Raytheon Company

Jean-Paul Bulot

Matthew J Klotz

Maurice J Halmos

David M Filgas

Robert D Stultz

Brian F Boland

Robert J Coda

Louis F Klaras

Matthew JKlotz

A system for generating an optical signal having a preselected waveform includes: a laser source; a first waveform generator configured to apply a first signal to the laser source to create a laser output; an intensity modulator configured to receive the laser output; a second waveform generator configured to apply a second signal to the intensity modulator, the intensity modulator being configured to generate a pre-distorted laser signal based on the second signal and the laser output.

System and method for generating high energy optical pulses with arbitrary waveform

In one aspect, a method includes forming range bins from range compressed data, the range compressed data comprising a train of coherent pulses formed based on a transmitted signal from a laser detection and ranging (LADAR) sensor and having a large time-bandwidth product and for each range bin, compensating for motion of the LADAR sensor, performing a Fourier transform on the compressed range data, determining a centroid of individual velocity measurements and performing Fourier transform of the centroid to determine a vibration.

Range-resolved vibration using large time-bandwidth product LADAR waveforms

In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, a method, an apparatus and a system for characterizing and compensating for deterministic phase nonlinearities and distortion inherent in radio frequency and optical components utilized to synthesize a single sideband suppressed carrier optical waveform in the presence of random phase noise generated by an optical carrier source is disclosed. The method comprises mixing a modulated optical signal with a continuous wave optical signal in an optical coupler; optically heterodyning the mixed signal output from the optical coupler in a detector to produce a radio frequency waveform; and analyzing the produced radio frequency waveform in a processor based on a phase history of a preselected continuous wave signal to measure distortion characteristics of the radio frequency modulated optical signal.

Method and apparatus for synthesizing and correcting phase distortions in ultra-wide bandwidth optical waveforms

In one aspect, a method includes representing a range of Doppler frequency offsets as a local oscillator waveform comprising a plurality of digital waveform samples, selecting a portion of the plurality of digital waveform samples using a Doppler value to form an optical heterodyne; and generating a signal associated with a target within a bandwidth of a receiver using the optical heterodyne.

Doppler compensation for a coherent LADAR

In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, a method and apparatus is disclosed for increasing waveform bandwidth of an optical frequency waveform during optical double sideband suppressed carrier modulation. An optical modulator is configured to operate in double sideband, suppressed carrier modulation (DSB-SC) mode producing multiple optical sidebands and optical sideband harmonics. Proper selection of the appropriate optical harmonic via optical filter enables the synthesis of ultra-wideband single-sideband, suppressed carrier (SSB-SC) optical waveforms while simultaneously simplifying the radio frequency (RF) circuitry that generates the modulating radio frequency waveform.

Method and apparatus for synthesizing ultra-wide bandwidth waveforms

A ladar system with phase correction. The novel ladar system includes optics for receiving a first signal that is a reflected version of a transmitted laser signal, an optical delay line for providing a second signal that is a delayed version of the transmitted laser signal, and a mechanism for mixing the first signal with the second signal. The second signal is delayed by a time Tthat reduces a relative time difference between the first and second signals such that phase errors caused by laser transmitter instabilities and nonlinear modulation are less than a predetermined level.

Optical delay line to correct phase errors in coherent ladar

A readout system for receiving return signals originating from one or more energy pulses fired toward a scene. The system includes a first mechanism for detecting energy received from the scene and providing a first signal in response thereto. A second mechanism times a rising edge and a falling edge of a pulse contained in the first signal and provides a second signal in response thereto. In a specific embodiment, a third mechanism determines characteristics of the pulse based on the second signal, which include characteristics, such as pulse width, pulse intensity, and/or pulse centroid, sufficient to generate an image of the scene.

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El Segundo, CA, United States of America

Jean-Paul Bulot