Method and system for gating a sensor using a gating signal

• US 6,576,884 B1
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L3 Technologies, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Litton Systems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Ostromek, Timothy E., Estrera, Joseph P., Bacarella, Antonio V.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US09/885,639
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 250/214.VT, 250/214.R, 250/214.1, 250/208.1, 250/205, 250/214.LA, 250/207, 250/338.1, 250/339.11, 313/532, 313/539, 313/103.R, 313/105.CM
• US Class Current: 250/214.0VT
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/495 Counter-measures or counter-counter-measures using electronic or electro-optical means
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 40/14 Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the tube and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/20 for generating image signals from infrared radiation only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

A system (100) for gating a sensor (118) includes a detector (120) that detects light and outputs a signal (102) corresponding to the light. A control unit (134) receives the signal (104), adjusts a gating signal (112) in response to the signal (104), and outputs the adjusted gating signal (112) to gate a sensor (118) sensing the light.

Claims

1. A system for gating a sensor, the system comprising:

a detector operable to detect light and to output a signal corresponding to the light; and

a control unit coupled to the detector and operable to;

receive the signal;

adjust a phase of a gating signal in response to the signal;

adjust substantially simultaneously a frequency and a pulse width of the gating signal in response to the signal; and

output the adjusted gating signal to gate a sensor sensing the light.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the control unit and operable to display information about the light.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is operable to adjust the gating signal according to a predetermined trigger intensity.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the signal comprises frequency information about the light; and

the control unit is operable to adjust a frequency and a phase of the gating signal in response to the frequency information.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the signal comprises intensity information about the light; and

the control unit is operable to adjust a pulse width of the gating signal in response to the intensity information.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the detector is operable to detect the light through the sensor.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power supply coupled to the control unit and operable to receive the adjusted gating signal and to output a gated power signal corresponding to the adjusted gating signal to gate the sensor.

8. A system for gating a sensor, the system comprising:

a sensor operable to sense light and to output a signal corresponding to the light;

a detector operable to detect light through the sensor and to output the signal using the light, the signal comprising frequency information and intensity information about the light;

a control unit coupled to the detector and operable to;

receive the signal;

adjust substantially simultaneously a frequency, a phase, and a pulse width of a gating signal in response to the signal; and

adjust the gating signal according to a predetermined trigger intensity;

a power supply coupled to the control unit and operable to receive the adjusted gating signal and to output a gated power signal to gate the sensor sensing the light; and

a display coupled to the control unit and operable to display information about the light.

9. A method for gating a sensor, the method comprising:

detecting light;

generating a signal corresponding to the light;

adjusting a phase of a gating signal according to the signal;

adjusting substantially simultaneously a frequency and a pulse width of the gating signal in response to the signal; and

outputting the adjusted gating signal to gate a sensor sensing the light.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising adjusting the gating signal according to a predetermined trigger intensity.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving the adjusted gating signal; and

outputting a gated power signal corresponding to the adjusted gating signal to gate the sensor.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising displaying information about the light.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining a frequency of the light; and

adjusting a frequency and a phase of the gating signal in response to the frequency of the light.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining an intensity of the light; and

adjusting a pulse width of the gating signal in response to the intensity of the light.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising detecting the light through the sensor.