Patent US3350695A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3824593A
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Millimeter wave imaging system using direct carrier injection
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1972-12-04
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Granted: 1974-07-16
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Expires: 1992-12-04
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a millimeter wave imaging system which includes means for illuminating a remote target with RF energy and means for receiving and processing the RF energy which is reflected from the target. The processing means includes a diode array upon which the received energy is focussed and which is directly driven by an X-Y addressing system. The diodes in the array are digitally scanned directly to thereby directly inject carriers sequentially into the diodes in the panel. These diodes alternately pass and absorb the incoming RF energy at high image conversion rates, thereby imparting maximum resolution to the imaging system and enabling real time operation. Simultaneously, heat and power dissipation is minimized.
Inventors
- 👤 J Baird
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:07
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/04; G01S7/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A millimeter wave imaging system including, in combination: a. means for radiating a remote target with millimeter wave energy; b. means for receiving energy reflected from said target and for controllably projecting same to a predetermined area; c. image conversion means in the path of the received energy for collecting said energy and for focussing same on an area smaller than said predetermined area; d. address means directly coupled to said image conversion means for digitally scanning and sampling the RF energy focussed at said smaller area; and e. means coupled to said image conversion means for processing the sampled RF energy therefrom and for providing a visual display of said remote target in response to said sampled RF energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A millimeter wave imaging system including, in combination: a. means for radiating a remote target with millimeter wave energy; b. means for receiving energy reflected from said target and for controllably projecting same to a predetermined area; c. image conversion means in the path of the received energy for collecting said energy and for focussing same on an area smaller than said predetermined area; d. address means directly coupled to said image conversion means for digitally scanning and sampling the RF energy focussed at said smaller area; and e. means coupled to said image conversion means for processing the sampled RF energy therefrom and for providing a visual display of said remote target in response to said sampled RF energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system defined in claim 1 wherein said image conversion means includes a discrete diode array positioned at said smaller area for passing or absorbing the focussed RF energy in response to a driving voltage from said address means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
115 words
The system defined in claim 2 wherein said array means includes: a plurality of discrete diodes each having spaced-apart opposing planar surfaces and serially connected in spaced columns, and b. said image conversion means includes RF energy collecting vanes mounted on said opposing planar surfaces of each diode in a column, each vane bonded to two adjacent diodes, whereby said vanes form collecting cavities for receiving RF energy at said predetermined area and for concentrating and distributing the energy at each diode in the array, thereby substantially reducing the diode size required for modulating said predetermined area through which the received RF energy is propagated, thereby minimizing the power and heat dissipated by said array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system defined in claim 3 wherein said diodes are silicon PIN double injection diodes operable in the double injection diffusion mode to provide maximum conductivity modulation at minimum input power.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
119 words
The system defined in claim 2 wherein said diode array means includes: a. a plurality of discrete diodes each having spaced-apart opposing planar surfaces and serially connected in spaced columns; and b. said image conversion means includes RF energy collecting horns mounted on said opposing planar surfaces of each diode in a column, with each horn bonded to two adjacent diodes, whereby said horns form collecting cavities for receiving RF energy at said predetermined area and for concentrating and equally distributing the RF energy at each diode in the array, thereby substantially reducing the diode size required for modulating said predetermined area through which the received RF energy passes, thereby minimized the power and heat dissipated by said array.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system defined in claim 5 wherein said discrete diodes are silicon PIN double injection diodes operable in the double injection diffusion mode to provide maximum conductivity modulation at minimum input power.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
107 words
The system defined in claim 2 wherein said diode array means includes: a. a predetermined number of discrete diodes mounted in prearranged columns to form a discrete diode panel, and said image conversion means includes; b. RF collecting means mounted between adjacent diodes in each column and extending therefrom to said predetermined area, so that the RF energy propagated to said predetermined area is focussed by said RF collecting means and concentrated at the individual diodes in said array, whereby the diode size required to modulate the RF energy propagated through said predetermined area is minimized, thereby substantially minimizing the power and heat dissipation in each diode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system defined in claim 7 wherein said RF collecting means serve to serially connect all of the diodes in a column.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system defined in claim 7 wherein said diodes are silicon PIN double injection diodes operable in the double injection diffusion mode to provide maximum conductivity modulation at minimum input power.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
The system defined in claim 2 wherein: a. said diode array means includes a predetermined number of discrete diodes mounted in prearranged columns and said address means includes; b. a plurality of series circuits into which each column of diodes is serially connected; and c. means for addressing each diode in a column to reverse bias same while simultaneously forward biasing the remaining diodes in a column whereby each diode in a column is reverse biased in sequence at very high direct carrier injection scan rates.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
