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US 4,894,542 AGranted
Broadband superconducting detector
AssigneeProgress Technology Corporation
InventorRichard T. Schneider
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A broadband photon detector device which operates using a superconducting material is biased at the temperature where the material changes from a superconducting to a non-superconducting state. Photons which strike said material cause a temperature rise and a measurable increase in resistivity of the material. Measuring the increase in resistivity allows the detection of the incident photons.
Claims23
A broadband photon detector comprising:
- superconducting material such that at least within a given range incident photons increase the temperature of said material and the resistivity of said material varies in accordance with the temperature of said material;
- means for maintaining said material at a temperature within said given range using blackbody radiation that an increase in temperature of said material will cause an increase in the resistivity of said material;
- and
- means for sensing an increase in the resistivity of said material.
1 more element
A method of detecting photons comprising the steps of:
- biasing a superconducting material using blackbody radiation at a given temperature so that an increase in the temperature of said material from said given temperature will cause an increase in resistivity of said material;
- orienting said material so that incident photons can strike said material to cause an increase in the resistivity of said material;
- and
- sensing said increase in resistivity of said material.
1 more element
A broadband photon detector comprising:
- a housing;
- a superconducting material such that at least within a given temperature range incident photons increase the temperature of said material and the resistivity of said material varies in accordance with the temperature of said material;
- a substrate on which said material is mounted, said substrate and said material further being disposed within said housing;
- means for establishing said material at a given temperature within said range using blackbody radiation disposed in said housing;
- means for orienting said material so that photons can fall on said superconducting material;
- and
- means for sensing an increase in the resistivity of said material.
4 more elements
A broadband photon detector comprising:
- superconducting material such that at least within a given range incident photons increase the temperature of said material and the resistivity of said material varies in accordance with the temperature of said material;
- means for enclosing said superconducting material in a vacuum;
- means for maintaining said material at a temperature within said given range using blackbody radiation so that an increase in temperature of said material will cause a increase in the resistivity of said material;
- and
- means for sensing an increase in the resistivity of said material.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.