Patent attributes
Systems and corresponding methods for use in measuring rotation characteristics (e.g., rotation magnitude and direction) of remote targets are provided. A laser light of a known frequency is incident upon the target and reflected. A portion of the reflected laser light is directed to detector field of view, where it is measured and analyzed. The detector field of view is divided into multiple segments, each capable of independently measuring the intensity and frequency of laser light incident thereon. The rotation magnitude of the target may be correlated with the width of the total Doppler spread of reflected light incident upon the detector. The rotation direction of the target may be correlated to a difference in the Doppler spreads measured for corresponding halves of the detector.
