The Army Research Laboratory is researching scannerless ladar systems for smart munition and reconnaissance applications. The imaging system architectures achieve ranging based on a frequency modulation/continuous wave (FM/cw) technique implemented by directly amplitude modulating a near-IR diode laser transmitter with a radio frequency (rf) subcarrier that is linearly frequency modulated. The diode's output is collected and projected to form an illumination field in the downrange image area. The returned signal is focused onto an array of metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) detectors where it is detected and mixed with a delayed replica of the laser modulation signal that modulates the responsivity of each detector. The output of each detector is an intermediate frequency (IF) signal (a product of the mixing process) whose frequency is proportional to the target range. This IF signal is continuously sampled over each period of the rf modulation. Following this, an N channel signal processor based on field-programmable gate arrays calculates the discrete Fourier transform over the IF waveform in each pixel to establish the ranges to all the scatterers and their respective amplitudes. Over the past year, we have continued development of laser illuminators at 0.8 and 1.55 mu m, built one-dimensional self-mixing MSM detector arrays at 0.8 and 1.55 mu m and built an N channel FPGA signal processor for high-speed formation of range gates. In this paper we report on the development and performance of these components and the results of system tests conducted in the laboratory.


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    Title :

    Research progress on scannerless ladar systems using a laser diode transmitter and FM/cw radar principles


    Contributors:
    Stann, B. (author) / Abou-Auf, A. (author) / Frankel, S. (author) / Giza, M. (author) / Potter, W. (author) / Ruff, W. (author) / Shen, P. (author) / Simon, D. (author) / Stead, M. (author) / Sztankay, Z. (author)


    Publication date :

    2001


    Size :

    11 Seiten, 5 Quellen




    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English




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