Method and apparatus for coherent imaging of infrared energy

Title: Method and apparatus for coherent imaging of infrared energy

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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:

Hutchinson, Donald P. ^[1]

(Knoxville, TN)

Issue Date:: 1998-01-01

Research Org.:: LOCKHEED MARTIN ENRGY SYST INC

OSTI Identifier:: 871544

Patent Number(s):: 5751830

Assignee:: Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc. (Oak Ridge, TN) ORNL

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/

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                    Hutchinson, Donald P. Method and apparatus for coherent imaging of infrared energy.  United States: N. p., 1998. 
        Web.

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                    Hutchinson, Donald P. Method and apparatus for coherent imaging of infrared energy.  United States.

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                    Hutchinson, Donald P. Thu .  
        "Method and apparatus for coherent imaging of infrared energy".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/871544.

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@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}

}

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