Kaman Aerospace Corporation

Kent Phlibsen

Bobby L Ulich

R Norris Keeler

Variable time delay range gating across an image is accomplished using a single imaging camera. In a preferred embodiment, the imaging camera of the present invention accomplishes adapted range gating and comprises a lens which focuses light onto a substrate having an array of gating electrodes mounted thereon. Both the electrode array and substrate are transparent to light so that the light focussed by the lens passes through the electrode array and substrate to strike a photocathode. The camera of this invention also includes a multiple output power supply connected between the electrode array and a microchannel plate amplifier, an anode, and an imaging array detector which is connected to the anode through a fiber optic bundle. The imaging camera of the present invention will effect adaptive range gating for overcoming the intensity variations and imaging plane problems associated with known light imaging detection and range (lidar) systems.

Imaging camera with adaptive range gating

An improved imaging light detection and ranging (lidar) system is presented which provides variable time delay range gating across a selected image. Variable time delay range gating across an image is accomplished using a plurality of imaging cameras which are individually triggered after preselected delays to obtain multiple subimages. These multiple subimages are then put together in a mosaic in a computer to provide a complete image of a target plane using only one light pulse.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Kent Phlibsen