Time interval compression address sequentially

Claim 2

In an analog data system, the combination which comprises: a. a signal sampling generating means to generate a set of time spaced samples of each of a plurality of concurrent timeamplitude-variable signals during each of a plurality of successive data periods where said samples are taken at uniform time spaced intervals, b. two sets of CCD storage means coupled to the signal sampling generating means to alternately store a set of variable amplitude charge packets derived from said samples of said signals, and c. means alternately to transfer from said CCD storage means as a single data stream for display all the samples of all signals in said storage means in an interval of the order of said data period.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein each set of said CCD storage means comprises a plurality of charge coupled devices with a slow clock operating to input and shift charge packets into said devices in parallel and a high speed clock operating serially to write said packets out of said devices.

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein each said set of CCD storage means comprises a plurality of parallel connected charge coupled devices with one of said signals applied to each of said devices and wherein a common output channel has gated connections leading to all said devices.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein each said set of CCD storage means comprises a plurality of serial-parallel-serial charge coupled devices.

Claim 6

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein each said set of CCD storage means comprises serial-parallel-serial connected charge coupled devices with control means to read first, third and successive odd numbered sets of said signals into one set of said devices and to read the second, fourth, and successive even numbered sets of said signals into the other set and wherein a common output channel has gated connections leading to both said sets for alternate transmission therefrom.

Claim 7

In an infrared scanning system, the combination which comprises: a. a columnar array of infrared sensors, b. means cyclically to sweep a scene across said array in successive frame intervals to produce repetitive sets of time-amplitude-variable signals representative of optical variations across said scene, c. a pair of storage means coupled to the output of the columnar array of infrared sensors to alternately store successive sets of variable amplitude charge packets derived from said signals at uniform spaced sample intervals, and d. means coupled to the pair of storage means for alternately transferring out from storage as single data streams for display samples of signals in one said storage means in the frame interval, during which the succeeding set of signals is being stored in the other said storage means.

Claim 8

In an infrared scanning system, the combination which comprises: a. a columnar array of infrared sensors, b. means cyclically to sweep a scene across said array in successive frame intervals to produce repetitive sets of time-amplitude-variable signals representative of optical variations across said scene, c. a pair of storage means coupled to the output of the columnar array of infrared sensors to alternately store successive sets of variable amplitude charge packets derived from said signals at uniform spaced sample intervals, and d. means coupled to the pair of storage means for alternately transferring out from storage as single data streams for display samples of signals in one said storage means in the frame interval, during which the succeeding set of signals is being stored in the other said storage means.

Claim 9

In an infrared visual display system, the combination which comprises: a. a columnar array of infrared sensors, b. means to sweep a scene across said array to produce repetitive sets of time amplitude variable signals representative of optical variations along alternate slices across said scene, c. means to store as a first sample set uniform spaced time samples of each of said signals, d. means to sweep said scene across said array shifted by an amount one-half the space between centers of said slices, and e. means to store as a second sample set the outputs of said sensors while transmitting from storage to a video channel said first sample sets serially and one slice at a time.

Claim 10

In an infrared visual display system, the combination which comprises: a. a columnar array of infrared sensors, b. means to sweep a scene across said array to produce repetitive sets of time amplitude variable signals representative of optical variations along alternate slices across said scene, c. means to store as a first sample set uniform spaced time samples of each of said signals, d. means to sweep said scene across said array shifted by an amount one-half the space between centers of said slices, and e. means to store as a second sample set the outputs of said sensors while transmitting from storage to a video channel said first sample sets serially and one slice at a time.

Claim 11

In a system wherein a scene is cyclically swept across a column of light sensitive elements to produce a set of time-amplitude-varying signals proportional to the light character of said scene, the improvement which comprises: a. a first set of charge coupled devices each connected to receive and store time spaced sampleS of one element of said column whereby at the end of each scan, a complete sample-image of said scene is stored in said first set, b. a second set of charge coupled devices each connected to receive and store time spaced samples of said array line interlaced with those of said first set, and c. means operable during successive scan cycles to write alternately from said sets to an output channel to produce an interlaced string of variable amplitude signals representative of said scene for display.

Claim 12

In a system wherein a scene is cyclically swept across a column of light sensitive elements to produce a set of time-amplitude-varying signals proportional to the light character of said scene, the improvement which comprises: a. a first set of charge coupled devices each connected to receive and store time spaced sampleS of one element of said column whereby at the end of each scan, a complete sample-image of said scene is stored in said first set, b. a second set of charge coupled devices each connected to receive and store time spaced samples of said array line interlaced with those of said first set, and c. means operable during successive scan cycles to write alternately from said sets to an output channel to produce an interlaced string of variable amplitude signals representative of said scene for display.

