Patent ID: 6115123
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: G01S,G03H

Abstract:
A laser target acquisition and tracking system with small-spot aimpoint selection and maintenance and compensation for optical distortion comprising:a) an illuminate laser frequency-locked to a laser master oscillator for directing a first wide-divergence beam of radiation through media toward a target wherein said target reflects a portion of said radiation as a beam or diffuse return;b) a high speed detector for receiving a portion of said return;c) a laser local oscillator frequency-locked to said master oscillator and triggered by said detector for generating a short-pulse reference beam where said pulsed reference beam has a variable delay with respect to the leading edge of said return;d) an electronic radiation detector array for receiving the interference of a portion of said return and said pulsed reference beam for providing detector array signals containing information about said media and a slice of said target selected by the delay and pulse length of said reference beam;e) a hologram processor responsive to said electronic signals from said radiation detector array to form an electronic hologram pattern;f) a spatial light modulator responsive to said electronic hologram pattern wherein said spatial light modulator records said hologram as a binary phase pattern; andg) a laser for directing a beam of radiation onto said spatial light modulator for providing a phase-conjugate beam being directed to a selected part of said target.