Compact fiber optic geometry for a counter chirp FMCW coherent laser radar
US8687173B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 11, 2009 |
| Grant date | Apr 1, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 10, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/32
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system and method for determining a measured distance between a measuring device (20A) and an object (21), the system including a first laser source (13) for producing a first light beam (13A) having a first waveform (32) and a first frequency; a second laser source (11) for producing a second light beam (1 IA) having a second frequency, said second light beam (HA) having a second waveform (36), wherein said first frequency is chirped up at the first rate as said second frequency is chirped down at the first rate, and said second frequency is chirped up at the second rate as said first frequency is chirped down at the first rate; an optical element (15) for combining said first light beam (13A) with said second light beam (HA) into a combined light beam path (17), said optical element (15) splitting a returning portion of said combined light beam path (17) into a third light beam (24); and a single detector (23) for receiving said third light beam (24) including two different beat frequencies that are proportional to the measured distance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.