US3764807A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for converting infrared into shorter wavelength radiation
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1972-05-04
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Granted: 1973-10-09
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Expires: 1992-05-04
Abstract
Abstract The frequency matched quantum counter principle is used for converting infrared radiation into visible or near visible radiation. The quantum counter or detection screen utilize the properties of atoms which are capable of absorbing infrared signal radiation inducing electronic transition from a ground state to an intermediate state. Furthermore these atoms are capable of being pumped from the intermediate state to an upper state. The return transition of electrons from the upper state to the ground state which occurs with emission of visible or nearvisible radiation can then be detected with a photodetector. The pumping of the active atoms of the quantum counter is accomplished by means of a first laser which is made of a material which contains the same atoms as those effective in the quantum counter. The radiation from this first laser may be modulated by a suitable modulator or may be modified or perturbed by an object to be viewed or depicted. For signal generation a second laser can be used in which the radiation is generated by the same active atoms as the quantum counter. By way of example, the active atoms may consist of triply ionized erbium or triply ionized neodynium both in a suitable matrix.
Inventors
- 👤 S Pollack
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 08:54
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F2/00; G02F2/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for converting infrared radiation into shorter wavelength radiation by the frequency matched quantum counter principle, said system comprising: a. a quantum counter including atoms capable of being excited by infrared radiation from a ground level to an intermediate level and being capable of being pumped from said intermediate level to an upper level, thereby to provide shorter wavelength radiation by transition from the upper level to the ground state; b. a first laser for generating an infrared radiation for exciting said atoms from the ground state to an intermediate level, said first laser including as the lasing material the same atoms as those of said quantum counter; c. a second laser for pumping said quantum counter from said intermediate level to said upper level, said second pumping laser including as the lasing material the same atoms as those of said quantum counter; and d. means for observing the shorter wavelength radiation emanating from said quantum counter.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for converting infrared radiation into shorter wavelength radiation by the frequency matched quantum counter principle, said system comprising: a. a quantum counter including atoms capable of being excited by infrared radiation from a ground level to an intermediate level and being capable of being pumped from said intermediate level to an upper level, thereby to provide shorter wavelength radiation by transition from the upper level to the ground state; b. a first laser for generating an infrared radiation for exciting said atoms from the ground state to an intermediate level, said first laser including as the lasing material the same atoms as those of said quantum counter; c. a second laser for pumping said quantum counter from said intermediate level to said upper level, said second pumping laser including as the lasing material the same atoms as those of said quantum counter; and d. means for observing the shorter wavelength radiation emanating from said quantum counter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the atoms of said quantum counter consist of triply ionized erbium atoms embedded in calcium fluoride and wherein the laserable material of said lasers consists of triply ionized erbium atoms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the atoms of said quantum counter consist of triply ionized neodymium atoms embedded in yttrium aluminum garnet and wherein the laserable material of said laser consists of triply ionized neodymium atoms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the infrared radiation from said first laser is modulated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the infrared radiation from said first laser is modulated by an object to be viewed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
187 words
An infrared detection system for transforming infrared into visible or near visible radiation, said system comprising: a. a detection screen including ionized atoms capable of being energized from a ground level to an intermediate level by infrared light and capable of being energized from said intermediate level to an upper level to generate visible or near-visible light by transition from said upper level to said ground level; b. a first laser positioned to illuminate an object to be viewed, and the light perturbed by the object falling on said screen, said first laser including said ionized atoms of said quantum counter as the laserable material and capable of emitting the infrared radiation which excites said ionized atoms from its ground level to its intermediate level; c. a second pumping laser positioned to illuminate said screen, said second laser including said ionized atoms as a laserable material and capable of emitting radiation to excite the ionized atoms of said screen from said intermediate to said upper level, whereby said screen will emit visible or near-visible radiation wherever light from said first and second lasers impinges on said screen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
187 words
An infrared detection system for transforming infrared into visible or near visible radiation, said system comprising: a. a detection screen including ionized atoms capable of being energized from a ground level to an intermediate level by infrared light and capable of being energized from said intermediate level to an upper level to generate visible or near-visible light by transition from said upper level to said ground level; b. a first laser positioned to illuminate an object to be viewed, and the light perturbed by the object falling on said screen, said first laser including said ionized atoms of said quantum counter as the laserable material and capable of emitting the infrared radiation which excites said ionized atoms from its ground level to its intermediate level; c. a second pumping laser positioned to illuminate said screen, said second laser including said ionized atoms as a laserable material and capable of emitting radiation to excite the ionized atoms of said screen from said intermediate to said upper level, whereby said screen will emit visible or near-visible radiation wherever light from said first and second lasers impinges on said screen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as defined in claim 6 wherein said iOnized atoms consist of triply ionized erbium embedded in calcium fluoride.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as defined in claim 6 wherein said ionized atoms consist of triply ionized neodymium embedded in yttrium aluminum garnet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as defined in claim 6 wherein means are provided for recording the visible image on said screen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
149 words
An infrared detector system for transforming infrared into visible or near-visible radiation, said system comprising: a. a detector including a quantum counter, said counter including atoms capable of being excited by first radiation from a ground level to an intermediate level and being capable of being excited from said intermediate level to an upper level by second radiation, thereby to provide shorter wavelength radiation by transition from the upper level to the ground level; b. a first laser; c. a second laser, each of said lasers including as a lasing material the same atoms as those of said quantum counter, one of said lasers generating an infrared radiation, the other laser pumping said atoms from one of said levels to a higher level, whereby one of said lasers serves as a pumping laser and the other one is a signal laser; and d. means for modulating said signal laser.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
149 words
An infrared detector system for transforming infrared into visible or near-visible radiation, said system comprising: a. a detector including a quantum counter, said counter including atoms capable of being excited by first radiation from a ground level to an intermediate level and being capable of being excited from said intermediate level to an upper level by second radiation, thereby to provide shorter wavelength radiation by transition from the upper level to the ground level; b. a first laser; c. a second laser, each of said lasers including as a lasing material the same atoms as those of said quantum counter, one of said lasers generating an infrared radiation, the other laser pumping said atoms from one of said levels to a higher level, whereby one of said lasers serves as a pumping laser and the other one is a signal laser; and d. means for modulating said signal laser.
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) | 1976-10-08 | 1977-04-09 | 1977-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-08 | 1981-04-09 | 1981-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-08 | 1985-04-09 | 1985-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |