Scanning system with low sampling rate
First Claim
1. A scanning sensor system comprising:
- a detector array including a plurality of detector elements positioned at a predetermined spacing in a focal plane, each of said detector elements adapted when sampled to produce a detector output signal value representative of the integrated energy of said radiation applied to said detector element since said detector element was last sampled;
means for scanning said array across a field of view;
means for generating sampling signals to sample each of said detector elements, the sampling signals for each of said detector elements being identical in sampling frequency and having a predetermined time phase relationship;
a plurality of delay means each coupled to one of said detector elements for delaying said detector output signal values of said coupled detector element by a predetermined delay value such that said delayed detector output signal values are out of time phase; and
multiplexer means connected to each of said delay means for time multiplexing said delayed detector signal values as discrete signals on a single multiplexer output terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A scanning infrared sensor scans an array of detector elements across a field of view and samples the detector elements at a predetermined rate. The detector elements are sampled with a common sample frequency and with predetermined time phase values, are processed through delay elements such that the delayed detector output signal values are out of time phase, and are supplied to a multiplexer. The multiplexer produces a series of discrete signals at equal time intervals having an effective sample rate which is a multiple of the individual detector element sample rate, thereby reducing the complexity of processing circuitry, the number of interconnections required between the focal plane array and on-gimbal circuitry, and the size and weight of delay elements.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A scanning sensor system comprising:
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a detector array including a plurality of detector elements positioned at a predetermined spacing in a focal plane, each of said detector elements adapted when sampled to produce a detector output signal value representative of the integrated energy of said radiation applied to said detector element since said detector element was last sampled; means for scanning said array across a field of view; means for generating sampling signals to sample each of said detector elements, the sampling signals for each of said detector elements being identical in sampling frequency and having a predetermined time phase relationship; a plurality of delay means each coupled to one of said detector elements for delaying said detector output signal values of said coupled detector element by a predetermined delay value such that said delayed detector output signal values are out of time phase; and multiplexer means connected to each of said delay means for time multiplexing said delayed detector signal values as discrete signals on a single multiplexer output terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for producing signals representative of radiation emitted by objects of interest, comprising the steps of:
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scanning an array of detector elements across a field of view, said detector elements having a predetermined spacing in a focal plane; integrating the energy of radiation from objects in said field of view on said detector elements; applying sampling signals to each detector element to produce detector output signal values representative of the integrated energy of said radiation applied to said detector element since said detector element was last sampled, the sampling signals for each of said detector elements being identical in frequency and having a predetermined time phase relationship; delaying each of said detector output signal values by a predetermined delay value to produced delayed detector output signals which are out of time phase; and multiplexing said delayed detector signal values as discrete signals on a single multiplexer output terminal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification