Coherent Technologies, Inc.

Lockheed Martin Corporation

J Alex Thomson

Joseph C Marron

Carl W Embry

Duane Donald Smith

Sammy W Henderson

Paul J Suni

Stephen M Hannon

AnnMarie Oien

Mark W Phillips

James Pete Tucker

Samuel G L Williams

An imaging method and associated system for producing high-resolution images. The method includes illuminating an object or scene with coherent radiation such as beams from a laser and then, collecting scattered light with a plurality of subapertures rather than a single large aperture. The method continues with coherently detecting, such as with heterodyne detection, the scattered light to measure the complex amplitude incident on each subaperture and digitally reconstructing images from the coherently detected light for the subapertures. Then digital co-phasing is performed on the subapertures using an image sharpness or quality metric to form an image having the resolution of the total subaperture area. The method may also include determining an aimpoint in the formed image, calculating a phase screen, directing laser beams through the subapertures towards the aimpoint, and co-phasing the laser beams by applying the phase screen to form a single beam.

Compensated coherent imaging for improved imaging and directed energy weapons applications

The present invention provides a laser radar (ladar) imaging system in which both the range of an object being imaged and the velocity of the object can be measured simultaneously and accurately with superior range resolution and with minimal ambiguity. Use is made of a ladar system based on matched-filter cross-correlation of light pulse waveforms that have multiple, simultaneous frequency components with phase variation and incommensurate spectral frequency spacing between frequency components.

Fiber-based ladar transceiver for range/doppler imaging with frequency

In a laser radar (lidar) system, a Doublet Pulse is generated by injection-seeded aborted cavity dumping of a solid-state laser. The doublet pulse provides coherent Doppler lidar systems a substantial time bandwidth product (TB) with a very modest processing requirement. The waveform format comprises a pair of pulselets, each of duration .tau., separated by T seconds. The range resolution is governed by the pulselet duration .tau., while the velocity precision is governed by one over the pulselet separation, T. Ambiguities in the velocity measurement arise as a result of the periodic structure of the waveform and occur every .lambda./2T m/sec, where .lambda. is the operating wavelength. These ambiguities are removed by conventional de-aliasing algorithms as well as through the generation and processing of higher order pulse waveforms.

Doublet pulse coherent laser radar for precision range and velocity

Growing community of inventors

Santa Fe, NM, United States of America

J Alex Thomson