Ladar system and method with adaptive pulse duration
First Claim
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1. A ladar system comprising:
- a camera that senses background light levels, wherein the camera comprises at least one of a passive infrared camera, a visible light camera, and/or a visible light color camera;
a control circuit that (1) estimates the sensed background light levels, (2) maintains a plurality of solar thermal mass models for use when estimating background light levels, and (3) controllably adjusts a pulse duration for a new ladar pulse based on the estimated background light levels; and
a ladar transmitter that transmits the new ladar pulse, wherein the new ladar pulse has the adjusted pulse duration.
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Abstract
A ladar system and related method are disclosed where the ladar system includes a sensor that senses background light levels. A control circuit of the ladar system (1) measures the sensed background light levels and (2) controllably adjusts a pulse duration for a new ladar pulse based on the measured background light levels. A ladar transmitter can then transmit the new ladar pulse, wherein the new ladar pulse has the adjusted pulse duration. In an example embodiment, this technique for adaptive pulse duration can be employed in the ladar system where the ladar transmitter and ladar receiver are arranged in a bistatic architecture.
239 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A ladar system comprising:
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a camera that senses background light levels, wherein the camera comprises at least one of a passive infrared camera, a visible light camera, and/or a visible light color camera; a control circuit that (1) estimates the sensed background light levels, (2) maintains a plurality of solar thermal mass models for use when estimating background light levels, and (3) controllably adjusts a pulse duration for a new ladar pulse based on the estimated background light levels; and a ladar transmitter that transmits the new ladar pulse, wherein the new ladar pulse has the adjusted pulse duration. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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2. A ladar system comprising:
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a sensor that senses background light levels; a control circuit that (1) measures the sensed background light levels and (2) controllably adjusts a pulse duration for a new ladar pulse based on the measured background light levels; and a ladar transmitter that transmits a plurality of ladar pulses, including the new ladar pulse, wherein the new ladar pulse has the adjusted pulse duration, wherein the ladar transmitter comprises (1) a laser and (2) a pulse generator that is responsive to a control signal from the control circuit to control the pulse duration for ladar pulses; and wherein the pulse generator can adjust pulse duration commensurate with an inter-pulse period between ladar pulses for the ladar transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification