US5347235A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optically controlled oscillator
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1992-11-02
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Granted: 1994-09-13
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Expires: 2012-11-02
Abstract
Abstract An optically controlled oscillator circuit having an oscillator field eff transistor (FET) and having a separate light sensing quench FET. The optically controlled oscillator circuit includes, a light source, a control connected to the light source, an optic fiber having an end coupled to the light source, a quench field effect transistor (FET) coupled to a second end of the optic fiber, an oscillator FET, each FET being a GaAs multi-finger FET having drains and sources and gates, and a circuit connected in series circuit through the drains and sources of the quench FET and oscillator FET across a source of positive voltage.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas P. Higgins
- 👤 Dana J. Sturzebecher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:47
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03G; H03G3/00; H03G3/20; H03G3/30; H03G3/3084; H03B; H03B5/00; H03B5/18; H03B5/1841; H03B5/1847; H03B5/1852; H03B2200/00; H03B2200/003; H03B2200/0044; H03B2200/006; H03B2200/0062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
An optically controlled oscillator circuit comprising: a light source for emitting light at a selective wavelength; control means coupled to said light source for controlling the intensity of the light emitted from said light source; a quench field effect transistor (FET) and a separate oscillator field effect transistor (FET); each said FET having at least one source, at least one drain and at least one gate; circuit means having a circuit output junction, the circuit means connecting the respective source and drain of said quench FET and said oscillator FET in a series circuit with said circuit output junction across a source of positive dc voltage; means optically coupled from said light source to a surface of said quench FET between the source and drain of the quench FET and covering substantially all of the gate of the quench FET; and gate biasing means coupled to the gate of said quench FET for biasing said quench FET to a point near a pinch-off voltage to maximize the light sensitivity of the quench FET.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
An optically controlled oscillator circuit comprising: a light source for emitting light at a selective wavelength; control means coupled to said light source for controlling the intensity of the light emitted from said light source; a quench field effect transistor (FET) and a separate oscillator field effect transistor (FET); each said FET having at least one source, at least one drain and at least one gate; circuit means having a circuit output junction, the circuit means connecting the respective source and drain of said quench FET and said oscillator FET in a series circuit with said circuit output junction across a source of positive dc voltage; means optically coupled from said light source to a surface of said quench FET between the source and drain of the quench FET and covering substantially all of the gate of the quench FET; and gate biasing means coupled to the gate of said quench FET for biasing said quench FET to a point near a pinch-off voltage to maximize the light sensitivity of the quench FET.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The optically controlled oscillator circuit of claim 1, wherein said quench FET and said oscillator FET are portions of a single gallium arsenide (GaAs) microwave lithic integrated circuit (MMIC) monolithic chip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The optically controlled oscillator circuit of claim 1, wherein said oscillator FET gate connects through an inductive reactance to ground and said circuit output junction connects through a capacitive teacrance to ground.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optically controlled oscillator circuit of claim 1, wherein said means optically coupled from said light source to said quench FET is an optical fiber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optically controlled oscillator circuit of claim 1, wherein said light source is a laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
105 words
An optically controlled oscillator circuit comprising; a light source for emitting light at a selective wavelength; control means coupled to said light source for controlling the intensity of light from said light source; a quench FET; an oscillator field effect transistor (FET) having a drain and a source and a gate; circuit means having a circuit output junction; said circuit means connecting the source and drain of said oscillator FET in series circuit with said a quench FET and with said circuit output junction across a source of positive voltage; and means optically coupled from said light source on a surface of said quench FET.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
105 words
An optically controlled oscillator circuit comprising; a light source for emitting light at a selective wavelength; control means coupled to said light source for controlling the intensity of light from said light source; a quench FET; an oscillator field effect transistor (FET) having a drain and a source and a gate; circuit means having a circuit output junction; said circuit means connecting the source and drain of said oscillator FET in series circuit with said a quench FET and with said circuit output junction across a source of positive voltage; and means optically coupled from said light source on a surface of said quench FET.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
145 words
An optically controlled oscillator circuit comprising; a light source; a control connected to the light source; an optic fiber having a first end coupled to the light source; a quench field effect transistor (FET) coupled to a second end by the optic fiber; an oscillator FET separate from the quench FET: each said FET being a gallium arsenide (GaAs) FET having at least one drain, at least one source, and at least one gate; a negative voltage source connected to the gate(s) of the quench FET; a positive voltage source; circuit means having a circuit output junction; and said circuit means connected to the positive voltage source and connected in series circuit through the oscillator FET drain then connected through the oscillator FET source to the circuit output junction then connected through the quench FET drain then connected through the quench FET source to ground.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
145 words
An optically controlled oscillator circuit comprising; a light source; a control connected to the light source; an optic fiber having a first end coupled to the light source; a quench field effect transistor (FET) coupled to a second end by the optic fiber; an oscillator FET separate from the quench FET: each said FET being a gallium arsenide (GaAs) FET having at least one drain, at least one source, and at least one gate; a negative voltage source connected to the gate(s) of the quench FET; a positive voltage source; circuit means having a circuit output junction; and said circuit means connected to the positive voltage source and connected in series circuit through the oscillator FET drain then connected through the oscillator FET source to the circuit output junction then connected through the quench FET drain then connected through the quench FET source to ground.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-09-12 | 1998-03-14 | 1998-09-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-12 | 2002-03-14 | 2002-09-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-12 | 2006-03-14 | 2006-09-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |