Lidar Measurement Device with Target Tracking and Method for Use of Same

Abstract

A Lidar measurement device for vehicular traffic surveillance and method for use of same are disclosed. In one embodiment, video circuitry acquires video of a field of view having a target therein. A steerable laser progressively scans the field of view to identify targets. The steerable laser then progressively, repeatedly scans a sub-field of the field of view containing the target. A processing circuit portion determines target data of the target based upon range and time measurements associated with reflected laser range-finding signals from the scans of the sub-field. The processing circuit then integrates the target data into the video such that the video may displayed with an image of the target and target data, such as a speed measurement, associated therewith.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A Lidar measurement device for traffic surveillance, the Lidar measurement device comprising:
 a video circuitry portion for acquiring video of a first field of view having a target therein, the video including an image of the target;   a steerable laser for progressively laser scanning a second field of view in a horizontal and vertical step-wise manner and receiving reflected laser range-finding signals from the target, the second field of view having the target therein, the second field of view being a sub-field of the first field, the portion of the first field outside the second field is not laser scanned;   a processing circuit portion for determining target data of the target based upon range and time measurements associated with the reflected laser range-finding signals, the processing circuit integrating the target data into the video such that the target data is associated with the image of the target; and   a display in communication with the processing circuit portion, the display for displaying the video including the image of the target having the target data associated therewith.   
     
     
         2 . The Lidar measurement device for traffic surveillance as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the target data comprises data selected from the group consisting of speed measurement of the target, range measurement of the target, and heading of the target. 
     
     
         3 . The Lidar measurement device for traffic surveillance as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit portion comprises speed-measurement capabilities to determine a speed measurement of the target based upon the range and time measurements associated with the reflected laser range-finding signals. 
     
     
         4 . The Lidar measurement device for traffic surveillance as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit portion comprises range-finding capabilities to determine a range measurement of the target based upon the range and time measurements associated with the reflected laser range-finding signals. 
     
     
         5 . The Lidar measurement device for traffic surveillance as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit portion comprises direction-sensing capabilities to determine a heading of the target with respect to the Lidar measurement device based upon the range and time measurements associated with the reflected laser range-finding signals. 
     
     
         6 . The Lidar measurement device for traffic surveillance as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a synchronizer circuit portion for synchronizing the field of view between the video circuitry portion and steerable laser. 
     
     
         7 . The Lidar measurement device for traffic surveillance as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the steerable laser and video circuitry portion comprise identical aspect ratios. 
     
     
         8 . The Lidar measurement device for traffic surveillance as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit portion further comprises image stabilization capabilities. 
     
     
         9 . The Lidar measurement device for traffic surveillance as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the Lidar measurement device is operating in a stationary mode. 
     
     
         10 . The Lidar measurement device for traffic surveillance as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the Lidar measurement device is operating in a moving mode. 
     
     
         11 . A Lidar measurement device for traffic surveillance, the Lidar measurement device comprising:
 a video circuitry portion for acquiring video including an image of the target;   a steerable laser for successively progressively laser scanning each of an identification space and a target space and receiving reflected laser range-finding signals from the target, the target space of view being a sub-field of the identification space, the portion of the identification space outside the target space is not scanned;   a processing circuit portion for identifying a target based upon the reflected laser-range finding signals from the identification space and for determining target data of the target based upon range and time measurements associated with the reflected laser range-finding signals from the target space, the processing circuit integrating the target data into the video such that the target data is associated with the image of the target; and   a display in communication with the processing circuit portion, the display for displaying the video including the image of the target having the target data associated therewith.   
     
     
         12 . The Lidar measurement device for traffic surveillance as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the target data comprises data selected from the group consisting of speed measurement of the target, range measurement of the target, and heading of the target. 
     
     
         13 . The Lidar measurement device for traffic surveillance as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the identification space is scanned by a steerable laser prior to the target space. 
     
     
         14 . The Lidar measurement device for traffic surveillance as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the processing circuit portion further comprises image stabilization capabilities. 
     
     
         15 . The Lidar measurement device for traffic surveillance as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the Lidar measurement device is operating in a stationary mode. 
     
     
         16 . The Lidar measurement device for traffic surveillance as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the Lidar measurement device is operating in a moving mode.