Measurement techniques for safety characterization of a multiple pulsed laser rangefinder

There has been a recent push for Navy laser rangefinders (LRF) to be ANSI Z136.1 Class 1 eyesafe devices. This has caused manufacturers to become more creative with pulse timing and pulse characteristics in order to deliver desirable specifications in an ANSI Z136.1 Class I system. 1bis often introduces challenges in measuring and classifying these systems. The system presented here is an infrared LRF that is extremely desirable to our troops because it will range up to 10 km in optimal conditions. A single shot produces approximately 70 pulse groups with 130 pulses per group, which gives a total of about 9100 pulses per shot. This paper includes the measurement techniques used in gathering the system parameters as well as the considerations taken in classifying the system.