Light burst activity analyzer
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorHugh D. Copeland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus is provided for analyzing the structure of light burst activity ich is generated by a particular light source, such as a group of bioluminescent organisms. The apparatus includes a photon detector for detecting discrete photons of light occurring proximate to the source during each sampling time in a series of sampling times, and further includes a counter coupled to the photon detector for providing successive photon counts, a photon count being the number of discrete photons detected by the photon detector during one of the sampling times. A pulse height analyzing device is coupled to the counter for providing a distribution of the photon counts over the sampling time series.
Claims14
Apparatus for analyzing the structure of light burst activity which occurs over a period of time, said apparatus comprising:
- means for detecting discrete photons generated by successive light bursts of said activity during each sampling time in a series of sampling times;
- means coupled to said photon detecting means for providing successive photon counts, each of said photon counts comprising the number of discrete photons detected by said photon detecting means during one of said sampling times;
- and
- data processing means coupled to said counting means for providing the distribution of said photon counts over said series of sampling times.
A method for analyzing the structure of light burst activity which occurs over a period of time, said method comprising the steps of:
- detecting discrete photons generated by successive light bursts during each sampling time in a series of sampling times;
- counting the number of photons detected during a given sampling time to provide a photon count for said given sampling time;
- and
- coupling each of said sampling times to a pulse height analyzing device to generate a probability distribution function at the conclusion of said sampling time series, said function indicating the probability that a particular photon count value will be generated by said light burst activity during a specified period of time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.