Dual mode adaptive threshold architecture for 3-D ladar FPA
US6522396B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 8, 2002 |
| Grant date | Feb 18, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 8, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S17/894
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An integrated detector and signal processor (31) for ladar focal plane arrays (30) which internally compensates for variations in detector gain, noise, and aerosol backscatter. The invention (31) is comprised of a detector element (42) for receiving an input signal, a circuit (72) for generating a threshold based on the RMS noise level of the input signal, and a circuit (74) determining when the input signal is above that threshold. The detector element (42) is physically located in the interior of the detector array (30), while the signal processing circuitry (50) is located on the periphery of the array (30). In the preferred embodiment, the signal processor (31) also includes a circuit (56) for sampling the input signal and a circuit (58) storing multiple samples, allowing for multiple returns to be detected. In the preferred embodiment, the signal processor (31) can be operated in two modes: self triggered and externally triggered (range-gate mode). In the self triggered mode, the detector continually monitors and samples the incoming signal until a return is detected (by the thresholding circuit). In the range-gate mode, the detector stops sampling when it receives a signal fr…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.