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Title: Method and apparatus for coherent imaging of infrared energy

Patent ·
OSTI ID:871544
 [1]
  1. Knoxville, TN
+ Show Author Affiliations

A coherent camera system performs ranging, spectroscopy, and thermal imaging. Local oscillator radiation is combined with target scene radiation to enable heterodyne detection by the coherent camera's two-dimensional photodetector array. Versatility enables deployment of the system in either a passive mode (where no laser energy is actively transmitted toward the target scene) or an active mode (where a transmitting laser is used to actively illuminate the target scene). The two-dimensional photodetector array eliminates the need to mechanically scan the detector. Each element of the photodetector array produces an intermediate frequency signal that is amplified, filtered, and rectified by the coherent camera's integrated circuitry. By spectroscopic examination of the frequency components of each pixel of the detector array, a high-resolution, three-dimensional or holographic image of the target scene is produced for applications such as air pollution studies, atmospheric disturbance monitoring, and military weapons targeting.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
Assignee:
Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc. (Oak Ridge, TN)
Patent Number(s):
US 5751830
OSTI ID:
871544
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (7)

New trends in infrared detector technology journal February 1994
Device physics of quantum well infrared photodetectors journal January 1993
Novel GaAs/AlGaAs multiquantum-well Schottky-junction device and its photovoltaic LWIR detection journal January 1992
New semiconductor laser developed at Bell Labs journal April 1994
Long-wavelength 128*128 GaAs quantum well infrared photodetector arrays journal December 1991
Extended long‐wavelength λ=11–15‐μm GaAs/Al x Ga 1− x As quantum‐well infrared photodetectors journal November 1991
Quantum Cascade Laser journal April 1994

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Related Subjects

method
apparatus
coherent
imaging
infrared
energy
camera
performs
ranging
spectroscopy
thermal
local
oscillator
radiation
combined
target
scene
enable
heterodyne
detection
two-dimensional
photodetector
array
versatility
enables
deployment
passive
mode
laser
actively
transmitted
active
transmitting
illuminate
eliminates
mechanically
scan
detector
element
produces
intermediate
frequency
signal
amplified
filtered
rectified
integrated
circuitry
spectroscopic
examination
components
pixel
high-resolution
three-dimensional
holographic
image
produced
applications
air
pollution
studies
atmospheric
disturbance
monitoring
military
weapons
targeting
photodetector array
active mode
frequency components
infrared energy
detector array
integrated circuit
laser energy
intermediate frequency
frequency signal
local oscillator
two-dimensional photodetector
holographic image
heterodyne detection
frequency component
air pollution
passive mode
transmitting laser
thermal imaging
integrated circuitry
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