Multiple Beam Directed Energy System
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsSandor Holly, Donald Elliot Harrington, Nicholas Koumvakalis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for transmitting beams of electromagnetic energy. A plurality of beams having a first number of frequencies and a number of beams having a second number of frequencies are transmitted. The plurality of beams and the number of beams overlap each other at an area with a pattern of intensities in the area. Difference frequency signals having a number of difference frequencies equal to a difference between the first number of frequencies and the second number of frequencies are monitored. The difference frequency signals are generated by an object having non-linear electrical characteristics in response to receiving the plurality of beams and the number of beams.
Claims25
An apparatus, comprising:
- a transmitter system is configured to transmit a plurality of beams having a first number of frequencies and a number of beams having a second number of frequencies;
- a receiver system capable of monitoring for difference frequency signals having a number of difference frequencies equal to a difference between the first number of frequencies and the second number of frequencies, wherein the difference frequency signals are generated by an object having non-linear electrical characteristics in response to receiving the plurality of beams and the number of beams;
- and
- a processor unit connected to the transmitter system and the receiver system, wherein the processor unit is configured to control operation of the transmitter system to transmit the plurality of beams having the first number of frequencies and the number of beams having the second number of frequencies to overlap in an area with a pattern of intensities in the area.
A method for transmitting beams of electromagnetic energy, the method comprising:
- transmitting a plurality of beams having a first number of frequencies and a number of beams having a second number of frequencies in which the plurality of beams and the number of beams overlap each other at an area with a pattern of intensities in the area;
- and
- monitoring for difference frequency signals having a number of difference frequencies equal to a difference between the first number of frequencies and the second number of frequencies, wherein the difference frequency signals are generated by an object having non-linear electrical characteristics in response to receiving the plurality of beams and the number of beams.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.