Abstract: A light detection and ranging system includes a transmitter transmitting a transmitted light pulse timing sequence, with pseudo-random timing and including a plurality of light pulses, toward a target. An optical receiver receives a reflected light pulse timing sequence including a plurality of light pulses from the target. An electronic control unit identifies a time delay between the transmitted light pulse timing sequence and the reflected light pulse timing sequence as a function of a correlation between the transmitted and reflected light pulse timing sequences.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel injector for a gas turbine engine combustor that includes a fuel nozzle for injecting fuel into the gas turbine engine combustor and a fiber optic microphone operatively associated with the fuel nozzle for measuring acoustic pressure differentials within a combustion chamber of the gas turbine engine combustor. The fiber optic microphone includes a fiber bundle having at least one light transmitting fiber and one light receiving fiber; and a dynamic pressure-sensing diaphragm operatively spaced apart from a sensing end of the fiber bundle. The diaphragm has a reflective surface and is formed from a material capable of withstanding temperatures associated with flame exposure. The diaphragm is adapted and configured for deflecting in response to acoustic pressure changes within the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging system includes a mirror unit rotating around a scan axis. The mirror unit includes a receiving portion and a transmitting portion offset by an angle about the scan axis relative to a surface plane of the receiving portion. Respective centroids of the receiving and transmitting portions are positioned at a common point on the scan axis while the receiving and transmitting portions rotate around the scan axis. A transmitter transmits a light pulse toward the mirror unit. The transmitting portion is positioned to reflect the light pulse toward a target. A receiver is positioned to reflect the light pulse reflected from the target toward the receiver. The angle offset compensates for a change between a cone of illumination of the transmitting portion and a field-of-view of the receiving portion resulting from the rotation of the mirror unit.

Abstract: A LADAR has adjustable operational parameters to accommodate surveillance of a particular site. The LADAR includes a controller, a laser source governed by the controller to generate a laser beam pulsed at a pulse repetition rate, an optical scanner, a first set of optics, a first drive assembly governed by the controller, a second drive assembly governed by the controller, a light detector, a second set of optics for guiding laser echo pulses, and a processor coupled to the light detector to accommodate surveillance of the particular site.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging system includes a transmitter transmitting a transmitted light pulse timing sequence, with pseudo-random timing and including a plurality of light pulses, toward a target. An optical receiver receives a reflected light pulse timing sequence including a plurality of light pulses from the target. An electronic control unit identifies a time delay between the transmitted light pulse timing sequence and the reflected light pulse timing sequence as a function of a correlation between the transmitted and reflected light pulse timing sequences.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging system includes a mirror unit rotating around a scan axis. The mirror unit includes a receiving portion and a transmitting portion offset by an angle about the scan axis relative to a surface plane of the receiving portion. Respective centroids of the receiving and transmitting portions are positioned at a common point on the scan axis while the receiving and transmitting portions rotate around the scan axis. A transmitter transmits a light pulse toward the mirror unit. The transmitting portion is positioned to reflect the light pulse toward a target. A receiver is positioned to reflect the light pulse reflected from the target toward the receiver. The angle offset compensates for a change between a cone of illumination of the transmitting portion and a field-of-view of the receiving portion resulting from the rotation of the mirror unit.

Abstract: A LADAR has adjustable operational parameters to accommodate surveillance of a particular site. The LADAR includes a controller, a laser source governed by the controller to generate a laser beam pulsed at a pulse repetition rate, an optical scanner, a first set of optics, a first drive assembly governed by the controller, a second drive assembly governed by the controller, a light detector, a second set of optics for guiding laser echo pulses, and a processor coupled to the light detector to accommodate surveillance of the particular site.

Abstract: Combined laser-based apparatus for determining both altitude and ground velocity of an aircraft comprises: a laser source for emitting pulsed laser beams substantially at a predetermined wavelength; a plurality of first optical elements for directing the laser beams from a first optical path to a second optical path which exits the first optical elements; a plurality of second optical elements configured to form a telescope, the second optical path and telescope field of view being fixedly co-aligned; an optical scanner for directing the second optical path and telescope field of view to desired ground positions while maintaining the co-alignment thereof; the telescope for receiving Doppler wavelength shifted reflections of the pulsed laser beams and directing the received ground reflections substantially over a third optical path; an optical filter element for separating the ground reflections of the third optical path into first and second portions that are dependent on the Doppler wavelength shift of the g

Abstract: A fiber optic filter edge detector of Doppler shifted light comprises: a laser source for emitting pulsed laser light substantially over a first fiber optic path; an optical lens for directing laser light emitted from the first fiber optic path to free-space and for receiving laser light returns from free-space and focusing the laser light returns to the first fiber optic path; an edge filter optical element fiber coupled to the first fiber optic path for receiving the laser light returns, the edge filter optical element operative to transmit a first portion of the laser light returns through a second fiber optic path and to reflect a second portion of the laser light returns through a third fiber optic path; and at least one light detector optically coupled to the second and third fiber optic paths.

Abstract: A laser-based altimeter for use on-board an aircraft comprises: a first housing including a hollow cavity and an exit aperture, and a second housing including a hollow cavity and an entrance aperture. A laser source and a plurality of first optical elements are fixedly supported in a compact configuration within the hollow cavity of the first housing. The plurality of first optical elements directs laser beams generated by the laser source from a first optical path to a second optical path which exits the first housing through the exit aperture. At least one second optical element is configured within the hollow cavity of the second housing to form a telescope with a predetermined field of view. The telescope receives at the entrance aperture reflections of the pulsed laser beams from objects within the field of view thereof and focuses the received reflections substantially to a focal point.

