US3612658A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Signal analyzer having varying bandwidth resolution
Assignee: General Dynamics Corp
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Filing: 1970-02-16
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Granted: 1971-10-12
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Expires: 1990-02-16
Abstract
Abstract An optical analyzer is described in which a beam of monochromatic light is modulated by time-varying signals. The modulated beam then passes through a tapered aperture and is imaged in the Fourier transform plane by aspheric optics, such as a spherical and cylindrical lens having like focal lengths. The image displayed in the transform plane simultaneously shows the Fourier components of the signal and the instantaneous value of the time waveform. The frequency resolution varies continuously from one side of the display to the other.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank H Slaymaker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:45
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/42; G02B27/46; G01; G01R; G01R23/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A signal analysis system which comprises a. means for providing a beam of light, b. means in the path of said beam for modulating said beam in accordance with the signal to be analyzed, c. means for imaging said modulated beam at a Fourier transform plane, and d. means disposed ahead of said imaging means in the path of said beam for processing said modulated beam for providing a simultaneous display of the frequency spectrum of said signal and the time amplitude characteristic of said signal at said transform plane, said frequency spectrum having varying bandwidth resolution in one dimension across said plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A signal analysis system which comprises a. means for providing a beam of light, b. means in the path of said beam for modulating said beam in accordance with the signal to be analyzed, c. means for imaging said modulated beam at a Fourier transform plane, and d. means disposed ahead of said imaging means in the path of said beam for processing said modulated beam for providing a simultaneous display of the frequency spectrum of said signal and the time amplitude characteristic of said signal at said transform plane, said frequency spectrum having varying bandwidth resolution in one dimension across said plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said beam has a certain cross-sectional area, said modulating means being operative to vary the intensity of said beam in one direction across said area thereof as a time function of said signal, whereby said display varies in a direction perpendicular to said one direction to show the Fourier components of the spectrum of said signal at one side of said display and the amplitude/time characteristic of said signal at the other side of said display.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said processing means provides time-varying samples of said modulated beam which vary in length as a function of distance in said perpendicular direction across said cross-sectional area of said beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said processing means is a member having a tapered aperture for the passage of said beam to said imaging means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein said modulating means includes means for changing the spacial pattern represented by said beam at a constant rate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention as set forth in claim 5 wherein said light-intensity-changing means comprises a transparency on which said signal is recorded as a variably density record, and means for transporting said transparency across said beam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said imaging means includes a spherical lens and a cylindrical lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention as set forth in claim 7 wherein said spherical and cylindrical lenses are disposed with the axis of the cylinder of said cylindrical lens perpendicular to the axis of said spherical lens and closely adjacent to each other, said lenses having approximately the same focal length.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light beam is provided by a source of monochromatic light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
The invention as set forth in claim 9 wherein said processing means is a tapered aperture which comes to a point at one side of the cross section of said beam, and wherein said beam-providing means further comprises optics disposed between said source and said modulating means for collimating said beam with a rectangular cross section with the broad dimension of said cross section extending from the pointed to the wide side of said aperture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention as set forth in claim 10 wherein said optics includes lenses for providing a distribution of light intensity across the narrow dimension of said rectangular cross section of said beam, which tapers off at the edges.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The invention as set forth in claim 9 wherein said processing means is a tapered aperture which passes a cross-sectional segment of said beam which is triangular in shape, and wherein said beam providing means including optics so that said beam increases in intensity with distance from the wide side of said triangular cross-sectional segment to the point thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-11 | 1975-04-12 | 1975-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-11 | 1979-04-12 | 1979-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-11 | 1983-04-12 | 1983-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |