Method and system for mapping and range detection

A method for use in determining range to a target object, the method comprising:

• a. providing an electromagnetic (EM) beam of certain coherence length;
• b. directing at least first and second portions of the EM beam toward first and second reference arms;
• c. directing at least a third portion of the EM beam toward said target object;
• d. collecting reflected radiation comprising EM beam components reflected from said target object, and directing first and second portions of the reflected radiation to interfere with EM beams of said first and second reference arms, and determining first and second interference intensities associated with interference of said first and second portions of reflected light with light of said first and second reference arms respectively;
• and
• e. processing data on said first and second interference intensities to determine range to said target object;
• wherein the method comprises applying selected noise affecting relative coherence between at least one of said first and second portions of illumination and said third portion of the EM beam.

A system comprising:

• at least one light source unit configured to provide optical illumination having certain coherence length;
• an optical arrangement comprising at least one splitting unit, said splitting unit being configured for directing said optical illumination to form at least one reference beam and at least one interrogating beam, and for directing said at least one interrogating beam toward a target;
• a light collection unit configured for collecting light of said at least one interrogating beam reflected from said target, and direct collected light to a detection unit;
• the detection unit comprising at least two detectors, each configured for detecting combined illumination formed by at least a portion of the at least one reference beam and a portion of the collected light and generating detection data, said detection data being indicative of a distance to said target;
• and
• wherein said at least one interrogating beam comprises at least two interrogating beams different between them in wavelength;
• and
• wherein the system comprises a noise generating unit configured to affect coherence length of light in one of said at least two interrogating beams the interrogating beams.