US3879700A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for converting an acoustic pattern into a visual image
Assignee: Bendix Corp
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Filing: 1972-12-12
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Granted: 1975-04-22
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Expires: 1992-12-12
Abstract
Abstract An acoustic pattern imaged on a piezoelectric transducer is converted to an electronic charge pattern. A source of electrons, such as a photocathode illuminated by a radiation source, is closely associated with the transducer and electrons are liberated in accordance with the pattern. The electrons are multiplied by a microchannel plate electron multiplier and are converted into photon energy by a phosphor screen to provide a visual image of the acoustic pattern. A grid is positioned between the piezoelectric transducer and the microchannel plate electron multiplier and is maintained at a potential so that the average electron current varies in accordance with the acoustic input.
Inventors
- 👤 Sarkis Barkhoudarian
- 👤 Charles Bruce Johnson
- 👤 George G Goetz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 00:11
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J29/00; H01J29/02; H01J29/10; G; G01; G01H; G01H3/00; G01H3/10; G01H3/12; G01H3/125; H01J31/00; H01J31/08; H01J31/50; H01J2231/00; H01J2231/50; H01J2231/50005; H01J2231/50052; H01J2231/50057; H01J2231/50063; H01J2231/501; H01J2231/5013; H01J2231/5016
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A device for converting an acoustic pattern into a visual image, comprising a piezoelectric transducer for receiving the acoustic pattern and providing an electronic charge pattern corresponding thereto, a source of electrons associated with the piezoelectric transducer for providing an electron current, means for biasing the electron current at a potential to provide an electron current modulated by the electronic charge pattern and having an average which varies in accordance with the acoustic pattern, a microchannel plate electron multiplier for amplifying the modulated electron current, and means for converting the amplified electron current to a visual image corresponding to the acoustic pattern.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A device for converting an acoustic pattern into a visual image, comprising a piezoelectric transducer for receiving the acoustic pattern and providing an electronic charge pattern corresponding thereto, a source of electrons associated with the piezoelectric transducer for providing an electron current, means for biasing the electron current at a potential to provide an electron current modulated by the electronic charge pattern and having an average which varies in accordance with the acoustic pattern, a microchannel plate electron multiplier for amplifying the modulated electron current, and means for converting the amplified electron current to a visual image corresponding to the acoustic pattern.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
102 words
A device for converting an acoustic pattern into a visual image, comprising a piezoelectric transducer for receiving the acoustic pattern and providing an electronic charge pattern corresponding thereto, a source of electrons associated with the piezoelectric transducer for providing an electron current, means for biasing the electron current at a potential to provide an electron current modulated by the electronic charge pattern and having an average which varies in accordance with the acoustic pattern, a microchannel plate electron multiplier for amplifying the modulated electron current, and means for converting the amplified electron current to a visual image corresponding to the acoustic pattern.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
102 words
A device for converting an acoustic pattern into a visual image, comprising a piezoelectric transducer for receiving the acoustic pattern and providing an electronic charge pattern corresponding thereto, a source of electrons associated with the piezoelectric transducer for providing an electron current, means for biasing the electron current at a potential to provide an electron current modulated by the electronic charge pattern and having an average which varies in accordance with the acoustic pattern, a microchannel plate electron multiplier for amplifying the modulated electron current, and means for converting the amplified electron current to a visual image corresponding to the acoustic pattern.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device for converting an acoustic pattern into a visual image as described in claim 1 in which the means for biasing the electron current includes a grid positioned between the electron emitting means and the microchannel plate electron multiplier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device for converting an acoustic pattern into a visual image as described in claim 2 in which the grid is a fine mesh. Pg,13
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device for converting an acoustic pattern into a visual image as described in claim 1 in which the piezoelectric transducer is arranged relative to the source to release electrons from the source with a spatial distribution of electron energies corresponding to the acoustic pattern.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device for converting an acoustic pattern into a visual image as described in claim 1 in which the source of electrons includes a photocathode and a radiation source for irradiating the photocathode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device for converting an acoustic pattern into a visual image as described in claim 1 in which the image converting means comprises a phosphorous screen for converting the amplified electron current to photon energy for providing the visual image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as described in claim 1 in which the acoustic pattern has a frequency fa (2 gamma / lambda ) where gamma is the propagation velocity and lambda is the wavelength of sound in the piezoelectric transducer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as described in claim 2 in which the grid is maintained at a potential to repel low energy electrons and pass high energy electrons.