RU9110U1 - OPTICAL LOCATOR - Google Patents

Description

“OPTICAL LOCATOR. The utility model relates to the field of optical instrumentation, in particular, to optical location devices. A known locator for observing objects at low light, including pulsed light sources with transmitting optics and optical image receivers with controlled pulsed shutters {European Patent No. 0468715. By adjusting the delay between the moment of light emission and the moment the shutters of the receivers are opened, an image of objects located on the most interesting distance from the device. In the known locator, to expand the visibility layer, the number of simultaneously operating pulsed light sources or cameras (each source or camera operates at its own range) is increased, followed by the summation of video signals, which leads to a significant increase in hardware costs or to incomplete use. In addition, such devices do not use the natural illumination of objects, which allows you to get additional information about the observed objects. Closest to the proposed utility model is a locator containing a pulsed light source with transmitting optics, an optical image receiver including a television camera with a controlled shutter, a shutter control unit, a synchronization unit, one of the outputs of which is connected to the input of the shutter control unit, and the other output is connected with the entrance of a pulsed light source British Patent No. 2212689, MKI H04N5 / 30, publ. 26.07.89. The known locator partially eliminated the disadvantages noted above, and

For more information, use natural or additional lighting. However, when receiving an image corresponding to the pulsed and static modes, different fields of the television signal are used, which leads to a decrease in the sensitivity of the system, as well as complication of automatic brightness control and the whole system. In addition to complication, the use of two or more cameras leads to an increase in the cost of the system as a whole.

The proposed utility model solves the problem of creating a highly sensitive locator to obtain images of objects that are in the field of view of the device at different distances from it both when using natural lighting and when using your own backlight while simultaneously highlighting the brightness of objects located at a range specified by the operator in his most interesting area.

To achieve this goal, in an optical locator containing a pulsed light source, a continuous light source, an optical image receiver including a television camera with a controlled optical shutter and a receiving lens, a shutter control unit with a delayed shutter control pulse generating system and an operator control interface connected to it, image gain control system, the output of which is connected to the input of a controlled optical shutter, a synchronization unit, one of odov which is connected to the input of a pulsed light source and the other - to the input of the gate system for forming the delayed pulse control gate control unit, and

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the information display system, the shutter control unit additionally contains a circuit for generating a constant signal level of the optical image receiver, the input of which is connected to the operator control interface, and a two-input adder, one of whose inputs is connected to the output of the delayed shutter control pulse generating system, and the second to the output of the formation circuit a constant signal level of the optical image receiver, and the output is with the input of the image gain control system.

The problem is also solved by the fact that the receiving lens of the optical image receiver contains an additional focusing unit with a servo drive, the input of which is connected to the output of the delayed shutter control pulse generating system.

The essence of the proposed utility model is illustrated in figure 1., which presents a block diagram of an optical locator, where:

1- pulsed light source,

2 - forming optics of a pulsed light source,

3- continuous light source,

4 - forming optics of a continuous light source,

5 - optical image receiver,

6- television camera,

7-controlled optical shutter,

8 receiving lens

9- synchronization unit,

10- shutter control unit,

12- image gain control system,

13 - information display system,

14- focus unit with servo,

15 - system for the formation of a delayed pulse control gate,

16 - a system for generating a constant signal level of the optical image receiver,

17- operator control interface.

The proposed optical locator contains a pulsed light source 1 with forming optics 2, a continuous light source 3 with forming optics 4, an optical image receiver 5, including a television camera 6 with a controlled optical shutter 7 and a receiving lens 8, equipped with a focusing unit 14 with a servo drive, a synchronization unit 9, the shutter control unit 10 with a system for generating a delayed pulse to control the shutter 15, a system for generating a constant signal level of the optical image receiver 16, controlling m operator interface 17 and a two-input adder 11, a system for adjusting the image gain 12 and a display system 13.

