Variable-beamwidth angle encoding laser scanner

Abstract

A laser apparatus includes a laser capable of generating a laser signal; means for conditioning the laser signal; and means for varying the beamwidth of the laser signal as it is scanned into the field of view.

1 . A laser apparatus, comprising: 
 a laser capable of generating a laser signal;    means for conditioning the laser signal; and    means for varying the beamwidth of the laser signal as it is scanned into the field of view.    
   
   
       2 . The laser apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the laser comprises a continuous wave laser.  
   
   
       3 . The laser apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the continuous wave laser comprises an unswitched fiber laser, an unswitched diode laser, or an unswitched gas laser.  
   
   
       4 . The laser apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conditioning means includes at least one of: 
 an expansion lens for modifying the beam divergence of the laser signal;    an acousto-optical modulator for frequency modulating the laser signal; and    a beam splitter.    
   
   
       5 . The laser apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the expansion lens expands the beam divergence of the laser signal.  
   
   
       6 . The laser apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the expansion lens narrows the beam divergence of the laser signal.  
   
   
       7 . The laser apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the acousto-optical modulator frequency modulates the laser signal in azimuth.  
   
   
       8 . The laser apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the acousto-optical modulator frequency modulates the laser signal in elevation.  
   
   
       9 . The laser apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beamwidth varying means includes means for translating the laser in the direction of propagation for the laser signal.  
   
   
       10 . The laser apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the translating means is further capable of reciprocating the laser in the direction of propagation for the laser signal.  
   
   
       11 . The laser apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the translating means includes: 
 a sled to which the laser is affixed;    a pair of rails paralleling the direction of propagation for the laser signal and to which the sled is mounted; and    a drive capable of driving the sled along the rails.    
   
   
       12 . The laser apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beamwidth varying means includes: 
 a sled to which the laser is affixed;    a pair of rails paralleling the direction of propagation for the laser signal and to which the sled is mounted; and    a drive capable of driving the sled along the rails.    
   
   
       13 . The laser apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for scanning the conditioned laser signal into a field of view.  
   
   
       14 . The laser apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the scanning means includes: 
 means for sweeping the conditioned laser signal in azimuth; and    means for sweeping the conditioned laser signal in elevation.    
   
   
       15 . The laser apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the azimuth sweeping means comprises means for electro-optically sweeping the conditioned laser signal in azimuth.  
   
   
       16 . The laser apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the electro-optical sweeping means comprises an electrically driven acousto-optical modulator.  
   
   
       17 . The laser apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the acousto-optical modulator also comprises a portion of the conditioning means.  
   
   
       18 . The laser apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the elevation sweeping means comprises a mechanical sweeping means.  
   
   
       19 . The laser apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the mechanical sweeping means includes an electrically driven mirror.  
   
   
       20 . The laser apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the elevation sweeping means comprises means for electro-optically sweeping the conditioned laser signal in elevation.  
   
   
       21 . The laser apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the electro-optical sweeping means comprises an electrically driven acousto-optical modulator.  
   
   
       22 . The laser apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the acousto-optical modulator also comprises a portion of the conditioning means.  
   
   
       23 . The laser apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an electrically driven acousto-optical modulator capable of scanning the conditioned laser signal into a field of view in azimuth; and    an electrically driven mirror capable of scanning the conditioned laser signal into the field of view in elevation.    
   
   
       24 . The laser apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conditioning means includes means for frequency encoding the laser signal in azimuth.  
   
   
       25 . The laser apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the frequency encoding means includes an electrically driven acousto-optical modulator.  
   
   
       26 . The laser apparatus of claim Al, wherein the conditioning means includes means for frequency encoding the laser signal in azimuth as it is scanned into a field of view.  
   
   
       27 . A laser apparatus, comprising: 
 a laser capable of generating a laser signal;    means for conditioning the laser signal; and    means for scanning the conditioned laser signal into a field of view, including:    means for electro-optically sweeping the conditioned laser signal in azimuth; and    means for sweeping the conditioned laser signal in elevation.    
   
   
       28 . The laser apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the laser comprises a continuous wave laser.  
   
   
       29 . The laser apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the continuous wave laser comprises an unswitched fiber laser, an unswitched diode laser, or an unswitched gas laser.  
   
   
       30 . The laser apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the conditioning means includes at least one of: 
 an expansion lens for expanding the diameter and decreasing the divergence of the laser signal;    an acousto-optical modulator for frequency modulating the laser signal in azimuth; and    a beam splitter for splitting the laser signal.    
   
   
       31 . The laser apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the conditioning means includes means for frequency encoding the conditioned signal.  
   
   
       32 . The laser apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the electro-optical sweeping means comprises an electrically driven acousto-optical modulator.  
   
   
       33 . The laser apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the acousto-optical modulator also comprises a portion of the conditioning means.  
   
   
       34 . The laser apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the elevation sweeping means comprises a mechanical sweeping means.  
   
   
       35 . The laser apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the elevation sweeping means includes an electrically driven mirror.  
   
   
       36 . The laser apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the elevation sweeping means comprises means for electro-optically sweeping the conditioned laser signal in elevation.  
   
   
       37 . The laser apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the electro-optical elevation sweeping means comprises an electrically driven acousto-optical modulator.  
   
   
       38 . The laser apparatus of  claim 27 , further comprising means for varying the beamwidth of the laser signal as it is scanned into the field of view.  
   
   
       39 . The laser apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the beamwidth varying means includes means for translating the laser in the direction of propagation for the laser signal.  
   
   
       40 . The laser apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the translating means is further capable of reciprocating the laser in the direction of propagation for the laser signal.  
   
