A multi-fiber optical sensor system includes a light source configured to generate light energy, a transmitter fiber configured to receive the light energy from the light source and to project light energy out of a projecting end of the transmitter fiber over a transmitter fiber field of view, and a plurality of receiver fibers. Each of the plurality of receiver fibers has a receiving end aligned proximate and substantially parallel to the projecting end of the transmitter fiber and is configured to receive a received portion of the projected light energy reflected from a target within a receiver field of view. The multi-fiber optical sensor system also includes a lenslet array configured to shape the transmitter fiber field of view and give the transmitter field of view a finite cross-sectional area. The lenslet array has a plurality of lens corresponding to the transmitter fiber and each of the plurality of receiver fibers and is further configured to shape the receiver fiber field of view, tilt the center of the field of view with respect to the axis of the projected light energy for each of the plurality of receiver fibers and give the receiver fiber field of view for each of the plurality of receiver fibers a finite cross-sectional area. The multi-fiber optical sensor system also includes a detector configured to detect the portion of the projected light energy received by each of the plurality of receiver fibers. The receiver fiber field of view for each of the plurality of receiver fibers crosses the transmitter fiber field of view between a first crossing point at a distance Rmm from a lens axis and a last crossing point at a distance Rma,,, from the lens axis. There is a center crossing point Rmid at a point where a centerline of the receiver fiber field of view for each of the plurality of receiver fibers crosses a centerline of the transmitter fiber field of view. The range between R. and Rmax for each of the plurality of receiver fibers defines a detection zone such that each of the plurality of receiver fibers has a unique detection zone. Targets include a hard target and/or constituents of a cloud atmosphere.
MULTI-FIBER OPTICAL SENSOR FOR LIGHT AIRCRAFT
CAPTEUR OPTIQUE MULTIFIBRE POUR AERONEF LEGER
2023-03-15
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B64D Ausrüstung für Flugzeuge , EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT |
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