Laser designator pulse detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016282178-A1
Application number	US-201514938346-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 11, 2015
Priority date	Mar 27, 2015
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A laser designator pulse detector includes an InGaAs photodetector configured to convert laser signals into electrical signals. A Read Out Integrated Circuit (ROIC) is operatively connected to the InGaAs photodetector to condition electrical signals from the InGaAs photodetector. The ROIC can be operatively connected to a peripheral device including one or more modules configured to process signals from the ROIC and provide pulse detection, decoding, and tracking. In another aspect, a laser designator pulse detector includes a two-dimensional array of photodetectors configured to convert laser signals into electrical signals. A ROTC as described above is operatively connected to the two-dimensional array of photodetectors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A laser designator pulse detector comprising:
an InGaAs photodetector configured to convert laser signals into electrical signals; and a ROIC operatively connected to the InGaAs photodetector to condition electrical signals from the InGaAs photodetector.

2 . A laser designator pulse detector as recited in claim 1 , wherein the InGaAs photodetector is configured to receive wavelengths up to and including 1700 nm.

3 . A laser designator pulse detector as recited in claim 1 , wherein the InGaAs photodetector is configured to detect laser light of 1064 nm wavelength.

4 . A laser designator pulse detector as recited in claim 1 , wherein the InGaAs photodetector is configured to detect laser light of 1550 nm wavelength.

5 . A laser designator pulse detector as recited in claim 1 , wherein the ROIC is configured to read from the InGaAs photodetector at a frequency of 20 kHz.

6 . A laser designator pulse detector as recited in claim 1 , wherein the ROIC is operatively connected to the InGaAs photodetector to condition signals for detecting, tracking, and decoding multiple laser spots at a time in a separate module.

7 . A laser designator pulse detector as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a filter assembly optically coupled to the InGaAs photodetector to improve signal to noise ratio.

8 . A laser designator pulse detector comprising:
a two-dimensional array of photodetectors configured to convert laser signals into electrical signals; and a ROIC operatively connected to the two-dimensional array of photodetectors to condition electrical signals from the two-dimensional array for detecting, tracking, and decoding pulsed codes in the electrical signals in a separate module.

9 . A laser designator pulse detector as recited in claim 8 , wherein the two-dimensional array of photodetectors includes a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of photodetectors.

10 . A laser designator pulse detector as recited in claim 8 , wherein the two-dimensional array includes at least a 32 by 32 array of photodetectors.

11 . A laser designator pulse detector as recited in claim 8 , wherein the ROIC has a frame-rate of at least 20,000 fps for reading frames from the two-dimensional array of photodetectors.

12 . A laser designator pulse detector as recited in claim 8 , wherein the ROIC is operatively connected to the two-dimensional array of photodetectors to condition the electrical signals for detecting, tracking, and decoding multiple laser spots at a time in a separate module.

13 . A laser designator pulse detector as recited in claim 8 , wherein the two-dimensional array of photodetectors includes InGaAs.

14 . A laser designator pulse detector as recited in claim 13 , wherein the InGaAs is configured to receive wavelengths up to and including 1.7 microns.

15 . A laser designator pulse detector as recited in claim 8 , further comprising a filter assembly optically coupled to the two-dimensional array of photodetectors to improve signal to noise ratio.

Assignees

• Sensors Unlimited Inc

Inventors

• Nazemi Jonathan
• Rozploch Robert

Classifications

• F41G7/2293

  using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves · CPC title

• G01J2001/4238

  Pulsed light · CPC title

• G01J1/44 Primary

  Electric circuits {(for command of an exposure part G03B7/02)} · CPC title

• G01S3/781

  Details · CPC title

• F41G7/226

  Semi-active homing systems, i.e. comprising a receiver and involving auxiliary illuminating means, e.g. using auxiliary guiding missiles · CPC title