Patent ID: 7518736

Claim:
An optical air data system, comprising: a. a reference beam from a first beam of light generated by a laser; b. at least one second beam of light from said first beam of light, wherein said at least one second beam of light is directed into an atmosphere along an associated axis; c. at least one telescope adapted to receive light backscattered by molecules or aerosols of said atmosphere responsive to a corresponding at least one said second beam of light; d. an interferometer, wherein a first portion of said interferometer is adapted to receive a light signal from said light backscattered by said molecules or aerosols of said atmosphere, at least one second portion of said interferometer is adapted to receive at least one of said reference beam and at least one other light signal from said light backscattered by said molecules or aerosols of said atmosphere, said interferometer is operative to generate a first fringe pattern associated with said light signal from said light backscattered by said molecules or aerosols of said atmosphere, and said interferometer is operative to generate at least one second fringe pattern associated with said at least one of said reference beam and at least one other light signal from said light backscattered by said molecules or aerosols of said atmosphere; e. at least one detector, wherein said at least one detector is adapted to detect said first fringe pattern and said at least one second fringe pattern, and said at least one detector is adapted to output a corresponding resulting at least one signal; and f. a data processor, wherein said data processor provides for gating said corresponding resulting at least one signal so as to provide for generating a measurement responsive to a range from the optical air data system.