82 words
The system defined in claim 10 wherein said image conversion means includes RF collection means mounted between adjacent diodes in each column and extending therefrom to said predetermined area whereby the RF energy propagated through said predetermined area is gathered by said RF collecting means and concentrated at the individual diodes in said array, whereby the diode size required to modulate the RF energy propagated through said predetermined area is minimized, thereby simultaneously minimizing the power and heat dissipated in each diode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system defined in claim 11 wherein said diodes are silicon PIN double injection diodes, operable in the double injection diffusion mode to provide maximum conductivity modulation at minimum input power.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
105 words
A high resolution image conversion panel for use in an imaging system, including: a. a predetermined number of discrete diodes mounted in prearranged columns to form a discrete diode array; and b. RF collecting means mounted between adjacent diodes in each column and extending therefrom to a remote predetermined area, so that the RF energy propagated through said predetermined area is gathered by said RF collecting means and concentrated at the individual diodes in said array, whereby the diode size required to modulate the RF energy propagated through said remote predetermined area is minimized, thereby simultaneously minimizing the power and heat dissipated in each diode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
105 words
A high resolution image conversion panel for use in an imaging system, including: a. a predetermined number of discrete diodes mounted in prearranged columns to form a discrete diode array; and b. RF collecting means mounted between adjacent diodes in each column and extending therefrom to a remote predetermined area, so that the RF energy propagated through said predetermined area is gathered by said RF collecting means and concentrated at the individual diodes in said array, whereby the diode size required to modulate the RF energy propagated through said remote predetermined area is minimized, thereby simultaneously minimizing the power and heat dissipated in each diode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
89 words
Address circuitry for sampling RF energy propagated through a given plane including, in combination: a. a predetermined number of discrete diodes mounted in prearranged columns to form a discrete diode array; b. a plurality of series circuits into which each column of discrete diodes is serially connected; and c. means for driving each diode in a column to reverse bias same while simultaneously forward biasing the remaining diodes in each column, whereby all diodes in a column may be rapidly scanned in sequence and at very high scan rates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
89 words
Address circuitry for sampling RF energy propagated through a given plane including, in combination: a. a predetermined number of discrete diodes mounted in prearranged columns to form a discrete diode array; b. a plurality of series circuits into which each column of discrete diodes is serially connected; and c. means for driving each diode in a column to reverse bias same while simultaneously forward biasing the remaining diodes in each column, whereby all diodes in a column may be rapidly scanned in sequence and at very high scan rates.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
108 words
The invention defined in claim 14 wherein: a. said diode array is positioned in a first plane and within a given area; and said invention further including b. RF collection means mounted between each adjacent diode in each column and extending therefrom to a remote predetermined area larger than said given area, whereby the RF energy propagated through said remote predetermined area is guided by said RF collecting means and concentrated at the individual diodes in said array, whereby the diode size required to modulate and sample the RF energy propagated through said predetermined area is minimized, thereby simultaneously minimizing the power and heat dissipated in each diode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention defined in claim 15 wherein said diodes are silicon PIN double injection diodes, operable in the double injection diffusion mode to provide maximum conductivity modulation at minimum input power.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
119 words
A real time imaging process for providing a visual display of a target comprising: a. radiating a target with millimeter wave RF energy; b. controllably projecting the target reflected RF energy in a predetermined path to a selected area; c. focussing the RF energy arriviNg at said selected area to concentrate same at a smaller area; d. addressing a discrete diode array at said smaller area to which the RF energy is focussed to directly inject carriers into individual diodes of said array in a scanning mode, to thereby achieve high RF modulation rates which enable real time imaging operation; and e. processing the sampled RF energy from said diode array to provide a visual display of said target.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
119 words
A real time imaging process for providing a visual display of a target comprising: a. radiating a target with millimeter wave RF energy; b. controllably projecting the target reflected RF energy in a predetermined path to a selected area; c. focussing the RF energy arriviNg at said selected area to concentrate same at a smaller area; d. addressing a discrete diode array at said smaller area to which the RF energy is focussed to directly inject carriers into individual diodes of said array in a scanning mode, to thereby achieve high RF modulation rates which enable real time imaging operation; and e. processing the sampled RF energy from said diode array to provide a visual display of said target.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
70 words
The process as defined in claim 17 which includes: a. serially connecting a plurality of diodes in a column and providing like columns to form said array; and b. providing a forward bias for each of said columns and for the diodes connected therein; and c. sequentially sampling each diode in a column by reverse biasing same, while d. maintaining a forward bias on the remaining diodes in a column.
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) | 1977-07-15 | 1978-01-14 | 1978-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-15 | 1982-01-14 | 1982-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-15 | 1986-01-14 | 1986-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |