{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-8508721","patent":{"patent_number":"US-8508721","title":"Multifunction aircraft LIDAR","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2009-08-18T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2013-08-13T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["G01S","G01S","G01S"],"num_claims":20,"abstract":"A multifunction light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system for aircraft or other applications may use autodyne techniques. An autodyne system can use a single laser source and a single detector. The autodyne technique can mix two signal beams to produce a “beat note” at the frequency difference between the beams. Autodyne detection can leverage photon counting to support significantly reduced system complexity. Reduced complexity may provide solutions with significantly reduced power consumption, lighter weight, smaller volume, and lower cost. The multifunction LIDAR system can detect and identify regions of weather hazards such as lightning storms, aircraft wake vortex, clear air turbulence, and wind shear. The multifunction LIDAR system may also be configured to measure aircraft air and ground speed in multiple dimensions as well as aircraft altitude."},"analysis":{"summary":null,"layman_explanation":null,"technical_analysis":null,"business_analysis":null,"faqs":null,"topics":[],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Multifunction aircraft LIDAR","description":"A multifunction light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system for aircraft or other applications may use autodyne techniques. An autodyne system can use a single laser source and a single detector. The a","keywords":[]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-8508721","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-8508721","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Multifunction aircraft LIDAR\" (US-8508721). https://patentable.app/patents/US-8508721","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-8508721","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-8508721","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-05-31T04:01:34.197Z"}