Near-infrared time-of-flight cameras and imaging
A smart phone or tablet includes laser diodes configured to be pulsed and generate near-infrared light between 700-2500 nanometers. Lenses direct the light to a sample. A detection system includes a photodiode array with pixels coupled to CMOS transistors, and is configured to receive light reflected from the sample, to be synchronized to the light from the laser diodes, and to perform a time-of-flight measurement of a time difference between light from the laser diodes and light reflected from the sample. The detection system is configured to convert light received while the laser diodes are off into a first signal, and light received while at least one laser diodes is on, which includes light reflected from the sample, into a second signal. The smart phone or tablet is configured to difference the first signal and the second signal and to generate a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image using the time-of-flight measurement.
1. A remote sensing system, comprising:
an array of laser diodes configured to generate light having an initial light intensity and one or more optical wavelengths, wherein at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths is a near-infrared wavelength between 700 nanometers and 2500 nanometers, and wherein at least a portion of the array of laser diodes comprises one or more Bragg reflectors;
one or more scanners comprising a moving mirror configured to receive a portion of the light from the array of laser diodes and to direct the portion of the light from the array of laser diodes to an object, wherein the moving mirror is configured to scan the received portion of the light across at least a part of the object;
a detection system comprising a photodiode array with a plurality of pixels coupled to CMOS transistors, wherein at least a portion of the photodiode array comprises an indium gallium arsenide semiconductor;
wherein the detection system is configured to receive at least a portion of light reflected from the object, wherein the detection system is configured to be synchronized to the at least a portion of the array of laser diodes comprising Bragg reflectors;
wherein the detection system is further configured to perform a time-of-flight measurement, and wherein the detection system further comprises one or more spectral filters;
wherein the remote sensing system is configured to generate a two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping using at least a portion of the time-of-flight measurement;
wherein the remote sensing system is configured to improve signal-to-noise ratio of at least a portion of the two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping by increasing light intensity of the array of laser diodes relative to the initial light intensity;
wherein the at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths falls within an eye safe window corresponding to an optical wavelength longer than 1400 nanometers; and
wherein the remote sensing system is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, wherein the at least a portion of the two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping is combined with global positioning system information, and wherein the remote sensing system is configured to communicate with a cloud.
2. The remote sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the array of laser diodes is configured to be pulsed, and wherein the time-of-flight measurement comprises measuring a time difference between the generated light from the at least a portion of the array of laser diodes and the at least a portion of light reflected from the object.
3. The remote sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the array of laser diodes is configured to modulate a continuous wave or a pulse, wherein the modulated continuous wave has a phase, and wherein the detection system is configured to lock onto the phase.
4. The remote sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the remote sensing system is configured to use artificial intelligence in making decisions.
5. The remote sensing system of claim 4 , wherein the remote sensing system is configured to perform pattern identification or classification, and wherein the remote sensing system is configured to apply a threshold function to a comparison with a stored data set.
6. The remote sensing system of claim 5 , wherein the remote sensing system is at least in part configured for selection or identification of the object, and wherein the remote sensing system is configured to improve a signal-to-noise ratio of the selection or identification by applying regression signal processing methodologies or multivariate techniques.
7. A remote sensing system, comprising:
one or more laser diodes configured to generate light having an initial light intensity and one or more optical wavelengths, wherein at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths is a near-infrared wavelength between 700 nanometers and 2500 nanometers;
one or more scanners configured to receive a portion of the light from the one or more laser diodes and to direct the portion of the light from the one or more laser diodes to an object, wherein the one or more scanners are configured to scan the received portion of the light across at least a part of the object;
a detection system comprising a photodiode array comprising semiconductor material;
wherein the detection system is configured to receive at least a portion of light reflected from the object, wherein the detection system is configured to be synchronized to at least a portion of the one or more laser diodes;
wherein the detection system is further configured to perform a time-of-flight measurement, and wherein the detection system further comprises one or more spectral filters;
wherein the remote sensing system is configured to generate a two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping using at least a portion of the time-of-flight measurement;
wherein the remote sensing system is configured to improve signal-to-noise ratio of at least a portion of the two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping by increasing light intensity of the one or more laser diodes relative to the initial light intensity; and
wherein the remote sensing system is configured to use artificial intelligence in making decisions; and
wherein the remote sensing system is at least in part configured for selection or identification of the object, wherein the remote sensing system is configured to improve a signal-to-noise ratio of the selection or identification by applying regression signal processing methodologies or multivariate techniques.
