Lidar-based air defense system

Patent 6396577 Issued on May 28, 2002. Estimated Expiration Date:

March 19, 2021. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3427611

3731103

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Inventor

Ramstack, Thomas P.

Application

No. 812451 filed on 03/19/2001

US Classes:

356/141.1, With photodetection of reflected beam angle with respect to a unidirectional source beam250/203.2, Target illuminated by artificial light source250/206.2Detection of positional information in two or more planes (e.g., azimuth and elevation; hour angle and declination)

Examiners

Primary: Buczinski, Stephen C.

Foreign Patent References

2689252 FR. 10/21/1993

International Classes

G01B 011/26
G01C 001/00
G01C 021/02

Abstract

A lidar-based air defense system for providing a single unified system that may detect, track and even destroy airborne objects, even objects designed to move relatively undetected through conventional radar systems. The lidar-based air defense system includes a support, and a plurality of laser transmitters mounted on the support in sets of different angles. Each of the laser transmitters are adapted to transmit a coherent beam of light along an axis, with the plurality of laser transmitters being oriented such that the axes of the beams of light emitted from the laser transmitters radiate outwardly from the support to generate a grid of laser beams in the atmosphere. The system also includes a plurality of laser receivers and a processor for processing information from the laser transmitters and laser receivers.

Other References

World Wide Web page entitled "What is Coherent Lidar" as found at http://www.ghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/sparcle/what_lidar.html. Dated Nov. 30, 2000
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World Wide Web page entitled "Some Keywords and Concepts" as found at http://wwwghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/macaws/keywords.html. Dated Nov. 30, 200