Patent ID: 7372551

Claim:
A method for long-range, high-resolution laser radar range detection, the method comprising: generating a short optical pulse; splitting the optical pulse into a first optical pulse and a second optical pulse; modifying the first optical pulse such that it is temporally stretched and has a first direction of frequency sweep; modifying the second optical pulse such that it is temporally stretched and has a second direction of frequency sweep, the second direction of frequency sweep being opposite to the first direction of frequency sweep; transmitting the first optical pulse towards a target; receiving a reflected optical pulse from the target, the reflected optical pulse also having the first direction of frequency sweep; mixing the reflected optical pulse and the second optical pulse to generate a combined optical pulse; and determining a spectral peak in the combined optical pulse, the spectral peak having a wavelength that is equal to a wavelength that is present at the same point in time in each of the reflected optical pulse and the second optical pulse, the wavelength corresponding to a temporal delay indicative of the range of the target.