LADAR Receiver Array

Q-DOT proposes to develop a 1-dimensional receiver array for the unique laser radar (LADAR) system developed at the Army Research Laboratory. The primary elements of this new system include an amplitude modulated solid state laser transmitter and an incoherent optical receiver array. Each receiver channel employs an avalanche photodiode (APD) optical sensor that exhibits significant multiplication gains. Receiver channel RF circuitry includes a low-noise amplifier and a wideband mixer for signal downconversion. The low frequency IF output signal must be preprocessed to remove downconversion artifacts and additional signal processing is required to extract target range information. Q-DOT proposes to realize all of the receiver circuit elements using submicrom CMOS/CCD processes. The resulting LADAR receiver array chip technology is expected to be useful in the commercial applications of laser radar where high resolution 3-D imaging is desirable. Applications include collision avoidance systems for various vehicles as well as in vehicle classification for smart-highway applications. Numerous military applications exist in the areas of earth- or space-based surveillance, and for precision guidance of "smart" munitions.