Random pulse burst range-resolved doppler laser radar
First Claim
1. A range resolved Doppler ladar system comprising:
- a laser local oscillator for providing local oscillator signals;
an optical random pulse signal generator for generating and transmitting randomly spaced waveforms;
a heterodyne output pulse monitor coupled to the local oscillator and signal generator for sampling the transmitted waveforms;
a heterodyne receiver detector coupled to the local oscillator and reflected waveforms received from a target;
a selectable delay line coupled to the heterodyne output pulse monitor for providing a selectable signal delay;
a mixer coupled to the heterodyne receiver detector and to the selectable delay line for mixing signals received therefrom and for providing correlation output signals therefrom;
a Doppler analyzer coupled to the mixer output for processing the correlation signals to provide a frequency spectrum;
a display; and
an executive processor coupled to the Doppler analyzer and to the display for processing the frequency spectra received therefrom to form a range-resolved Doppler image, and for displaying the range-resolved Doppler image on the display.
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Abstract
An laser radar system employing transmitted random and pseudo random optical pulse trains and signal processing that provides unambiguous range and Doppler velocity data. The system comprises a diode-pumped fiber laser local oscillator and an optical random pulse signal generator comprising a mode-locked fiber laser source for generating and transmitted randomly spaced optical pulses. A heterodyne output pulse monitor processes the local oscillator signals and samples the transmitted optical pulses. A heterodyne receiver detector processes the local oscillator signals and received optical pulses reflected from a target. An acoustic charge transport delay line provides a selectable signal delay for the signal provided by the heterodyne optical pulse monitor, and a mixer mixes signals provided by the heterodyne receiver detector and delay line and provides correlation output signals. A Doppler analyzer processes the correlation output signals from the mixer to provide frequency spectrum for each range bin, and an executive processor processes the frequency spectra from the Doppler analyzer to provide a range-resolved Doppler image on the display. The range-resolved Doppler output signals provided by the executive processor allow identification of a wideband weather signature and a narrow band target signature that are displayed on the display. The system employs a single waveform to provide the needed measurements, and eliminates trade-offs between range and velocity ambiguities. The present invention may be employed in vehicular collision avoidance radars and laser sensors, and in adaptive cruise control, robotic vision, and metrology-gauging applications.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A range resolved Doppler ladar system comprising:
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a laser local oscillator for providing local oscillator signals; an optical random pulse signal generator for generating and transmitting randomly spaced waveforms; a heterodyne output pulse monitor coupled to the local oscillator and signal generator for sampling the transmitted waveforms; a heterodyne receiver detector coupled to the local oscillator and reflected waveforms received from a target; a selectable delay line coupled to the heterodyne output pulse monitor for providing a selectable signal delay; a mixer coupled to the heterodyne receiver detector and to the selectable delay line for mixing signals received therefrom and for providing correlation output signals therefrom; a Doppler analyzer coupled to the mixer output for processing the correlation signals to provide a frequency spectrum; a display; and an executive processor coupled to the Doppler analyzer and to the display for processing the frequency spectra received therefrom to form a range-resolved Doppler image, and for displaying the range-resolved Doppler image on the display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A random-pulse-burst range-resolved Doppler ladar system for displaying a range-resolved Doppler image on a display, said system comprising:
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a diode-pumped fiber laser local oscillator for providing local oscillator signals; an optical random pulse signal generator comprising a mode-locked fiber laser source for generating and transmitting randomly spaced waveforms; a heterodyne output pulse monitor coupled to the local oscillator and signal generator for sampling the transmitted waveforms; a heterodyne receiver detector coupled to the local oscillator and reflected waveforms received from a target and for sampling the return waveform; an acoustic charge transport delay line coupled to the heterodyne optical pulse monitor for providing a selectable signal delay; a mixer coupled to the heterodyne receiver detector and to the acoustic charge transport delay line for mixing signals received therefrom and for providing correlation output signals therefrom; a Doppler analyzer coupled to the mixer for processing the correlation output signals to provide frequency spectra; and an executive processor coupled to the Doppler analyzer and to the display for processing the frequency spectra to form a range-resolved Doppler image, and for displaying the range-resolved Doppler image on the display. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification