Patent ID: 7639347

Claim:
A laser ranging system comprising: at least one fiber laser configured to transmit pulses of light to a surface at a rate of at least about 20,000 pulses of light per second, each fiber laser including an optical fiber as an active gain region, wherein the active gain region includes a rare-earth doped element; laser control circuitry, wherein the laser control circuitry is configured to cause the at least one fiber laser to transmit the pulses of light at the rate of at least about 20,000 pulses of light per second; an optical receiver configured to receive return signals comprising portions of the transmitted pulses of light reflected from the surface; elapsed time circuitry configured to measure an elapsed time between transmission of at least one transmitted pulse of light by the fiber laser and reception of at least one corresponding return signal; a position measurement unit configured to acquire position information corresponding to the position of the laser ranging system; an inertial measurement unit configured to acquire pitch, roll, and heading information corresponding to movement of the laser ranging system; and a scanning subassembly configured to direct the pulses of light at various scan angles, wherein a pulse shape of the pulses of light is held substantially consistent during operation of the laser ranging system.