Patent US3846028A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3846028A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Energy conversion apparatus
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1971-08-20
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Granted: 1974-11-05
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Expires: 1991-08-20
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for measuring temperature or light intensity is disclosed. Potential pulses of variable frequency are impressed between the collector and emitter of a transistor whose base is open or floats electrically. The transistor is subjected to the condition being measured, the light to be measured impinging on the transistor while it is maintained at a constant temperature or the transistor being subjected to the temperature being measured while masked or while the light impinging thereon is maintained constant. The frequency of the pulses is varied so as to maintain the amplitude or shape of the pulses transmitted by the transistor constant and the measurement of the condition is derived from the frequency of the impressed pulses. Apparatus is also disclosed for converting light images into electrical signals by impinging the image, by scanning along a linear array of transistors in a monolithic solid-state element or directly on a monolithic element having a two dimensional array of transistor elements thereon.
Inventors
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Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 22:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
Light measuring apparatus including at least one transistor having an emitter, a collector and a base, means for subjecting the surface of said transistor to light from a region, means connected to said emitter and collector for impressing in circuit with said emitter and collector a periodic electrical potential, means responsive to the magnitude of the current transmitted by said collector and emitter as a result of said potential while said transistor is subject to said light, for varying the periodicity of said potential, and means for deriving a measurement of light intensity impinging on the surface of said transistor from said varied periodicity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
Light measuring apparatus including at least one transistor having an emitter, a collector and a base, means for subjecting the surface of said transistor to light from a region, means connected to said emitter and collector for impressing in circuit with said emitter and collector a periodic electrical potential, means responsive to the magnitude of the current transmitted by said collector and emitter as a result of said potential while said transistor is subject to said light, for varying the periodicity of said potential, and means for deriving a measurement of light intensity impinging on the surface of said transistor from said varied periodicity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the said apparatus includes means for maintaining the transistor at a substantially constant temperature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contribution of the photons of the light to which the surface of said transistor is subjected during the pulses is negligibly small compared to the contribution of the photons of said light during the intervals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
126 words
Light measuring apparatus including at least a first transistor and a second transistor, each transistor having a collector, an emitter and a base, means maintaining both said transistors at substantially the same constant temperature, means for impinging the light to be measured on said first transistor, means preventing the impingement of light on said second transistor, means connected to the collectors and emitters of both transistors for impressing on both said collectors and emitters a periodic electrical potential, means responsive to the magnitude of the current transmitted by said collectors and emitters as a result of said potential for varying the periodicity of said potential to maintain said magnitude at a predetermined value, and means for deriving a measurement of said light from said varied periodicity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
126 words
Light measuring apparatus including at least a first transistor and a second transistor, each transistor having a collector, an emitter and a base, means maintaining both said transistors at substantially the same constant temperature, means for impinging the light to be measured on said first transistor, means preventing the impingement of light on said second transistor, means connected to the collectors and emitters of both transistors for impressing on both said collectors and emitters a periodic electrical potential, means responsive to the magnitude of the current transmitted by said collectors and emitters as a result of said potential for varying the periodicity of said potential to maintain said magnitude at a predetermined value, and means for deriving a measurement of said light from said varied periodicity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus for converting an optical image into an electrical signal, including a strip having deposited thereon a two dimensional array of transistor elements, each element including a collector, an emitter and a base, each said base floating electrically, means projecting said image on said array, means connected to each said collector and emitter for impressing therebetween a periodic potential, and means responsive to the current conducted by each said collector and emitter as a result of the potential impressed therebetween for deriving an electrical signal corresponding to said current.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus for converting an optical image into an electrical signal, including a strip having deposited thereon a two dimensional array of transistor elements, each element including a collector, an emitter and a base, each said base floating electrically, means projecting said image on said array, means connected to each said collector and emitter for impressing therebetween a periodic potential, and means responsive to the current conducted by each said collector and emitter as a result of the potential impressed therebetween for deriving an electrical signal corresponding to said current.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the periodic potential is a pulsating potential, the said apparatus also including means for varying the frequency of said pulsating potential for each element to compensate for changes in the current conducted between the collector and emitter of said last-named element and the electrical signal for each transistor element being characterized by a frequency corresponding to the current conducted by the collector and emitter of said last-named element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the pulsating potential is composed of pulses impressed at predetermined intervals, the duration of the pulses being short compared with the duration of the intervals, so that the contribution of the photons of the light incident on a transistor element during a pulse is negligible compared to the contribution of the photons of said light incident on said element during an interval between pulses.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3486821A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |