Method and apparatus for making absolute range measurements
Abstract
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for making absolute distance or ranging measurements using Fresnel diffraction. The invention employs a source of electromagnetic radiation having a known wavelength or wavelength distribution, which sends a beam of electromagnetic radiation through a screen at least partially opaque at the wavelength. The screen has an aperture sized so as to produce a Fresnel diffraction pattern. A portion of the beam travels through the aperture to a detector spaced some distance from the screen. The detector detects the central intensity of the beam as well as a set of intensities displaced from a center of the aperture. The distance from the source to the target can then be calculated based upon the known wavelength, aperture radius, and beam intensity.
- Inventors:
-
- Knoxville, TN
- Oak Ridge, TN
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 874766
- Patent Number(s):
- 6456383
- Application Number:
- 09/705,847
- Assignee:
- UT Battelle, LLC (Oak Ridge, TN); The University of Tennessee Research Corporation (Knoxville, TN)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01B - MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01S - RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- method; apparatus; absolute; range; measurements; relates; distance; ranging; fresnel; diffraction; employs; source; electromagnetic; radiation; wavelength; distribution; sends; beam; screen; partially; opaque; aperture; sized; produce; pattern; portion; travels; detector; spaced; detects; central; intensity; set; intensities; displaced; center; target; calculated; based; radius; electromagnetic radiation; diffraction pattern; /356/
Citation Formats
Earl, Dennis D, Allison, Stephen W, Cates, Michael R, and Sanders, Alvin J. Method and apparatus for making absolute range measurements. United States: N. p., 2002.
Web.
Earl, Dennis D, Allison, Stephen W, Cates, Michael R, & Sanders, Alvin J. Method and apparatus for making absolute range measurements. United States.
Earl, Dennis D, Allison, Stephen W, Cates, Michael R, and Sanders, Alvin J. Tue .
"Method and apparatus for making absolute range measurements". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/874766.
@article{osti_874766,
title = {Method and apparatus for making absolute range measurements},
author = {Earl, Dennis D and Allison, Stephen W and Cates, Michael R and Sanders, Alvin J},
abstractNote = {This invention relates to a method and apparatus for making absolute distance or ranging measurements using Fresnel diffraction. The invention employs a source of electromagnetic radiation having a known wavelength or wavelength distribution, which sends a beam of electromagnetic radiation through a screen at least partially opaque at the wavelength. The screen has an aperture sized so as to produce a Fresnel diffraction pattern. A portion of the beam travels through the aperture to a detector spaced some distance from the screen. The detector detects the central intensity of the beam as well as a set of intensities displaced from a center of the aperture. The distance from the source to the target can then be calculated based upon the known wavelength, aperture radius, and beam intensity.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2002},
month = {9}
}