Eye safe laser radar using a microchip laser, 2-dimensional InGaAs/InP photodiode arrays and the bi-axial optical lens system

We have developed a high-resolution, direct detection imaging ladar using a microchip laser and the 32times32 two dimensional InGaAs/InP pin photodiode array. With microchip lasers and compact microelectronic arrays of detectors and timing circuitry, we can fabricate a imaging laser radar small enough to be portable. The microchip laser employed in this lidar utilizes 1.55 mum InGaAsP/InP high power laser diode. The 32 times 32 InGaAs/InP PIN diode array offers robust, solid-state, good sensitivity. In the near future, InGaAs/InP APD having a larger arrays of 128 times 128 pixels and lenslet array will be developed which allows for the capture of entire 3-D images on a single laser pulse at high frame rates. The effort for the development of these detector and laser technologies will lead to 3-D imaging systems with higher spatial resolution at longer ranges in compact packages.