Inventors:
Richard I. Billmers - Langhorne PA, US
Elizabeth J. Billmers - Langhorne PA, US
Mary E. Ludwig - Hellertown PA, US
International Classification:
G01C 3/08
US Classification:
356 504, 356 301, 356 401, 356 501, 356 51
Abstract:
A system and method for viewing an object in a visually obscured environment includes a laser for generating a beam of light which is directed at the object. A pulse generator generates a reference pulse which triggers the laser and also a triggers a range generator which generates a range window positioned at a desired range. A gated optical detector (1) receives reflected light from the object, (2) receives the range window from the range generator, and (3) produces a gated optical output which contains reflections from ranges corresponding with the range window. A display is connected to the gated optical detector for displaying the gated optical output. In one embodiment, the transmitted light beam is polarized, and the received light beam passes through a selectable polarizing filter. In another embodiment, a plurality of received reflected light returns are integrated into a combined image.