Scanning ladar with adjustable operational parameters
First Claim
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1. A laser radar (LADAR) having adjustable operational parameters to accommodate surveillance of a particular site, said LADAR, comprising:
- a controller;
a laser source governed by said controller to generate a laser beam pulsed at a pulse repetition rate based on a maximum range at the site;
an optical scanner;
a first set of optics for guiding said pulsed laser beam from said laser source to said optical scanner;
a first drive assembly governed by said controller for operating said optical scanner to direct said pulsed laser beam through an azimuth field of regard, the controller being operative to adjust an azimuth scan time based on the desired pulse repetition rate of the laser source;
a second drive assembly governed by said controller for operating said optical scanner to direct said pulsed laser beam through an elevation field of regard;
a light detector;
a second set of optics for guiding laser echo pulses returned from said azimuth and elevation fields of regard to said light detector which converts said laser echo pulses into electrical echo pulses representative thereof; and
a processor coupled to said light detector for receiving said electrical echo pulses and operative to process said electrical echo pulses to generate a range map of the combined azimuth and elevation fields of regard to accommodate surveillance of said particular site;
the controller being operative to adjust the azimuth scan time based on a function of the azimuth field of regard, an azimuth spacing between laser pulses as the pulsed laser beam is directed through the azimuth field of regard, and the desired pulse repetition rate.
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Abstract
A LADAR has adjustable operational parameters to accommodate surveillance of a particular site. The LADAR includes a controller, a laser source governed by the controller to generate a laser beam pulsed at a pulse repetition rate, an optical scanner, a first set of optics, a first drive assembly governed by the controller, a second drive assembly governed by the controller, a light detector, a second set of optics for guiding laser echo pulses, and a processor coupled to the light detector to accommodate surveillance of the particular site.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A laser radar (LADAR) having adjustable operational parameters to accommodate surveillance of a particular site, said LADAR, comprising:
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a controller; a laser source governed by said controller to generate a laser beam pulsed at a pulse repetition rate based on a maximum range at the site; an optical scanner; a first set of optics for guiding said pulsed laser beam from said laser source to said optical scanner; a first drive assembly governed by said controller for operating said optical scanner to direct said pulsed laser beam through an azimuth field of regard, the controller being operative to adjust an azimuth scan time based on the desired pulse repetition rate of the laser source; a second drive assembly governed by said controller for operating said optical scanner to direct said pulsed laser beam through an elevation field of regard; a light detector; a second set of optics for guiding laser echo pulses returned from said azimuth and elevation fields of regard to said light detector which converts said laser echo pulses into electrical echo pulses representative thereof; and a processor coupled to said light detector for receiving said electrical echo pulses and operative to process said electrical echo pulses to generate a range map of the combined azimuth and elevation fields of regard to accommodate surveillance of said particular site; the controller being operative to adjust the azimuth scan time based on a function of the azimuth field of regard, an azimuth spacing between laser pulses as the pulsed laser beam is directed through the azimuth field of regard, and the desired pulse repetition rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 20, 21, 22)
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6. A method of operating a laser radar (LADAR) with adjustable operational parameters to accommodate surveillance of a particular site, said method comprising:
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entering data based on said surveillance of the particular site, including a maximum range at the site, into said LADAR; adjusting a pulse repetition rate as a function of said entered data including the maximum range at the site; adjusting a single azimuth field of regard scan time of said LADAR as a function of the pulse repetition rate; adjusting an elevation field of regard of said LADAR as a function of the entered data; adjusting an azimuth spacing between laser pulses as a pulsed laser beam is directed through the azimuth field of regard; generating a laser beam pulsed at said adjusted pulse repetition rate; scanning said pulsed laser beam through the adjusted elevation field of regard; scanning said pulsed laser beam through multiple azimuth fields of regard during said scan of the adjusted elevation field of regard, said pulsed laser beam being scanned through each azimuth field of regard at said adjusted single azimuth field of regard scan time; receiving laser echo pulses returned from said azimuth and elevation fields of regard; converting said received laser echo pulses into electrical echo pulses representative thereof; and processing said electrical echo pulses to generate a range map of the combined azimuth and elevation fields of regard to accommodate surveillance of said particular site. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A laser radar (LADAR) having adjustable operational parameters to accommodate surveillance of a particular site, said LADAR comprising:
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a controller operative to adjust operational parameters of said LADAR to accommodate surveillance of said particular site; a laser source governed by said controller to generate a laser beam pulsed at an adjustable pulse repetition rate based on a maximum range at the site; an optical scanner; a first set of optics for guiding said pulsed laser beam from said laser source to said optical scanner; a first drive assembly governed by said controller for operating said optical scanner to direct said pulsed laser beam through an adjustable elevation field of regard; a second drive assembly governed by said controller for operating said optical scanner to direct said pulsed laser beam through multiple azimuth fields of regard during said scan of the elevation field of regard, said pulsed laser beam being scanned through each azimuth field of regard at an adjustable single azimuth field of regard scan time, the controller being operative to adjust the azimuth scan time based on the desired pulse repetition rate of the laser source, and the controller being operative to adjust an azimuth spacing between laser pulses as the pulsed laser beam is directed through the azimuth field of regard; a light detector; a second set of optics for guiding laser echo pulses returned from said azimuth and elevation fields of regard to said light detector which converts said laser echo pulses into electrical echo pulses representative thereof; and a processor coupled to said light detector for receiving said electrical echo pulses and operative to process said electrical echo pulses to generate a range map of the combined azimuth and elevation fields of regard to accommodate surveillance of said particular site. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23)
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Specification