Tunable laser rangefinder and method
US5206697A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 19, 1990 |
| Grant date | Apr 27, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 19, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S17/10
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A tunable laser rangefinder having a wavelength tunable transmitter output and a wavelength tunable receiver that matches the transmitter wavelength. The transmitter provides laser energy output pulses that are reflected off a target and received by the receiver. The time between the transmitter pulse and the receiver pulse is determined and the range of the target is calculated. The transmitter and receiver frequencies are changed from pulse to pulse to provide good countermeasure immunity. In a preferred embodiment the rangefinder uses a solid state, reliable cobalt magnesium fluoride laser to provide laser energy in a region of the infrared spectrum which is eye safe and has good atmospheric transmission.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.