Patent ID: 6750960
Filing Date: 2004-06-15
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
A device comprising:a light source capable of transmitting a light beam; a frequency source capable of supplying a modulating frequency to said light source; an acousto-optical deflector capable of changing the angle of the light beam in a predetermined manner to produce an output; an RF signal generator capable of controlling the acousto-optical deflector to scan a target with the output: receiving optics capable of receiving reflected light from said scanned target; a first detector capable of receiving light from said receiving optics and producing a voltage signal associated therewith; a phase detector capable of receiving the voltage signal from said first detector and a reference signal from said frequency source, and determining a phase difference therebetween; and a controller operatively connected to said phase detector and said RF signal generator and capable of determining the distance to said target using the phase difference calculated for at least two different modulation frequencies.