam divergence.
2Area of stationary object
If the laser beam diameter is increased to improve coverage, then the illumination area is expanded, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to illuminating multiple targets
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the laser rangefinder with an imaging device that has a fixed field of view, the system maintains a consistent illumination area definition. The camera captures the exact area that the laser beam illuminates, allowing the user to verify which specific target is being measured even when the beam covers a larger area, thus preventing measurement errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism displays the captured image alongside the distance measurement, providing visual confirmation of which target is being measured. This allows the user to identify and select the correct target even when the laser beam illuminates multiple objects, maintaining measurement precision while expanding illumination coverage.
3Volume of moving object
If the imaging device is integrated into the laser rangefinder housing, then the system compactness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing of the laser rangefinder is designed to accommodate multiple functions: it houses the laser transmitter, the imaging device, and the optical components. This multi-functionality approach integrates the imaging device into the existing structure, achieving system compactness while managing complexity through shared housing and coordinated optical paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging device is nested within or mounted on the housing of the laser rangefinder, with the optical components arranged in a compact configuration. The beam splitter and other optical elements are integrated into the housing structure, allowing the imaging device to share space with the laser system while maintaining separate optical paths, thus achieving compactness without excessive complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The integration of an imaging device allows real-time verification of target acquisition, ensuring accurate distance measurements by correlating the displayed range with the intended target, improving the reliability of laser rangefinder systems, especially at long ranges.
Implementation Method 1
an illumination source and a housing to house the illumination source. In some embodiments, the illumination source comprises a laser.
Implementation Method 2
The laser rangefinder uses a laser beam to determine the distance to an object.
Implementation Method 3
a beam splitter residing in an optical path of the illumination source, the beam splitter to direct light from the scene through an aperture of the laser rangefinder into the imaging device.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a laser rangefinder, an imaging device aligned to an optical path of the laser rangefinder, a control interface to activate the laser rangefinder and to cause the imaging device to capture an image during an operating cycle of the laser rangefinder, and a display to display an image of an object captured by the imaging device and a corresponding distance to the target determined by the laser rangefinder. The imaging device can capture an image of an intended target, allowing the operator to verify that the ranged distance provided by the laser rangefinder corresponds to the intended target.