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device as described in claim 2 in which the microchannel plate electron multiplier has input and output electrodes at a potential for the required gain and the potential of the input electrode is several hundred volts higher than the grid potential.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as described in claim 9 in which the image converting means is a phosphorous screen maintained at a potential of approximately 5000 volts higher than the microchannel plate electron multiplier output electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as described in claim 5 in which the charge pattern voltage, the biasing potential, the wavelength distribution of the radiation source, and the photocathode spectral response cooperate to provide nonlinear modulation of the electron current.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device as described in claim 6 in which the conductivity of the photocathode is large enough to allow the photocathode current to remain at equilibrium with the electronic charge pattern and small enough to eliminate image quality degradation due to charge conduction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device as described in claim 12 in which the values of the volume resistivity and permititivity of the photocathode is such that the characteristic time constant of the photocathode is much larger than the applied acoustical period 1/fa where fa is the applied acoustical frequency.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as described in claim 1 which includes means for imaging the acoustic pattern on the piezoelectric transducer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device for converting an acoustic pattern into a visual image as described in claim 1 in which the source of electrons has a non-linear energy distribution.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device for converting an acoustic pattern into a visual image as described in claim 15 in which the biasing potential causes the electronic charge pattern to modulate the electron current in a non-linear region.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
151 words
A device for converting an acoustic input into a visual image, comprising a piezoelectric transducer, means for imaging the acoustic input on the piezoelectric transducer for providing an electronic charge pattern corresponding thereto, a photocathode having a non-linear electron energy distribution associated with the piezoelectric transducer, a radiation source for irradiating the photocathode to provide a source of electrons, a grid postitioned adjacent the photocathode and maintained at a potential to bias the electron current at a level of nonlinear electron energy distribution to provide an electron current modulated by the electronic charge pattern and having a spatial distribution of electron energies corresponding to the acoustic pattern, a microchannel plate electron multiplier positioned adjacent the grid for amplifying the modulated electron current, and a phosphorous screen positioned adjacent the microchannel plate electron multiplier for converting the electron current therefrom to photon energy for providing a visual image of the acoustic input.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
151 words
A device for converting an acoustic input into a visual image, comprising a piezoelectric transducer, means for imaging the acoustic input on the piezoelectric transducer for providing an electronic charge pattern corresponding thereto, a photocathode having a non-linear electron energy distribution associated with the piezoelectric transducer, a radiation source for irradiating the photocathode to provide a source of electrons, a grid postitioned adjacent the photocathode and maintained at a potential to bias the electron current at a level of nonlinear electron energy distribution to provide an electron current modulated by the electronic charge pattern and having a spatial distribution of electron energies corresponding to the acoustic pattern, a microchannel plate electron multiplier positioned adjacent the grid for amplifying the modulated electron current, and a phosphorous screen positioned adjacent the microchannel plate electron multiplier for converting the electron current therefrom to photon energy for providing a visual image of the acoustic input.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device for converting an acoustic input into a visual image as described in claim 17 in which the grid is maintained at a potential to provide an electron current modulated by the electronic charge pattern and having an average which varies in accordance with the acoustic input.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
87 words
A device for converting an acoustic input into a spatial electron current, comprising a piezoelectric transducer for receiving the acoustic input and providing an electronic charge pattern corresponding thereto, a source of electrons associated with the piezoelectric transducer for providing an electron current, means for biasing the electron current at a potential to provide an electron current modulated by the electron charge pattern and having an average which varies in accordance with the acoustic input, and a microchannel plate electron multiplier for amplifying the modulated electron current.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
87 words
A device for converting an acoustic input into a spatial electron current, comprising a piezoelectric transducer for receiving the acoustic input and providing an electronic charge pattern corresponding thereto, a source of electrons associated with the piezoelectric transducer for providing an electron current, means for biasing the electron current at a potential to provide an electron current modulated by the electron charge pattern and having an average which varies in accordance with the acoustic input, and a microchannel plate electron multiplier for amplifying the modulated electron current.
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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) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |