Patent · US Expired

Chirped synthetic wave laser radar apparatus and methods

US7215413B2 · kind B2 · utility

31Cited by
15References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 24, 2005
Grant dateMay 8, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 24, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S17/36
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Chirped synthetic wave laser radar apparatus and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a laser source, a controller operatively coupled to the laser source and adapted to frequency-modulate first and second laser outputs, and an optical assembly. The optical assembly includes a plurality of reference channels adapted to receive a portion of a combined laser output and to provide a reference interference signal, and a signal channel having a focusing telescope adapted to focus and transmit at least part of the combined laser output onto the target, and to receive a scattered signal from target, and to provide a return interference signal. The system further includes a signal processing portion adapted to receive the reference interference signals and the return interference signal and to determine the distance to the target based on the reference and return interference signals.

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