Patent ID: 7106424
Filing Date: 2006-09-12
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
1. A laser-based altimeter for use on-board an aircraft, said altimeter comprising: a first housing including a hollow cavity and an exit aperture; a laser source and a plurality of first optical elements fixedly supported in a compact configuration within said hollow cavity of the first housing, said laser source for generating pulsed laser beams over a first optical path, and said plurality of first optical elements for directing said laser beams from said first optical path to a second optical path which exits said first housing through said exit aperture thereof; a second housing including a hollow cavity and an entrance aperture; at least one second optical element configured within said hollow cavity of the second housing to form a telescope with a predetermined field of view, said telescope for receiving at said entrance aperture reflections of said pulsed laser beams from objects within the field of view thereof and focusing said received reflections substantially to a focal point; a light detector for receiving and converting said focused reflections into electrical signals representative thereof; said first and second housings fixedly secured in alignment with respect to each other to permit said second optical path of the pulsed laser beams to be adjusted within said field of view of the telescope; and wherein only one first optical element of said plurality being fixedly adjustable for directing said second optical path within said field of view of the telescope.