US4327285A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electron-optical image tubes and streak cameras
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-03-23
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Granted: 1982-04-27
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Expires: 1999-03-23
Abstract
Abstract A record is obtained of repetitive optical phenomena having durations in the picosecond or subpicosecond range by synchronizing the deflection of the electron image in an electron-optical streaking image tube with the repetition rate of a pulse train from a continuous wave mode-locked laser which supplies such pulses to the tube. Synchronization may be effected by supplying a reference frequency signal both to the laser and to the deflection electrodes in the image tube. The signal applied to the deflection electrodes may comprise a synchronized sinusoidal voltage signal and a slowly varying bias voltage signal. An optical multi-channel analyser may be used at the output of the image tube, linked to an oscilloscope or pen recorder.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel J. Bradley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:04
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04F; G04F13/00; G04F13/02; G04F13/026; G03; G03B; G03B39/00; G03B39/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
Apparatus for obtaining a record of repetitive optical phenomena having durations in the picosecond or sub-picosecond range, comprising an image tube for receiving repetitive pulse-form images and converting them to electron images; electron deflecting means to deflect the electrons in their passage through the tube; a continuous wave mode-locked laser arranged to generate a repetitive series of pulses; guide means for directing the laser pulse train to the image tube; means to supply to the deflecting means a time-resolving scanning voltage; means to scan the electron images in the tube in a linear direction; synchronising means to synchronise the deflection of the electron images in the tube with the repetition rate of the pulse train from the continuous wave mode-locked laser; and means to scan the electron image across the tube to read out the time-resolved image profile.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
Apparatus for obtaining a record of repetitive optical phenomena having durations in the picosecond or sub-picosecond range, comprising an image tube for receiving repetitive pulse-form images and converting them to electron images; electron deflecting means to deflect the electrons in their passage through the tube; a continuous wave mode-locked laser arranged to generate a repetitive series of pulses; guide means for directing the laser pulse train to the image tube; means to supply to the deflecting means a time-resolving scanning voltage; means to scan the electron images in the tube in a linear direction; synchronising means to synchronise the deflection of the electron images in the tube with the repetition rate of the pulse train from the continuous wave mode-locked laser; and means to scan the electron image across the tube to read out the time-resolved image profile.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the synchronising means comprises a signal generator arranged to provide a reference frequency signal both to the laser and to the electron deflecting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which said synchronising means comprises an r.f. oscillator, and which also includes an acousto-optic modulator with which the laser is actively mode-locked, said oscillator supplying the reference frequency signal to said modulator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the synchronising means comprises a photodetector arranged to receive the pulse train, signal generator means connected to said electron deflecting means, and frequency locking means synchronising the signal generator means with the photodetector output.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the laser comprises a synchronously pumped mode-locked continuous wave dye laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the guide means includes optical delay means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the laser comprises mirrors carried on piezoelectric elements arranged to be connected to a voltage source for mechanical scanning movement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the image tube includes an apertured disc on which the streak images impinge, the disc having one or more slits perpendicular to the axis of the image tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which the apertured disc is provided with a plurality of parallel slits of equal width and perpendicular to the time-varying direction with each slit spaced at a distance equal to the slit width.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which includes an optical multichannel analyser at the output end of the image tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the guide means includes a beam splitter and an interferometer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which includes a sample cell contining a fluorescent dye positioned in the pulse train path between the laser and the image tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said time-resolving scanning voltage is a sinusoidal voltage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the electron deflecting means comprises a single pair of deflection electrodes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the read-out scan is effected symmetrically about the tube axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said read-out scan means scans the image at a rate synchronised to the repetition rate of the laser pulse train.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the read-out scan means generates a slowly varying bias voltage signal to scan the image across the tube.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which includes means to obtain direct electronic read-out from the output end of the image tube.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of obtaining a record of repetitive optical phenomena having durations in the picosecond or sub-picosecond range which comprises generating from a continuous wave mode-locked laser a repetitive series of pulses; feeding the pulses to the input of a streaking image tube; applying a time-resolving scanning voltage to electron deflecting means to deflect the electrons in their passage through the tube; and operating the streaking image tube in a continuous scanning mode with the time-resolving scanning voltage synchronised with the repetition frequency of the laser pulse train and with the electron images scanned linearly in the image tube; and scanning the electron image across the tube to read out the time-resolved image profile.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of obtaining a record of repetitive optical phenomena having durations in the picosecond or sub-picosecond range which comprises generating from a continuous wave mode-locked laser a repetitive series of pulses; feeding the pulses to the input of a streaking image tube; applying a time-resolving scanning voltage to electron deflecting means to deflect the electrons in their passage through the tube; and operating the streaking image tube in a continuous scanning mode with the time-resolving scanning voltage synchronised with the repetition frequency of the laser pulse train and with the electron images scanned linearly in the image tube; and scanning the electron image across the tube to read out the time-resolved image profile.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 19, which includes supplying to the electron deflecting means both a sinusoidal voltage synchronised with the pulse train and also a bias voltage to scan the image across the tube.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 20, in which the sinusoidal voltage is at a frequency of the order of hundreds of megahertz and the bias voltage is at a frequency in the kilohertz range.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 20, in which the read-out scan is effected linearly across the tube with a direct electronic read-out of the image profile.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3761614A
Cited
US3973117A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-04-26 | 1985-10-26 | 1986-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-04-26 | 1989-10-26 | 1990-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-04-26 | 1993-10-26 | 1994-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |