An active, range-gated near-IR TV system for all-weather surveillance

Adverse weather, lack of background illumination and interference from artificial light sources can considerably reduce the effectiveness of passive LLLTV systems. Viewing in such conditions can be considerably enhanced by the addition of a pulsed laser illuminator synchronized to a gated LLLTV. Since the system has its own light source, surveillance is possible in zero or ultra-low light conditions. Furthermore using the technique of range gating, the effects of backscattering that occur in poor visibility conditions can be greatly reduced. The high resolution and self-illumination capability of the system permits positive identification of targets that would be undetectable or unresolvable with FLIR type systems.