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 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 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: 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 forward looking cross-track laser altimeter comprises: a first configuration of optical elements for guiding pulsed laser beams along a first optical path; a mirror element coupled to a scanner and disposed in the first optical path, the scanner operative to oscillate the mirror element to sweep the reflected laser beams back and forth across a line at a predetermined frequency; the scanner and mirror element configurable to reflect the pulsed laser beams along paths forward and downward at a predetermined angle to the flight path of the aircraft, wherein the pulsed laser beam paths are caused to be line swept across a ground track forward the aircraft; the mirror element for receiving returns of the pulsed laser beams from the terrain and objects on the terrain forward the aircraft and reflecting the returns along a second optical path to a light detector which produces a return signal in response thereto; a first circuit governed by the return signals for measuring times-of-flight of the returns and gener

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 method of laser scanning a perimeter zone of a target site for the detection of potential threats comprises: scanning a pulsed laser beam across the perimeter zone; receiving echoes from the pulsed laser beam during the perimeter zone scan; deriving range data corresponding to the received echoes; determining position data of the received echoes in the perimeter zone; forming a scene image of a scan of the perimeter zone based on the range and position data of the received echoes thereof; repeating the steps of scanning, receiving, deriving, determining and forming for a plurality of perimeter zone scans to form scene images of each scan of the plurality; and comparing scene images of the plurality to detect a potential threat in the perimeter zone.

Abstract: A method of laser scanning a perimeter zone of a target site for the detection of potential threats comprises: scanning a pulsed laser beam across the perimeter zone; receiving echoes from the pulsed laser beam during the perimeter zone scan; deriving range data corresponding to the received echoes; determining position data of the received echoes in the perimeter zone; forming a scene image of a scan of the perimeter zone based on the range and position data of the received echoes thereof, repeating the steps of scanning, receiving, deriving, determining and forming for a plurality of perimeter zone scans to form scene images of each scan of the plurality; and comparing scene images of the plurality to detect a potential threat in the perimeter zone.

Abstract: An ice detection warning system mountable on board an aircraft for inflight monitoring of the airspace ahead of the aircraft comprises: a first plurality of optical elements configured to direct a pulsed laser beam at a first wavelength from a laser source into the airspace ahead of the aircraft; a second plurality of optical elements configured to separate received backscattering of light from the laser beam into a plurality of predetermined wavelengths; a plurality of light detectors for detecting the light of the separated plurality of wavelengths, respectively, and generating respectively corresponding plurality of electrical signals representative of the light detected thereby; and a processor for processing the plurality of electrical signals to determine if airspace conditions ahead of the aircraft are likely to cause ice accretion on the surface of the aircraft, and for generating a warning indicative thereof.

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 forward looking cross-track laser altimeter comprises: a first configuration of optical elements for guiding pulsed laser beams along a first optical path; a mirror element coupled to a scanner and disposed in the first optical path, the scanner operative to oscillate the mirror element to sweep the reflected laser beams back and forth across a line at a predetermined frequency; the scanner and mirror element configurable to reflect the pulsed laser beams along paths forward and downward at a predetermined angle to the flight path of the aircraft, wherein the pulsed laser beam paths are caused to be line swept across a ground track forward the aircraft; the mirror element for receiving returns of the pulsed laser beams from the terrain and objects on the terrain forward the aircraft and reflecting the returns along a second optical path to a light detector which produces a return signal in response thereto; a first circuit governed by the return signals for measuring times-of-flight of the returns and gener

Abstract: A scanning laser beam railway obstacle detection system disposable on-board a railway vehicle transportable over railway tracks comprises: a laser scanning module optically coupled to a laser source for scanning a laser beam over the tracks ahead of the vehicle with a predetermined pattern; a light detector for receiving light echoes from the scanned laser beam and for converting the light echoes into electrical signals representative thereof; and a processor for processing the electrical signals from the light detector to detect an obstacle ahead of the vehicle.

Abstract: An ice detection warning system mountable on board an aircraft for inflight monitoring of the airspace ahead of the aircraft comprises: a first plurality of optical elements configured to direct a pulsed laser beam at a first wavelength from a laser source into the airspace ahead of the aircraft; a second plurality of optical elements configured to separate received backscattering of light from the laser beam into a plurality of predetermined wavelengths; a plurality of light detectors for detecting the light of the separated plurality of wavelengths, respectively, and generating respectively corresponding plurality of electrical signals representative of the light detected thereby; and a processor for processing the plurality of electrical signals to determine if airspace conditions ahead of the aircraft are likely to cause ice accretion on the surface of the aircraft, and for generating a warning indicative thereof.

Abstract: A distributed laser based obstacle awareness system for use on-board an aircraft comprises: a plurality of obstacle detecting sensors disposable at a corresponding plurality of locations of the aircraft for emitting laser energy from the aircraft into a predetermined region of space and for receiving return laser energy from an obstacle in the predetermined region of space; a laser source for emitting a laser beam along an optical path; and a plurality of bistatic optical channels. Each channel comprises a plurality of transmission fiber optic cables and at least one receiver fiber optic cable and extends from the laser source to a corresponding obstacle detecting sensor of the plurality to direct the laser beam from the optical path to its corresponding obstacle detecting sensor of the plurality for emission into the corresponding predetermined region of space; and a light detector.

Abstract: A wide field scanning laser obstacle awareness system (LOAS) comprises: a plurality of first optical elements configured to direct a portion of a pulsed laser beam generated by a light source to a light detector, and to direct the pulsed laser beam to a beam expander wherein the pulsed laser beam is expanded; and at least one rotationally operated second optical element for directing the expanded pulsed laser beam from the system with a predetermined pattern scanned azimuthally over a wide field, the at least one rotationally operated second optical element also for receiving reflections of the pulsed laser beam from at least one object along the predetermined pattern and directing them to the laser beam expander wherein the laser beam reflections are focused; the plurality of first optical elements also configured to direct the focused laser beam reflections to the light detector for use in determining the location of the at least one object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remote, stand-off, and high efficiency spectroscopic detection of biological and chemical substances. The apparatus including an optical beam transmitter which transmits a beam having an axis of transmission to a target, the beam comprising at least a laser emission. An optical detector having an optical detection path to the target is provided for gathering optical information. The optical detection path has an axis of optical detection. A beam alignment device fixes the transmitter proximal to the detector and directs the beam to the target along the optical detection path such that the axis of transmission is within the optical detection path. Optical information gathered by the optical detector is analyzed by an analyzer which is operatively connected to the detector.

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.