Patent ID: 7616294
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: G01F,G01P,G01S,Y02A

Abstract:
1. An optical probe measurement device for determining a relative velocity vector {right arrow over (v)} of a carrier with respect to a reference medium, the carrier being equipped with the device, comprising: a laser unit delivering a primary beam, of a wavelength λ, as input to a splitter unit delivering a signal light beam as input to an optical signal system, and a reference light beam as input to a first input of an optical mixing coupler; the optical signal system delivering, upon emission, an optical power signal that follows a direction and is concentrated in a focusing zone and, receiving a light echo sent back by the focusing zone and transporting it to a second input of the optical mixing coupler; means for displacing the focusing zone of the optical power signal in the reference medium; the optical mixing coupler delivering an optical beat signal comprising the sum of the reference light beam and the light echo; a photosensitive detector receiving, on its sensitive surface, the optical beat signal coming from the optical mixing coupler and delivering an electrical beat signal; and a processing unit, receiving the electrical beat signal and delivering a measurement of {right arrow over (v)}, wherein the means for displacing the focusing zone act on the orientation of the line of sight, subjecting it to a known movement, with a nonzero speed, and in that the processing unit determines the vector {right arrow over (v)} in at least one search phase based on an identification with an expected waveform of the variation in frequency of the electrical beat signal as a function of the orientation of the line of sight in order to determine an approximate value of {right arrow over (v)}, followed by a tracking phase based on an iterative validation of values of {right arrow over (v)} close to the approximate value of {right arrow over (v)}; wherein the search phase comprises: