System and method for generating a frequency modulated linear laser waveform

US8897654B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Diego F. Pierrottet · Poquoson, US
• Larry B. Petway · Hampton, US
• Farzin Amzajerdian · Thousand Oaks, US
• Bruce W. Barnes · Yorktown, US
• George E. Lockard · Newport News, US
• Glenn D. Hines · Yorktown, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 20, 2012
• Grant date: Nov 25, 2014
• Expiry date: Feb 7, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04B10/548
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A system for generating a frequency modulated linear laser waveform includes a single frequency laser generator to produce a laser output signal. An electro-optical modulator modulates the frequency of the laser output signal to define a linear triangular waveform. An optical circulator passes the linear triangular waveform to a band-pass optical filter to filter out harmonic frequencies created in the waveform during modulation of the laser output signal, to define a pure filtered modulated waveform having a very narrow bandwidth. The optical circulator receives the pure filtered modulated laser waveform and transmits the modulated laser waveform to a target.