Wavelength-conversion system with a heated or cooled wavelength-conversion target
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsWilliam Conrad Stenton, Evan S. Cameron
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wavelength-conversion system includes a wavelength-conversion target that radiates an energy output when an energy input of a different wavelength is incident upon the wavelength-conversion target. An input structure directs the energy input of the input-energy wavelength to be incident upon the wavelength-conversion target. A target baseline temperature modifier either controllably heats or controllably cools the wavelength-conversion target independently of any heating or cooling effect of the energy input or the energy output. A detector is positioned so that the energy output of the output-energy wavelength emitted from the wavelength-conversion target is incident upon the detector.
Claims18
A wavelength-conversion system comprising:
- a wavelength-conversion target that radiates an energy output of an output-energy wavelength when an energy input of an input-energy wavelength is incident upon the wavelength-conversion target;
- a target baseline temperature modifier for the wavelength-conversion target, wherein the target baseline temperature modifier either controllably heats or controllably cools the wavelength-conversion target independently of any heating or cooling effect of the energy input or the energy output;
- and
- a detector positioned so that the energy output of the output-energy wavelength emitted from the wavelength-conversion target is incident upon the detector.
A wavelength-conversion system comprising:
- a wavelength-conversion target that radiates an infra-red energy output of an infra-red output-energy wavelength when an infra-red energy input of an infra-red input-energy wavelength is incident upon the wavelength-conversion target;
- an input mirror structure that directs the infra-red energy input of the infra-red input-energy wavelength to be incident upon the wavelength-conversion target;
- a target baseline temperature modifier for the wavelength-conversion target, wherein the target baseline temperature modifier either controllably heats or controllably cools the wavelength-conversion target independently of any heating or cooling effect of the infra-red energy input or the infra-red energy output;
- and
- an infra-red detector sensitive to the infra-red output-energy wavelength positioned so that the infra-red energy output of the infra-red output-energy wavelength emitted from the wavelength-conversion target is incident upon the detector.
A method for performing wavelength conversion, comprising the steps of
- providing a wavelength-conversion system comprising
- a wavelength-conversion target that radiates an energy output of an output-energy wavelength when an energy input of an input-energy wavelength is incident upon the wavelength-conversion target, and wherein the energy input increases a local target temperature of the wavelength-conversion target by an energy-input incremental target temperature in an illuminated area wherein the energy input is incident upon the wavelength-conversion target,
- a target baseline temperature modifier for the wavelength-conversion target, wherein the target baseline temperature modifier either controllably heats or controllably cools the wavelength-conversion target independently of any heating or cooling effect of the energy input or the energy output, and
- a detector positioned so that the energy output of the output-energy wavelength emitted from the wavelength-conversion target is incident upon the detector, wherein the detector has a noise-floor temperature;
- adjusting the target baseline temperature of the wavelength-conversion target so that the target baseline temperature of the wavelength-conversion target plus the incremental target temperature is equal to or greater than the noise-floor temperature of the detector;
- and
- operating the wavelength-conversion system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.