Abstract: A laser-based altimeter for use on-board an aircraft comprises: a first housing including a hollow cavity and an exit aperture, and a second housing including a hollow cavity and an entrance aperture. A laser source and a plurality of first optical elements are fixedly supported in a compact configuration within the hollow cavity of the first housing. The plurality of first optical elements directs laser beams generated by the laser source from a first optical path to a second optical path which exits the first housing through the exit aperture. At least one second optical element is configured within the hollow cavity of the second housing to form a telescope with a predetermined field of view. The telescope receives at the entrance aperture reflections of the pulsed laser beams from objects within the field of view thereof and focuses the received reflections substantially to a focal point.

Abstract: Combined laser-based apparatus for determining both altitude and ground velocity of an aircraft comprises: a laser source for emitting pulsed laser beams substantially at a predetermined wavelength; a plurality of first optical elements for directing the laser beams from a first optical path to a second optical path which exits the first optical elements; a plurality of second optical elements configured to form a telescope, the second optical path and telescope field of view being fixedly co-aligned; an optical scanner for directing the second optical path and telescope field of view to desired ground positions while maintaining the co-alignment thereof; the telescope for receiving Doppler wavelength shifted reflections of the pulsed laser beams and directing the received ground reflections substantially over a third optical path; an optical filter element for separating the ground reflections of the third optical path into first and second portions that are dependent on the Doppler wavelength shift of the g

Abstract: A method of identifying an object in a laser beam illuminated scene based on material types comprises the steps of: emitting a pulsed beam of laser energy, each beam pulse comprising a plurality of different discrete wavelength emission components; illuminating a predetermined scene with the pulsed beam; receiving return laser pulses from objects within the illuminated scene, each return laser pulse comprising return components corresponding to the plurality of different discrete wavelength emission components; determining spectral reflectance values for the plurality of return components of each return laser pulse; determining a material type for each return laser pulse of the illuminated scene based on the plurality of reflectance values of the corresponding return pulse; indexing each determined material type to a position in the illuminated scene; and identifying an object in the illuminated scene based on material types and indexed positions thereof in the scene.

Abstract: A laser-based altimeter for use on-board an aircraft comprises: a first housing including a hollow cavity and an exit aperture, and a second housing including a hollow cavity and an entrance aperture. A laser source and a plurality of first optical elements are fixedly supported in a compact configuration within the hollow cavity of the first housing. The plurality of first optical elements directs laser beams generated by the laser source from a first optical path to a second optical path which exits the first housing through the exit aperture. At least one second optical element is configured within the hollow cavity of the second housing to form a telescope with a predetermined field of view. The telescope receives at the entrance aperture reflections of the pulsed laser beams from objects within the field of view thereof and focuses the received reflections substantially to a focal point.

Abstract: A combined system of a LOAS and a LIDAR system comprises: a LIDAR arrangement of optical elements for generating a first coherent beam of light at a first predetermined wavelength; a LOAS arrangement of optical elements for generating a second coherent beam of light at a second predetermined wavelength; a dichroic filter optical element for directing the first and second coherent beams of light substantially on a first common optical path towards an aperture of a beam expander; at least one output optical element which directs both of the expanded first and second coherent beams of light from the system, the at least one output optical element also for receiving and directing reflections of the first and second coherent beams of light to the beam expander wherein the beam reflections are collected; and wherein the dichroic filter optical element separates and directs the collected light corresponding to the first coherent beam back to the LIDAR arrangement of optical elements for use in determining flow veloc

Abstract: A LIDAR system for measuring flow velocity in three axes comprises: a LIDAR arrangement of optical elements for generating a coherent beam of light and directing the coherent beam of light by at least one rotationally operated optical element from the system with a predetermined pattern, the at least one rotationally operated optical element also for receiving reflections from particles along the predetermined pattern and directing the beam reflections to a light detector which converts the beam reflections into representative electrical signals; and a processor for detecting bursts from the electrical signals which are representative of light beam reflections from at least one particle substantially at a corresponding position along the predetermined pattern, and for computing a Doppler frequency for each of a selected plurality of detected bursts from the signal content thereof.

Abstract: A LIDAR system for measuring flow velocity in three axes comprises: a LIDAR arrangement of optical elements for generating a coherent beam of light and directing the coherent beam of light by at least one rotationally operated optical element from the system with a predetermined pattern, the at least one rotationally operated optical element also for receiving reflections from particles along the predetermined pattern and directing the beam reflections to a light detector which converts the beam reflections into representative electrical signals; and a processor for detecting bursts from the electrical signals which are representative of light beam reflections from at least one particle substantially at a corresponding position along the predetermined pattern, and for computing a Doppler frequency for each of a selected plurality of detected bursts from the signal content thereof.

Abstract: A combined system of a LOAS and a LIDAR system comprises: a LIDAR arrangement of optical elements for generating a first coherent beam of light at a first predetermined wavelength; a LOAS arrangement of optical elements for generating a second coherent beam of light at a second predetermined wavelength; a dichroic filter optical element for directing the first and second coherent beams of light substantially on a first common optical path towards an aperture of a beam expander; at least one output optical element which directs both of the expanded first and second coherent beams of light from the system, the at least one output optical element also for receiving and directing reflections of the first and second coherent beams of light to the beam expander wherein the beam reflections are collected; and wherein the dichroic filter optical element separates and directs the collected light corresponding to the first coherent beam back to the LIDAR arrangement of optical elements for use in determining flow veloc

Abstract: A miniature TEA laser system having a pair of electrodes mounted within the laser cavity and a radioactive source in the form of a beta particle emitter located within the cavity adjacent the electrodes. The electrodes are spaced no more than the maximum beta particle range apart so that the radioactive emission can take place within the space between electrodes thereby uniformly preionizing the active laser medium within the cavity.