Claim 15

The method of claim 9 in which said charge packets are stored and shifted serially in and through semiconductor charge coupled devices.

Claim 16

The method of claim 9 in which said charge packets for each said signal are shifted serially, then in parallel and then serially through the semiconductor charge coupled devices.

Claim 19

An infrared imager system comprising in combination: a. scanning infrared detector means for producing a set of electrical signals corresponding to incident radiation at a plurality of parallel output channels during each scan cycle; b. a plurality of arrays of semiconductor charge coupled devices connected to said detector means for receiving said electrical signals in parallel at a first clock rate; c. means coupled to said arrays of semiconductor charge coupled devices to enable said arrays sequentially at a first clock rate for storage of successive sets of said signals in different arrays; d. means coupled to the outputs of said arrays of semiconductor charge coupled devices for providing a serial read-out of data from one said array of charge transfer devices at a second clock rate of one set of said signals concurrently with storage of a later set in another of said arrays; and e. display means coupled to said arrays of charge transfer devices for receiving and displaying said serial data from said arrays at said second clock rate.

Claim 20

An infrared imager system comprising in combination: a. scanning infrared detector means for producing a set of electrical signals corresponding to incident radiation at a plurality of parallel output channels during each scan cycle; b. a plurality of arrays of semiconductor charge coupled devices connected to said detector means for receiving said electrical signals in parallel at a first clock rate; c. means coupled to said arrays of semiconductor charge coupled devices to enable said arrays sequentially at a first clock rate for storage of successive sets of said signals in different arrays; d. means coupled to the outputs of said arrays of semiconductor charge coupled devices for providing a serial read-out of data from one said array of charge transfer devices at a second clock rate of one set of said signals concurrently with storage of a later set in another of said arrays; and e. display means coupled to said arrays of charge transfer devices for receiving and displaying said serial data from said arrays at said second clock rate.

Claim 21

An infrared imager system as set forth in claim 13 wherein each channel of said detector means is coupled to said array of charge transfer devices through amplifying means.

Claim 22

An infrared imager system comprising in combination: a. an array of infrared detectors adapted to scan a scene; b. a plurality of semiconductor charge transfer device arrays for receiving parallel data from said detector array at a first frequency and providing serial output data at a preselected second frequency; c. means coupled to said plurality of semiconductor charge transfer device arrays for controlling storing the outputs of said detector array in successive scans of said scene in different ones of said semiconductor charge transfer arrays; and d. means coupled to the outputs of said plurality of semiconductor charge transfer device array to apply the content of said arrays to a display device as a serial stream.

Claim 23

An infrared imager system comprising in combination: a. an array of infrared detectors adapted to scan a scene; b. a plurality of semiconductor charge transfer device arrays for receiving parallel data from said detector array at a first frequency and providing serial output data at a preselected second frequency; c. means coupled to said plurality of semiconductor charge transfer device arrays for controlling storing the outputs of said detector array in successive scans of said scene in different ones of said semiconductor charge transfer arrays; and d. means coupled to the outputs of said plurality of semiconductor charge transfer device array to apply the content of said arrays to a display device as a serial stream.

Claim 24

In an analog data system, the combination which comprises: a. means for generating a set of time spaced samples of each of a plurality of concurrent time-amplitude-varying signals during each of a plurality of successive data periods where said samples are taken at uniform time spaced intervals; b. two sets of storage field means coupled to the means for generating a set of time spaced samples of each of a plurality of concurrent time-amplitude-varying signals for alternately storing successive sets of variable amplitude charge packets derived from said samples of said signals; and c. means coupled to the two sets of storage field means for alternately transferring from said two sets of storage field means as a single data stream the samples of signals in said two sets of storage field means in an interval of the order of said data period.

Claim 25

In an analog data system, the combination which comprises: a. means for generating a set of time spaced samples of each of a plurality of concurrent time-amplitude-varying signals during each of a plurality of successive data periods where said samples are taken at uniform time spaced intervals; b. two sets of storage field means coupled to the means for generating a set of time spaced samples of each of a plurality of concurrent time-amplitude-varying signals for alternately storing successive sets of variable amplitude charge packets derived from said samples of said signals; and c. means coupled to the two sets of storage field means for alternately transferring from said two sets of storage field means as a single data stream the samples of signals in said two sets of storage field means in an interval of the order of said data period.

Claim 26

The combination as set forth in claim 16, wherein the two sets of storage field means comprise charge transfer devices.

Claim 27

The combination as set forth in claim 17, wherein the charge transfer devices are charge coupled devices.

Claim 28

The combination as set forth in claim 18, wherein the charge transfer device are bucket brigade devices.