Phase-coded LIDAR

Summary form only given. Our approach represents an important improvement to the pseudo-noise (PN) coded LIDAR technique. We modulate the laser with a bipolar phase coded PN microwave signal rather than a baseband unipolar sequence. Hence, we can use the bipolar phase codes that have been developed for microwave ranging systems. Furthermore, as we have demonstrated, the LIDAR return sign can be processed using techniques and components that are already in place for microwave ranging. These results demonstrate the principle of operation for a bipolar phase coded LIDAR with range gated vibration signature capability. While this experiment was performed at close range and a moderate PN code rate of 1.3 GHz, one could envision extending the code rate to approximately 10 Gb/s in order to obtain a range resolution on the order of 1.5 cm. Furthermore, the addition of EDFAs and telescope apertures would allow the system to range distant targets.