High Dynamic Range Real-Time LIDAR Digitizer and Processor

In response to Department of Defense SBIR topic N192-063, SBIR/STTR Phase I solicitation, Alphacore proposes to develop a low-cost, Multi-channel, High Resolution (HR), Wideband (WB) LIDAR Digitizer ASIC. The significance of this innovation is that the ASIC meets the critical needs for a high-resolution, wide-bandwidth readout solution, capable of large dynamic range with real-time processing. Navy is strongly interested in this Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) digitizer ASIC solution for remote sensing of the oceans and atmosphere for anti-submarine warfare applications. Over the past decade, Navy has been conducting research studies1,2 to gain fundamental knowledge of ocean dynamics at submesoscale, and efforts to parameterize sub-grid scale mixing and stirring in numerical models are critical. This research also improves modeling and understanding of upper ocean ecosystems, since the flow of nutrients and plankton depends on stirring and mixing at these scales. Deep optical data from littoral, strategic and homeland waters is a common tactical and environmental need for effectively using remote optical sensors, whether they are space based, airborne, ship based, or underwater. Other such Lidars, eg. SeaTROLL (Sea Time Resolved Optical Layer Lidar), was stated to be relevant to the FY 07-9 OPNAV N88 development and demonstration of an active