USING A HYBRID INTEGRATED-OPTICAL CORRELATOR TO PROCESS THE SIGNAL OFA HETERODYNE LASER RANGEFINDER

The possibility of using hybrid integrated-optical processors for the optimum processing of the signals of a coherent heterodyne laser range finder is examined. The circuit of an acousto-optic correlator incorpo rated into light rangefinder equipment is developed, along with the me thods and the forms of the required laser-radiation modulation. Estima tes are given for the potential range and accuracy of an optical range finder with correlation signal processing. This paper presents the res ults of full-scale tests of a coherent rangefinder based on a CO2 lase r, with correlation processing of the rangefinder signal in a hybrid i ntegrated-optical processor.