Patent ID: 8089617
Filing Date: 2012-01-03
Classification: G01S,G02B

Abstract:
1. A laser detection and ranging (LADAR) system comprising: a laser light source that is operable to generate a coherent light beam comprising periodic pulses of light energy; a beam forming element in optical communication with the laser light source and operable to split the coherent light beam into a plurality of beamlets that are directed toward a target in a two-dimensional field-of-view, the plurality of beamlets being non-contiguous, essentially equally spaced apart relative to one another, and non-colinear in the two-dimensional field-of-view, wherein the beam forming element comprises a plurality of programmable elements, each programmable element being operable to change from a transparent state to a phase-shifting state in which light propagating through is at least partially refracted; and a light detector operable to receive at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of beamlets reflected from the target and generate a signal from the at least one beamlet, the signal being indicative of a range of the target.