Research/Patents/US 5311272
US 5311272Tier 2 — Research Body

OPTICAL BUOYS FOR OCEANOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENTS BY IMAGING LIDAR

Assignee

The Aerospace Corporation

Filed as: KAMAN AEROSPACE CORPORATION

Filed

Aug 30, 1991

Granted

May 10, 1994

Location

W. SUFFIELD CT US

Abstract

Deployed, air dropped buoys are presented which can be used as calibrated targets for imaging lidar systems. In this way, oceanographic optical measurements can be made to determine in advance how an imaging lidar system will perform at the time of its deployment. This calibrated optical buoy is deployable from an airborne platform. The target is illuminated by an imaging lidar system and the target reflection is compared with the backscattering from the ocean volume illuminated. At the same time, measurements of light intensity are carried out to provide a direct measurement of the attenuation in the ocean. These data are taken at all depths and the results telemetered to the airborne lidar platform. In addition, a simplified embodiment is presented which uses the imaging lidar system to obtain both backscatter and attenuation. This simplified embodiment requires no telemetry.

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Imposed

Sep 28, 1992

Rescinded

Oct 26, 1993

Duration

1 year

Inventor

  • 1KIRK DANIELS

Technology Domains

Click a domain to browse all patents in this category.

Back to patent indexSource: USPTO 35 USC §181 secrecy order records