Lockheed Martin Corporation

W Dale Cotten

Bruno J Evans

A LADAR apparatus, a method of use associated therewith, and a method for remotely sensing targets in a field of view are disclosed. In the method, a target in a field of view is remotely sensed using a LADAR signal whose pixel spatial resolution is varied to achieve a desired pixel spatial resolution for the transmitted LADAR signal on the target. One way to do this is by rolling a LADAR signal to achieve the desired pixel spatial resolution at a given range then de-rolling the received reflection. This could involve, for instance, rolling the LADAR signal from a first angle at which it is generated to a second angle at which it is transmitted, and then receiving the reflection at that second angle and de-rolling it to the first angle again for detection. The LADAR apparatus could include a number of means for implementing this functionality. One particular apparatus that is suitable includes a LADAR signal transmitter; a transmission path; a receive path; a receiver; and an optical roll/de-roll mechanism. The optical roll/de-roll mechanism is capable of rolling the LADAR signal before transmission to achieve a desired pixel spatial resolution for the transmitted LADAR signal at a given range and de-rolling the reflection prior to detection.

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Grand Prairie, TX, United States of America

W Dale Cotten