Efficient system and method for measuring target characteristics via a beam of electromagnetic energy
US6643000B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 17, 2002 |
| Grant date | Nov 4, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 17, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S7/499
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An efficient system (10) for measuring target characteristics via a torsion mode beam of electromagnetic energy. The system (10) includes a first mechanism (34, 38, 40, 42, 16) for transmitting the torsion mode beam toward a target (12). A second mechanism (16, 18, 20) receives the resulting target return beam and provides a first signal in response thereto. A third mechanism (26, 28) employs the first signal to determine rotational characteristics of the target (12). In a specific embodiment, the system (10) further includes a fourth mechanism (20, 26) that reduces or eliminates noise in the return beam based on common mode noise rejection. A fifth mechanism (32) identifies the type of the target based on the target rotational characteristics via comparison to predetermined target rotational signatures (36). An additional mechanism (24, 40, 42) selectively switches the mode of the beam between a first mode and a second mode. The first mechanism (34, 38, 40, 42, 16) and second mechanisms (16, 18, 20) employ a laser transceiver (16) having a transmit chain (34, 38, 40, 42, 16) and a receive chain (16, 18, 20). The transmit chain includes a time-division multiplexer (34) or a spatial…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.