Patent ID: 8279424
Filing Date: 2012-10-02
Classification: G01F,G01P,G01S

Abstract:
1. A Doppler velocimeter apparatus, comprising: a coherent light source for generating a beam of coherent light; a circulator for receiving the beam of coherent light and generating a first portion of the beam of coherent light and a second portion of the beam of coherent light; a modulating subsystem that receives and modulates at least the first portion of the beam of coherent light to form a first beam portion, the first beam portion forming a frequency offset and being a modulated, coherent optical signal; an optical element for receiving the first beam portion and directing the first beam portion at a subject, the first beam portion being reflected from the subject to form a reflected beam that has a frequency that is modified in relation to the motion of the subject; the circulator being configured to receive the reflected beam and the second portion of the beam of coherent light and to channel the reflected beam and the second portion of the beam of coherent light therefrom; a processing subsystem that receives, from the circulator, the second portion of the beam of coherent light, and also the reflected beam, and uses the second portion of the beam of coherent light and the reflected beam to determine a Doppler shift of the reflected beam.