Patent · US Expired

Micropulse lidar system

US6717655B2 · kind B2 · utility

41Cited by
4References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 17, 2002
Grant dateApr 6, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 17, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02A90/10
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A micropulse lidar system is described that comprises, a laser light source for emitting a pulsed laser beam, beam shaping means for shaping the intensity distribution of said beam such that said beam has a substantially annular intensity distribution in cross-section, a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope for transmitting the annular beam to an atmospheric target and for collecting backscattered light returned from said target, and means for detecting and analyzing said backscattered light. The system has higher efficiency and better signal-to-noise ratio than a corresponding system without the beam shaping means. There is also disclosed a method for optimising the design of the beam shaping means.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.