   
       41 . The laser apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the translating means includes: 
 a sled to which the laser is affixed;    a pair of rails paralleling the direction of propagation for the laser signal and to which the sled is mounted; and    a drive capable of driving the sled along the rails.    
   
   
       42 . The laser apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the beamwidth varying means includes: 
 a sled to which the laser is affixed;    a pair of rails paralleling the direction of propagation for the laser signal and to which the sled is mounted; and    a drive capable of driving the sled along the rails.    
   
   
       43 . A laser apparatus, comprising: 
 a laser capable of generating a laser signal;    means for conditioning the laser signal, the conditioning including frequency encoding the laser signal in azimuth; and    means for scanning the conditioned laser signal into a field of view.    
   
   
       44 . The laser apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the laser comprises a continuous wave laser.  
   
   
       45 . The laser apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein the continuous wave laser comprises an unswitched fiber laser, an unswitched diode laser, or an unswitched gas laser.  
   
   
       46 . The laser apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the conditioning means includes at least one of: 
 an expansion lens for expanding the diameter and decreasing the divergence of the laser signal;    an acousto-optical modulator for frequency modulating the laser signal in azimuth; and    a beam splitter for splitting the laser signal.    
   
   
       47 . The laser apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the electro-optical sweeping means comprises an electrically driven acousto-optical modulator.  
   
   
       48 . The laser apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the acousto-optical modulator also comprises a portion of the conditioning means.  
   
   
       49 . The laser apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the scanning means includes means for electro-optically sweeping the conditioned laser signal in azimuth; and 
 means for sweeping the conditioned laser signal in elevation.    
   
   
       50 . The laser apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the electro-optical sweeping means comprises an electrically driven acousto-optical modulator.  
   
   
       51 . The laser apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein the acousto-optical modulator also comprises a portion of the conditioning means.  
   
   
       52 . The laser apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the elevation sweeping means comprises a mechanical sweeping means.  
   
   
       53 . The laser apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein the elevation sweeping means includes an electrically driven mirror.  
   
   
       54 . The laser apparatus of  claim 43 , further comprising means for varying the beamwidth of the laser signal as it is scanned into the field of view.  
   
   
       55 . The laser apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein the beamwidth varying means includes means for translating the laser in the direction of propagation for the laser signal.  
   
   
       56 . The laser apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the translating means is further capable of reciprocating the laser in the direction of propagation for the laser signal.  
   
   
       57 . The laser apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the translating means includes: 
 a sled to which the laser is affixed;    a pair of rails paralleling the direction of propagation for the laser signal and to which the sled is mounted; and    a drive capable of driving the sled along the rails.    
   
   
       58 . The laser apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein the beamwidth varying means includes: 
 a sled to which the laser is affixed;    a pair of rails paralleling the direction of propagation for the laser signal and to which the sled is mounted; and    a drive capable of driving the sled along the rails.    
   
   
       59 . A laser apparatus, comprising: 
 a laser capable of generating a laser signal;    means for conditioning the laser signal, the conditioning including frequency encoding the laser signal in azimuth;    means for varying the beamwidth of the laser signal as it is scanned into the field of view; and    means for scanning the conditioned laser signal into a field of view, including: 
 means for electro-optically sweeping the conditioned laser signal in azimuth; and  
 means for sweeping the conditioned laser signal in elevation.  
   
   
   
       60 . The laser apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the laser comprises a continuous wave laser.  
   
   
       61 . The laser apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the conditioning means includes at least one of: 
 an expansion lens for expanding the diameter and decreasing the divergence of the laser signal;    an acousto-optical modulator for frequency modulating the laser signal in azimuth; and    a beam segmenter for splitting the laser signal.    
   
   
       62 . The laser apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the frequency encoding means includes an electrically driven acousto-optical modulator.  
   
   
       63 . The laser apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the beamwidth varying means includes means for translating the laser in the direction of propagation for the laser signal.  
   
   
       64 . The laser apparatus of  claim 63 , wherein the translating means is further capable of reciprocating the laser in the direction of propagation for the laser signal.  
   
   
       65 . The laser apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the electro-optical sweeping means comprises an electrically driven acousto-optical modulator.  
   
   
       66 . The laser apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the elevation sweeping means comprises a mechanical sweeping means.  
   
   
       67 . The laser apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the elevation sweeping means includes an electrically driven mirror.  
   
   
       68 . A method, comprising: 
 generating a laser signal;    conditioning the laser signal, the conditioning including frequency encoding the laser signal in azimuth;    scanning the conditioned laser signal into a field of view, including: 
 electro-optically sweeping the conditioned laser signal in azimuth; and  
 sweeping the conditioned laser signal in elevation; and  
   varying the beamwidth of the laser signal as it is scanned into the field of view.    
   
   
       69 . The laser apparatus of  claim 68 , wherein frequency encoding the laser signal includes acousto-optically modulating the laser signal.  
   
   
       70 . The laser apparatus of  claim 68 , wherein varying the beamwidth includes translating a laser in the direction of propagation for the laser signal.  
   
   
       71 . A platform, including the laser apparatus of claim A 1 .  
   
   
       72 . A laser apparatus substantially as shown and described above.  
   
   
       73 . A method, comprising: 
 generating a laser signal;    conditioning the laser signal; and    varying the beamwidth of the laser signal as it is scanned into the field of view.    
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein varying the beamwidth includes translating the laser in the direction of propagation for the laser signal.  
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising scanning the conditioned laser signal into a field of view.  
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein the scanning the conditioned laser signal: 
 sweeping the conditioned laser signal in azimuth; and    sweeping the conditioned laser signal in elevation.    
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the conditioning includes frequency encoding the laser signal in azimuth.  
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the conditioning includes frequency encoding the laser signal in azimuth as it is scanned into a field of view.