Calibration method and apparatus for collecting the output of an array of detector cells

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an operate adder operatively connected to add the uncorrected serial signal from said parallel to serial converter and the new offset from said learn adder when in the operate mode to provide a corrected serial signal.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said comparator limits the offset difference to a predetermined range of values.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said comparator limits the offset difference to the predetermined range of plus and minus one bit.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said comparator provides a zero offset difference when in the operate mode.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said parallel to serial converter comprises a shift register and an analog to digital converter operatively connected to receive the plurality of detected signals from said array of cells and to provide the uncorrected serial signal to said comparator and said operate adder.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said memory comprises one of a first-in-first-out memory and a shift register.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an instantaneous Fourier transform unit including a laser optically coupled with the linear array of detector cells; and a Bragg cell disposed between said laser and the linear array of detector cells.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an antenna operatively connected to said Bragg cell.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said second means comprises: memory means for sequentially holding the previous offset for each of the detector cells; comparison means for comparing the uncorrected serial signal with the previous offset to provide the offset difference; and learn adder means for adding the offset difference and the previous offset to provide the new offset as the previous offset.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said comparator means comprises means for comparing the uncorrected serial signal with a previous offset to provide an offset difference when in a learn mode, wherein said offset difference is limited to a predetermined range of values.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said comparator means comprises means for limiting the offset difference to plus and minus one bit.

Claim 16

An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said comparator means further comprises means for outputting zero as an offset difference when in an operate mode.

Claim 17

An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising operate adder means for adding the uncorrected serial signal with the previous offset to provide an offset difference when in an operate mode.

Claim 18

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said memory means comprises one of a first-in-first-out memory and a shift register.

Claim 21

A method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of: (d) adding one of the detected signals serially provided in said step (a) with a previous offset to provide an offset difference when in an operate mode.

Claim 22

A method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of: (e) sequentially storing in a memory a plurality of the new offsets to provide a plurality of the previous offsets corresponding to the detector cells.

Claim 23

A method according to claim 18, wherein said step (b) comprises the substeps of: (b1) comparing one of the detected signals serially provided in said step (a) with a previous offset to provide an offset difference when in a learn mode, wherein said offset difference is limited to plus and minus one bit.

Claim 24

A detection system comprising: means for receiving an input to said system; means for detecting said input, said means for detecting comprising one or more detector cells; means for providing the output of each of said one or more detector cells in the form of corresponding one or more binary outputs; means for storing one or more binary offset correction values, one each of said values* corresponding to respective ones of said one or more binary outputs; means for subtracting each of said one or more binary offset correction values from a corresponding one of said one or more binary outputs; and means for incrementing said one or more binary offset correction values, said means for incrementing comprising: means for isolating said input from each of said one or more detector cells; means for determining which of said one or more binary offset correction values is greater to or less than the corresponding one of said one or more binary outputs; and means for incrementing each of said one or more binary offset correction values by a preselected amount, said incrementing being by subtracting a preselected amount from each of those one of said binary offset correction values that are greater than the corresponding ones of said one or more binary outputs, and by adding said preselected amount to those one of said binary offset correction values that are less than the corresponding ones of said one or more binary outputs.

Claim 25

A detection system comprising: means for receiving an input to said system; means for detecting said input, said means for detecting comprising one or more detector cells; means for providing the output of each of said one or more detector cells in the form of corresponding one or more binary outputs; means for storing one or more binary offset correction values, one each of said values* corresponding to respective ones of said one or more binary outputs; means for subtracting each of said one or more binary offset correction values from a corresponding one of said one or more binary outputs; and means for incrementing said one or more binary offset correction values, said means for incrementing comprising: means for isolating said input from each of said one or more detector cells; means for determining which of said one or more binary offset correction values is greater to or less than the corresponding one of said one or more binary outputs; and means for incrementing each of said one or more binary offset correction values by a preselected amount, said incrementing being by subtracting a preselected amount from each of those one of said binary offset correction values that are greater than the corresponding ones of said one or more binary outputs, and by adding said preselected amount to those one of said binary offset correction values that are less than the corresponding ones of said one or more binary outputs.

Claim 26

The system of claim 21, wherein said preselected amount is a binary 1.

Claim 27

The system of claim 21, wherein said means for providing is a parallel to serial converter adapted to receive in parallel each of said one or more binary outputs, and responsive thereto provide a serial signal corresponding to said one or more binary outputs.

Claim 28

The system of claim 21, wherein: said one or more detector cells are respective one or more photodetecting charge coupled devices; and said means for receiving said input comprises a laser and a Bragg cell, wherein: said laser and said Bragg cell are adapted to transduce said input into one or more modulated optical signals directed to corresponding ones of said one or more charge coupled devices, effective to produce said output of said one or more detector cells.

Claim 29

The system of claim 24, wherein said means for making each of said one or more inputs zero is a shutter adapted to selectively isolate light output from said laser to said Bragg cell.

Claim 30

The system of claim 22, wherein said means for providing is a parallel to serial converter adapted to receive in parallel each of said one or more binary outputs, and responsive thereto provide a serial signal corresponding to said one or more binary outputs.

Claim 31

The system of claim 26, wherein: said one or more detector cells are respective one or more photodetecting charge coupled devices; and said means for receiving said corresponding one or more outputs comprises a laser; and a Bragg cell, wherein: said laser and said Bragg cell are adapted to transduce said input into one or more modulated optical signals directed to corresponding ones of said one or more charge coupled devices, effective to produce said output of said one or more detector cells.

Claim 32

The system of claim 27, wherein said means for making each of said one or more inputs zero is a shutter adapted to selectively isolate light output from said laser to said Bragg cell.

Claim 33

The system of claim 21, wherein said means for incrementing is adapted to repeat said incrementing for a preselected number of times.

Claim 34

The system of claim 28, wherein said means for incrementing is adapted to repeat said incrementing for a preselected number of times.