Systems and methods for modular LADAR scanning
First Claim
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1. A laser distance and ranging (LADAR) array comprising:
- a plurality of LADAR modules, each said LADAR module comprising a two-axis scan mirror configured to scan a laser beam through a field of view (FOV), and each said LADAR module configured to output a signal indicative of a distance between each said LADAR module and objects in the FOV that the laser beam is incident upon; and
a central processing device communicatively coupled to said plurality of LADAR modules, said central processing device configured to generate an output based on combining the signals of each said LADAR module, wherein said plurality of LADAR modules comprises at least a first LADAR module having a first FOV and a second LADAR module having a second FOV, wherein said first and second LADAR modules are arranged such that the first FOV is non-overlapping with the second FOV, wherein the first FOV and the second FOV are adjacent such that an edge of the first FOV is aligned with and oriented parallel to an edge of the second FOV, wherein the output combines the first FOV and the second FOV into a third FOV, wherein said first LADAR module operates at a first phase and said second LADAR module operates at a second phase, and wherein the first phase is offset with respect to the second phase.
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Abstract
A laser distance and ranging (LADAR) array is provided. The LADAR array includes a plurality of LADAR modules, each LADAR module configured to scan a laser beam through a field of view (FOV) and output a signal indicative of a distance between each LADAR module and objects in the FOV that the laser beam is incident upon, and a central processing device communicatively coupled to the plurality of LADAR modules, the central processing device configured to generate an output based at least in part on the signals of each LADAR module.
33 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A laser distance and ranging (LADAR) array comprising:
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a plurality of LADAR modules, each said LADAR module comprising a two-axis scan mirror configured to scan a laser beam through a field of view (FOV), and each said LADAR module configured to output a signal indicative of a distance between each said LADAR module and objects in the FOV that the laser beam is incident upon; and a central processing device communicatively coupled to said plurality of LADAR modules, said central processing device configured to generate an output based on combining the signals of each said LADAR module, wherein said plurality of LADAR modules comprises at least a first LADAR module having a first FOV and a second LADAR module having a second FOV, wherein said first and second LADAR modules are arranged such that the first FOV is non-overlapping with the second FOV, wherein the first FOV and the second FOV are adjacent such that an edge of the first FOV is aligned with and oriented parallel to an edge of the second FOV, wherein the output combines the first FOV and the second FOV into a third FOV, wherein said first LADAR module operates at a first phase and said second LADAR module operates at a second phase, and wherein the first phase is offset with respect to the second phase. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of assembling a laser distance and ranging (LADAR) array, said method comprising:
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arranging a plurality of LADAR modules, each LADAR module including a two-axis scan mirror configured to scan a laser beam through a field of view (FOV), and each LADAR module configured to output a signal indicative of a distance between each LADAR module and objects in the FOV that the laser beam is incident upon, wherein each LADAR module has a same pixel rate, wherein arranging a plurality of LADAR modules comprises arranging a first LADAR module having a first FOV and a second LADAR module having a second FOV such that the first FOV entirely overlaps with the second FOV, wherein the first LADAR module operates at a first phase and the second LADAR module operates at a second phase, and wherein the first phase is offset with respect to the second phase; and communicatively coupling the plurality of LADAR modules to a central processing device, wherein the central processing device is configured to generate an output based on combining the signals output from each LADAR module. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A method of operating a LADAR array, said method comprising:
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receiving, at a central processing unit, signals from each of a plurality of LADAR modules, each LADAR module including a two-axis scan mirror configured to scan a laser beam through a field of view (FOV), and each LADAR module configured to output a signal indicative of a distance between each LADAR module and objects in the FOV that the laser beam is incident upon, wherein receiving signals comprises receiving signals from a first LADAR module operating at a first phase and a second LADAR module operating at a second phase, and wherein the first phase is offset with respect to the second phase; and processing, at the central processing unit, the received signals to generate an output. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification