Method and apparatus for coherent imaging of infrared energy
Abstract
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.
- Inventors:
-
- Knoxville, TN
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 871544
- Patent Number(s):
- 5751830
- Assignee:
- Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc. (Oak Ridge, TN)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01S - RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02A - TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 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; /382/342/356/
Citation Formats
Hutchinson, Donald P. Method and apparatus for coherent imaging of infrared energy. United States: N. p., 1998.
Web.
Hutchinson, Donald P. Method and apparatus for coherent imaging of infrared energy. United States.
Hutchinson, Donald P. Thu .
"Method and apparatus for coherent imaging of infrared energy". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/871544.
@article{osti_871544,
title = {Method and apparatus for coherent imaging of infrared energy},
author = {Hutchinson, Donald P},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1998},
month = {1}
}