Generation of wideband high power coherent optical radar signals

US7286209B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Francis W. Hopwood · Severna Park, US
• John H. Glezen · Palm Harbor, US
• Michael M. Fitelson · Town of DeWitt, US
• George R. Gray · Apple Valley, US
• Christopher M. Patrick · Sykesville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 3, 2006
• Grant date: Oct 23, 2007
• Expiry date: Apr 17, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S3/2391
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An arrangement for generating a high power optical radar beam. The arrangement includes first and second laser sources each having a first laser for generating an optical beam of a relatively low frequency F1 and a second laser for generating an optical beam of relatively higher frequency F2. Each laser source provides a first optical beam of frequency F2 and a second optical beam of frequency F1+F2. The arrangement also includes first and second waveform generators each having a modulator and a mixer. A first waveform generator receives the optical beams from the first laser source and a modulation signal for modulating the F1+F2 optical beam. The first waveform generator is operative to provide an output optical beam of frequency F1 having all of the modulation applied to the optical beam of frequency F1+F2. A phase comparator receives the outputs from the waveform generators and if they deviate in phase, a feedback device applies a corrective signal to the modulator of the second waveform generator until the two output signals are identical. When they are identical, the phase comparator is operable to provide an output optical beam which is the coherent addition of its two input…