US3631409A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electro-optic readout of information using a schlieren optical system
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1970-06-24
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Granted: 1971-12-28
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Expires: 1990-06-24
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus is disclosed for reading out information present in the form of variations in electric field intensity using a Schlieren system to focus regular wave fronts passing through an electro-optic medium, whose index of refraction varies as a function of an applied electric field, at an opaque spot and to focus disturbed wave fronts, whose distortions are created by variations in the index of refraction of the medium caused by variations in the applied electric field, in the space surrounding that spot to form a representation of the information present in the electric field applied to the medium.
Inventors
- 👤 William R Buchan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:49
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C13/00; G11C13/04; G11C13/047; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/03; G02F1/0338
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
AppaRatus including a Schlieren system for reading out information present in the form of variations in electric field intensity comprising: an electro-optic medium whose index of refraction varies as a function of the intensity of an applied electric field; means for applying to said electro-optic medium an electric field whose intensity varies in a predetermined pattern; means for providing to said medium regular wave fronts of radiation; and means for focusing regular wave fronts from said medium at an opaque spot, and disturbed wave fronts from said medium in the space about said spot, to form a representation of the information present in the electric field applied to said medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
AppaRatus including a Schlieren system for reading out information present in the form of variations in electric field intensity comprising: an electro-optic medium whose index of refraction varies as a function of the intensity of an applied electric field; means for applying to said electro-optic medium an electric field whose intensity varies in a predetermined pattern; means for providing to said medium regular wave fronts of radiation; and means for focusing regular wave fronts from said medium at an opaque spot, and disturbed wave fronts from said medium in the space about said spot, to form a representation of the information present in the electric field applied to said medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said means for applying includes a photoconductive medium associated with said electro-optic medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which said means for applying includes a pair of electrodes with said mediums included between them and means for providing a voltage across electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 3 in which said means for applying includes means for projecting on to said photoconductive medium a radiant image whose intensity varies in a predetermined pattern.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 4 in which said means for projecting includes beam joining means simultaneously directing said regular wave fronts to said electro-optic medium and the image whose intensity varies in a predetermined pattern to said photoconductive medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 5 in which the radiation of both said regular wave fronts and said image are transmitted by said photoconductive medium and said photoconductive medium is sensitive only to said image radiation to change its conductivity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which said electro-optic medium and said photoconductive medium are included an adjacent layers of separate materials.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which said means for applying includes electric charge storage means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 8 in which said storage means includes an electric blocking layer associated with said mediums.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which said electro-optic medium is also said electric blocking layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said electro-optic medium is one in which the index of refraction increases with increase in applied electric field.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said means for providing includes means for simultaneously irradiating all portions of said electro-optic medium to accomplish parallel readout of it.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said means for providing includes lens means for producing regular wave fronts from a small radiation source.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 13 in which said small radiation source includes a high intensity radiation source and a pinhole mask.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 14 in which said small radiation source includes a laser and second lens means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said means for focusing regular wave fronts includes third lens means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 16 in which said means for focusing regular wave fronts includes an opaque stop at the focal point of said third lens means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for sensing the radiation from disturbed wave fronts focused about said opaque spot.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for uniformly modulating at a high spatial frequency said regular wave fronts emerging from said electro-optic medium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 19 in which said means for uniformly modulating at a high spatial frequency includes means for uniformly varying the intensity of electrical field applied to said electro-optic medium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said regular wave fronts are planar wave fronts.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of reading out information present in the form of variations of electric field intensity using a Schlieren system comprising: applying to an eleCtro-optic medium, whose index of refraction varies as a function of the intensity of an associated electric field, an electric field whose intensity varies in a predetermined pattern representative of information contained therein: providing to said medium regular wave fronts of radiation; and focusing said regular wave fronts from said medium at an opaque spot and disturbed wave fronts from said medium in the space about said spot to form a representation of the information present in the electric field applied to said medium.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of reading out information present in the form of variations of electric field intensity using a Schlieren system comprising: applying to an eleCtro-optic medium, whose index of refraction varies as a function of the intensity of an associated electric field, an electric field whose intensity varies in a predetermined pattern representative of information contained therein: providing to said medium regular wave fronts of radiation; and focusing said regular wave fronts from said medium at an opaque spot and disturbed wave fronts from said medium in the space about said spot to form a representation of the information present in the electric field applied to said medium.
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) | 1974-12-27 | 1975-06-28 | 1975-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-27 | 1979-06-28 | 1979-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-27 | 1983-06-28 | 1983-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |