Montana State University

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Nasa Langley Research Center

Kevin S Repasky

Scott M Spuler

Amin R Nehrir

Matthew Hayman

John L Carlsten

Joseph A Shaw

Robert Stillwell

Lee H Spangler

David S Hoffman

A beam transmitter, a receiver, and a LIDAR, along with methods to operate each are provided. The beam transmitter comprises a first and a second transmission channel (), each transmission channel including a first online laser, a first offline laser, and a first laser transmission selection switch operable to toggle between including the first online laser signal and the first offline laser signal in a first transmission beam. The beam transmitter further includes at least one light redirection device operable to coalign the first transmission beam with the second transmission beam. The receiver comprises a first splitter (), a first filter (), a first detector channel (), a second splitter (), a second filter (), and a second detector channel (). The LIDAR includes the beam transmitter, the receiver, and a shared telescope.

Differential absorption LIDAR for profiling temperature

A filter for a micropulse differential absorption LIDAR is provided. The filter comprises an etalon including a free spectral range substantially the same as a difference between a first laser wavelength and a second laser wavelength, the etalon further including a finesse providing substantial background noise suppression and substantially constant transmission of the first laser wavelength and the second laser wavelength over a predetermined range of wavelengths, and a first filter having a first filter bandpass selected to include the first laser wavelength and the second laser wavelength.

Optical filter

A shared optics and telescope, a filter, and a micropulse differential absorption LIDAR are provided, with methods to use the same. The shared optics and telescope includes a pair of axicon lenses, a secondary mirror, a primary mirror including an inner mirror portion and an outer mirror portion, the inner mirror portion operable to expand the deflected annular transmission beam, and the outer mirror portion operable to collect the return signal. The filter includes an etalon and a first filter. The micropulse differential absorption LIDAR includes first and second laser signals, a laser transmission beam selection switch, a first laser return signal switch, and a toggle timer.

Micropulse differential absorption LIDAR

The present invention provides systems and methods using a temporal-frequency sensitive receiver to detect laser light that is scattered by an oscillating object, thereby allowing remote monitoring of the object's position and movement.

Optical detection of oscillating targets using modulation of scattered laser light

Growing community of inventors

Bozeman, MT, United States of America

Kevin S Repasky