Laser imaging and ranging system using two cameras

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 further including the step of generating from a combination of said pair of electrical signals an optical image of said object.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein said related pixel relative amplitudes are local neighborhood of pixels determined.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2 wherein said related pixel relative amplitudes are pixel to corresponding pixel determined.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein said imprinting step is synchronized with and delayed from the occurrence of said laser pulses.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein said imprinting step includes modulating the polarization of said laser energy reflected optical pulses in response to a predetermined ramp waveform.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6 wherein said ramp waveform is mathematically monotonic in nature.

Claim 9

A laser imaging and ranging system comprising the combination of: pulsed laser means for illuminating a distal three-dimensional target; first and second electrical signal generating camera members optically energized by the reflected laser light signals received from said distal target; modulated optical polarization means for segregating said reflected laser light signals proportionally into first camera received predominantly nearest target portion related components and second camera received predominantly distal-most target portion related components; and means for accessing the corresponding pixel point optically determined electrical signals from said first and second cameras and generating optical intensity coded signals therefrom.

Claim 10

A laser imaging and ranging system comprising the combination of: pulsed laser means for illuminating a distal three-dimensional target; first and second electrical signal generating camera members optically energized by the reflected laser light signals received from said distal target; modulated optical polarization means for segregating said reflected laser light signals proportionally into first camera received predominantly nearest target portion related components and second camera received predominantly distal-most target portion related components; and means for accessing the corresponding pixel point optically determined electrical signals from said first and second cameras and generating optical intensity coded signals therefrom.

Claim 11

The imaging and ranging system of claim 8 wherein said optical polarization means includes one of a Pockels cell member and a Kerr cell member and electrical sawtooth waveform means for controlling the transmission of polarized optical signals therethrough.

Claim 12

The imaging and ranging system of claim 8 wherein said camera members include solid state optical-to-electrical signal transducer members.

Claim 13

The imaging and ranging system of claim 8 wherein said laser means and said reflected laser light signals communicate between said system and said target via a single optical aperture.

Claim 14

Single optical aperture two camera imaging and ranging apparatus comprising the combination of: pulsed laser target illumination means communicating via said single optical aperture with a distal target; means including a pair of optical signal to electrical signal transducing camera members for generating first and second range coding distinguished pixel intensity array partial image electrical signal representations of said distal target; first and second electrical memory means for storing said first and second partial image electrical signal representations in pixel organized array; modulated optical path means including polarization means and optical beamsplitter means disposed in the reflected light path coupling said target said single aperture and said camera members for generating a pair of range-coded pixel intensity array partial optical images of said distal targets, one for each said camera member; modulation waveform generating electrical circuit means coupled with said modulated optical path means for controlling the modulation characteristics thereof in response to a predetermined target signal time of arrival discriminating mathematical function; and mathematical algorithm characterized electrical circuit means for computing the range determinative time of arrival coded intensity ratio of corresponding image pixels in said first and second electrical memory means stored partial images.

Claim 15

Single optical aperture two camera imaging and ranging apparatus comprising the combination of: pulsed laser target illumination means communicating via said single optical aperture with a distal target; means including a pair of optical signal to electrical signal transducing camera members for generating first and second range coding distinguished pixel intensity array partial image electrical signal representations of said distal target; first and second electrical memory means for storing said first and second partial image electrical signal representations in pixel organized array; modulated optical path means including polarization means and optical beamsplitter means disposed in the reflected light path coupling said target said single aperture and said camera members for generating a pair of range-coded pixel intensity array partial optical images of said distal targets, one for each said camera member; modulation waveform generating electrical circuit means coupled with said modulated optical path means for controlling the modulation characteristics thereof in response to a predetermined target signal time of arrival discriminating mathematical function; and mathematical algorithm characterized electrical circuit means for computing the range determinative time of arrival coded intensity ratio of corresponding image pixels in said first and second electrical memory means stored partial images.