Patent ID: 6618125
Filing Date: 2003-09-09
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
A ladar system for detecting a target, comprising:a signal generator for generating a waveform signal having a predetermined period; a laser for producing a light signal, the laser having a modulator that is connected to the signal generator for receiving the waveform signal and the laser producing a modulated laser light signal directed toward a target; mixing and detecting means coupled to and driven by the signal generator for converting reflected light signals received from the target to electrical signals and for mixing the converted electrical signals with the waveform signal to produce an output electrical signal containing signal information relating to the distance to the target; read-out means connected to the mixing and detecting means for removing the output electrical signals from the mixing and detecting means; and a signal processor connected to the read-out means for processing the output electrical signals from the read-out means, wherein the mixing and detecting means comprises a plurality of detecting elements and, wherein each detecting element detects and converts reflected light signals received from the target to electrical signals and the plurality of detecting elements are arranged in a two dimensional array of rows and columns, wherein the read-out means comprises a code generating means for generating a different code signal for each of the detecting elements of the array during the waveform period and for combining the different code signal for a given detecting element with the output electrical signal produced by the detecting element during the waveform period to produce a combined output signal for each detecting element, wherein the read-out means further comprises a summing means for summing the combined output signal for each detecting element in a row of the array to produce a summed row output signal, wherein the read-out means further comprises a de-multiplex means for separating the output electrical signal for a detecting element in a row of the array from the summed row output signal by multiplying the code signal for the detecting element by the summed row output signal to generate a product that contains the output electrical signal of the detecting element, and wherein the de-multiplex means further comprises an integrator means for recovering the output electrical signal.