title: Demodulation techniques for the amplitude modulated laser imager.
abstract: A new technique has been found that uses in-phase and quadrature phase (I/Q) demodulation to optimize the images produced with an amplitude-modulated laser imaging system. An I/Q demodulator was used to collect the I/Q components of the received modulation envelope. It was discovered that by adjusting the local oscillator phase and the modulation frequency, the backscatter and target signals can be analyzed separately via the I/Q components. This new approach enhances image contrast beyond what was achieved with a previous design that processed only the composite magnitude information.
authors.affiliation: Electro-Optics and Special Mission Sensors Division, Naval Air Systems Command, NAVAIR, Patuxent River, MD 20670, USA. linda.mullen@navy.mil
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mullen
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laux
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cochenour
authors.forename: Eleonora P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Zege
authors.forename: Iosif L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Katsev
authors.forename: Alexander S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Prikhach
mesh_terms: D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004867:Equipment Design; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007834:Lasers; D015233:Models, Statistical; D055095:Optics and Photonics