8. The remote sensing system of claim 7 , wherein the at least a portion of the one or more laser diodes is configured to be pulsed, and wherein the time-of-flight measurement comprises measuring a time difference between the generated light from the at least a portion of the one or more laser diodes and the at least a portion of light reflected from the object.
9. The remote sensing system of claim 7 , wherein the at least a portion of the one or more laser diodes is configured to modulate a continuous wave, wherein the modulated continuous wave has a phase, and wherein the detection system is configured to lock onto the phase.
10. The remote sensing system of claim 7 , wherein the remote sensing system is at least in part configured to perform pattern identification or classification, wherein the remote sensing system is configured to apply a threshold function to a comparison with a stored data set; and
wherein the remote sensing system is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, and wherein the at least a portion of the two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping is combined with global positioning system information, and wherein the remote sensing system is configured to communicate with a cloud.
11. The remote sensing system of claim 7 , wherein at least some of the one or more laser diodes comprises one or more Bragg reflectors.
12. The remote sensing system of claim 11 , wherein the at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths falls within an eye safe window corresponding to an optical wavelength longer than 1400 nanometers, and wherein the at least a portion of the photodiode array comprises indium gallium arsenide.
13. The remote sensing system of claim 7 , wherein the detection system is further configured to:
generate a first signal responsive to light received while the one or more laser diodes is off; and
generate a second signal responsive to light received while at least part of the one or more laser diodes is on, the light received while at least part of the one or more laser diodes is on including at least some light reflected from the object; and
wherein the remote sensing system is configured to compare the first signal and the second signal and to generate the two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping at least in part based on the comparison.
14. A remote sensing system, comprising:
one or more laser diodes configured to generate light having an initial light intensity and one or more optical wavelengths, wherein at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths is a near-infrared wavelength between 700 nanometers and 2500 nanometers;
one or more scanners configured to receive a portion of the light from the one or more laser diodes and to direct the portion of the light from the one or more laser diodes to an object, wherein the one or more scanners are configured to scan the received portion of the light across at least a part of the object;
a detection system comprising a photodiode array comprising semiconductor material, wherein at least a portion of the photodiode array is coupled to an amplifier having a gain configured to improve detection sensitivity;
wherein the detection system is configured to receive at least a portion of light reflected from the object, wherein the detection system is configured to be synchronized to at least a portion of the one or more laser diodes;
wherein the detection system is further configured to perform a time-of-flight measurement, and wherein the detection system further comprises one or more spectral filters;
wherein the remote sensing system is configured to generate a two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping using at least a portion of the time-of-flight measurement;
wherein the remote sensing system is configured to improve signal-to-noise ratio of at least a portion of the two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping by increasing light intensity of the one or more laser diodes relative to the initial light intensity;
wherein the remote sensing system is configured to use artificial intelligence in making decisions; and
wherein the remote sensing system is configured to perform pattern identification or classification, and wherein the remote sensing system is configured to apply a threshold function to a comparison with a stored data set.
15. The remote sensing system of claim 14 , wherein the at least a portion of the one or more laser diodes is configured to be pulsed, and wherein the time-of-flight measurement comprises measuring a time difference between the generated light from the at least a portion of the one or more laser diodes and the at least a portion of light reflected from the object.
16. The remote sensing system of claim 14 , wherein the at least a portion of the one or more laser diodes is configured to modulate a continuous wave, wherein the modulated continuous wave has a phase, and wherein the detection system is configured to lock onto the phase.
17. The remote sensing system of claim 14 , wherein at least some of the one or more laser diodes comprises one or more Bragg reflectors.
18. The remote sensing system of claim 14 , wherein the at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths falls within an eye safe window corresponding to an optical wavelength longer than 1400 nanometers, and wherein at least a portion of the photodiode array comprises indium gallium arsenide.
19. The remote sensing system of claim 14 , wherein the remote sensing system is at least in part configured for selection or identification of the object, wherein the remote sensing system is configured to improve a signal-to-noise ratio of the selection or identification by applying regression signal processing methodologies or multivariate techniques, and wherein the remote sensing system is configured to communicate with a cloud.
20. The remote sensing system of claim 14 , wherein the detection system is further configured to:
generate a first signal responsive to light received while the one or more laser diodes is off; and
generate a second signal responsive to light received while at least part of the one or more laser diodes is on, the light received while at least part of the one or more laser diodes is on including at least some light reflected from the object; and
wherein the remote sensing system is configured to compare the first signal and the second signal and to generate the two-dimensional or three-dimensional mapping at least in part based on the comparison.