The proposed optical locator operates as follows: A pulsed light source 1 together with the forming optics 2 create pulsed illumination of the objects under observation. A continuous light source 3 with forming optics 4, as well as natural light sources create continuous illumination of objects of observation. An optical image receiver 5, including a television camera 6 with a controlled optical shutter 7 and a receiving lens 8 form an amplified image of the objects of observation. The gain of the image receiver is set using the shutter control unit 10 and the image gain control system 12.

The synchronization unit 9 serves to synchronize the operation of the pulsed light source 1 and the image receiver 5.

The synchronization unit 9 generates a start pulse of the light source 1. The light pulse emitted by the light source propagates towards the objects of observation, is reflected from them, and returns to the optical image receiver 5. Simultaneously with the start of the light source, the start pulse arrives at the gate control unit 10 at the input of the delayed gate control pulse generating system 15, which is also connected to the operator control interface 17. The delay of the gate control pulse relative to the pulse from the synchronization unit 9 is set by the operator and is equal to the time of propagation of light before zones of illumination of selected objects and back to the radiation receiver, and its duration and amplitude are also set by the operator from the control interface 17 and and the duration of the propagation of light from the beginning of the backlight zone of the allocated objects to its end and vice versa, that is, determines the depth and brightness of the allocated zone. The delayed pulse is fed to one of the inputs of the two-input adder 11. The second input of the two-input adder 11 receives a constant level signal from the system 16 for generating a constant signal level of the receiver, which serves to control the brightness of the image due to other (including natural) light sources and adjustable by the operator from the control interface 17. Thus, the problem of forming an image of objects due to natural light and radiation from a continuous source is solved and light. The signal from the output of the adder is fed to the input of the image gain control system 12, and from its output to the input

5c with a controlled optical shutter 7 of the image receiver 5 and is a gain control signal of this receiver. To automatically adjust the focus of the receiving lens to the highlighted area, the delayed pulse is supplied to the servo drive 14 for controlling the focus of the receiving lens. To display information, the video signal from the output of the television camera 6 is fed to a television monitor 13 or other information display device. As a pulsed light source, a PI-14 type L semiconductor injection laser or electron-pumped pulsed semiconductor laser (PLE) can be used. As a controlled optical shutter, electron-optical converters (EOPs) of the EPM 28G or EPM-62 type can be used. A television camera, monitor, lenses can be selected from manufactured industrial products. The proposed optical locator makes it possible to obtain, under conditions of reduced visibility, an image of objects due to natural illumination, and at the same time, an image of illuminated objects located at the most interesting range, possibly, for example, in a vehicle where it is necessary to have an image of all objects located in front of the vehicle and at the same time additionally illuminate objects located dangerously close to the vehicle, constantly monitor the current system the situation, as well as to predict it, while maintaining the ability to select any objects located at a specific range in the received image. It matters a lot 6

when carrying out, for example, search and rescue operations, as well as to ensure traffic safety, it facilitates navigation in narrow places, the harmful effect of light reflection from a veil of fog, falling snow, as well as the glare of coastal lights or headlights of oncoming traffic, is reduced.

Claims (2)

1. An optical locator containing a pulsed light source, a continuous light source, an optical image receiver including a television camera with a controlled optical shutter and a receiving lens, a shutter control unit with a delayed shutter control pulse generating system and an operator control interface connected to it, a gain control system image, the output of which is connected to the input of a controlled optical shutter, a synchronization unit, one of the outputs of which is connected to the input a pulsed light source, and the other with the input of the shutter control unit, and an information display system, characterized in that the shutter control unit contains a circuit for generating a constant signal level of the optical image receiver, the input of which is connected to the output of the optical image receiver and the operator control interface, and a two-input an adder, one of the inputs of which is connected to the output of the delayed gate control pulse generating system, and the second to the output of the mid-level formation circuit with the needle of the optical image receiver, and the output with the input of the image gain control system.  2. The locator according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving lens of the optical image receiver comprises an additional focusing unit with a servo drive, the input of which is connected to the output of the delayed shutter control pulse generating system.