Global Patent Index - EP 1508057 A2

EP 1508057 A2 20050223 - IMAGING LIDAR WITH MICROMECHANICAL COMPONENTS

Title (en)

IMAGING LIDAR WITH MICROMECHANICAL COMPONENTS

Title (de)

BILDERZEUGENDES LIDAR MIT MIKROMECHANISCHEN KOMPONENTEN

Title (fr)

PROCEDE ET APPAREIL MICROMECANIQUE ET LIES LIDAR, ET COMPOSANTS DE CONDUCTION RAPIDE DE LUMIERE

Publication

EP 1508057 A2 20050223 (EN)

Application

EP 03731303 A 20030516

Priority

  • US 0316062 W 20030516
  • US 38128602 P 20020517

Abstract (en)

[origin: WO03098263A2] Several systems and a method are taught for rapid modulation of a light beam in lidar and other imaging. Most of these involve micromechanical and other very small control components. One such unit is a light-switching fabric, based on displacement of liquid in a tube that crosses a junction of two optical waveguides. In some forms, the fabric is preferably flexible to enable folding or coiling to form a two-dimensional face that interacts with optical-fiber ends an opposed fiber bundle. The rapid operation of the switch fabric enables it to be used as a beam-splitter, separating incoming and return beams; and also to form pulses from supplied CW light. Other control components include micromechanical mirrors (e. g. MEMS mirrors) operated in arrays or singly, liquid-crystal devices, and other controlled-birefringence cells. Some of these devices are placed within an optical system for directional light-beam steering.

IPC 1-7

G01S 17/89; G01S 7/481

IPC 8 full level

G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 17/89 (2020.01); G02B 6/35 (2006.01); G02B 26/02 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP US)

G01S 7/4812 (2013.01 - EP); G01S 7/4817 (2013.01 - EP); G01S 7/4818 (2013.01 - EP); G01S 17/89 (2013.01 - EP US); G02B 6/3542 (2013.01 - EP US); G02B 26/004 (2013.01 - EP); G02B 6/3512 (2013.01 - EP); G02B 6/3538 (2013.01 - EP); G02B 6/3546 (2013.01 - EP); G02B 6/3556 (2013.01 - EP); G02B 6/3574 (2013.01 - EP); G02B 6/3588 (2013.01 - EP)

Citation (search report)

See references of WO 03098263A2

Designated contracting state (EPC)

AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR

DOCDB simple family (publication)

WO 03098263 A2 20031127; WO 03098263 A3 20040325; AU 2003241557 A1 20031202; AU 2003241557 A2 20031202; CA 2486197 A1 20031127; EP 1508057 A2 20050223

DOCDB simple family (application)

US 0316062 W 20030516; AU 2003241557 A 20030516; CA 2486197 A 20030516; EP 03731303 A 20030516