US3676677A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable sensitivity visual displayer for infrared laser beams
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
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Filing: 1970-08-11
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Granted: 1972-07-11
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Expires: 1990-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A thermographic phosphor screen caused to fluoresce by continuous ultraviolet excitation is impinged by an infrared laser beam which locally heats the phosphor to quench its fluroescence and thereby form an image of the beam as a dark pattern on the screen. Provision is made to vary the thermal bias on the screen over a range of phosphor temperatures commensurate with maximum optical resolution and sensitivity thru a wide range of impinging laser beam powers.
Inventors
- 👤 George A Condas
- 👤 Don W Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:09
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21K; F21K2/00; G; G01; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/58; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
An infrared laser beam displayer comprising a thermally conductive viewing screen having a phosphor surface for impingement by an infrared laser beam, means irradiating said phosphor surface with ultraviolet light to produce fluorescence thereof, said phosphor having a predetermined fluorescence quenching temperature, and means for variably thermally biasing said screen to temperatures less than said quenching temperature, whereby the bias temperature may be varied such that the sum of the bias temperature and the temperature produced due to localized heating of the phosphor by the impinging beam is substantially equal to said quenching temperature and a darkened beam image pattern appears on the screen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
An infrared laser beam displayer comprising a thermally conductive viewing screen having a phosphor surface for impingement by an infrared laser beam, means irradiating said phosphor surface with ultraviolet light to produce fluorescence thereof, said phosphor having a predetermined fluorescence quenching temperature, and means for variably thermally biasing said screen to temperatures less than said quenching temperature, whereby the bias temperature may be varied such that the sum of the bias temperature and the temperature produced due to localized heating of the phosphor by the impinging beam is substantially equal to said quenching temperature and a darkened beam image pattern appears on the screen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An infrared laser beam displayer according to claim 1, further defined by said phosphor being an unquenched compound phosphor of the class falling into Group II-VI of the periodic table of elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
An infrared laser beam displayer according to claim 1, further defined by said screen comprising a substrate of a material possessing proper thermal properties and having a phosphor layer settled thereon and secured thereto by means of an inorganic binder to define said phosphor surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An infrared laser beam displayer according to claim 1, further defined by the variable thermal biasing means comprising a temperature controlled oven, said screen mounted in said oven with said phosphor surface facing outwardly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An infrared laser beam displayer according to claim 2, wherein said phosphor is cathode-ray-tube type P-2 (ZnS: Cu) phosphor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
An infrared laser beam displayer according to claim 2, further defined by the variable thermal biasing means comprising a temperature controlled oven, said screen mounted in said oven with said phosphor surface facing outwardly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
An infrared laser beam displayer according to claim 3, further defined by said substrate being a sandblasted aluminum plate and said phosphor layer being cathode-ray-tube type (ZnS: Cu) P-2 phosphor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
An infrared laser beam displayer according to claim 7, further defined by the variable thermal biasing means comprising a temperature controlled oven, said screen mounted in said oven with said phosphor layer facing outwardly and said plate facing inwardly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
An infrared laser beam displayer according to claim 8, further defined by said oven including a resistive heating element secured To the inwardly facing surface of said plate with a thermally conductive electrical insulating sheet interposed therebetween, a thermoelement mounted in contact with said plate to sense the temperature thereof, and a variable temperature controller for controlling said heating element in accordance with temperature sensed by said thermoelement to maintain a plate temperature determined by a variable temperature setting of the controller.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-11 | 1976-01-10 | 1976-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-11 | 1980-01-10 | 1980-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-11 | 1984-01-10 | 1984-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |