Multi-band receiver using harmonic synchronous detection
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a transmitter system capable of transmitting a first collimated beam having a first frequency and a second collimated beam having a second frequency;
a receiver system capable of monitoring for a fundamental difference frequency signal having a difference frequency equal to a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency and a number of harmonics of the fundamental difference frequency signal each of which is a harmonic of the fundamental difference frequency signal, wherein the fundamental difference frequency signal and the number of harmonics of the fundamental difference frequency signal are generated by an object having non-linear electrical characteristics in response to receiving the first collimated beam and the second collimated beam; and
a processor unit connected to the transmitter system and the receiver system, wherein the processor unit is capable of controlling operation of the transmitter system and the receiver system to change at least one of the first frequency and the second frequency through a range of frequencies and to detect a range of fundamental difference frequency signals and a range of the number of harmonics of the fundamental difference frequency signals in response to the transmitter system transmitting the first collimated beam and the second collimated beam using the range of frequencies.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus comprises a transmitter system, a receiver system, and a processor unit. The transmitter system transmits first and second collimated beams having a first and second frequency. The receiver system monitors for a fundamental difference frequency signal having a difference frequency equal to a difference between the first and second frequency and a number of harmonics of the fundamental difference frequency signal. These signals are generated by an object having non-linear electrical characteristics in response to the collimated beams. The processor unit is connected to the transmitter system and the receiver system. The processor unit controls the transmitter and receiver systems to change at least one of the first and second frequencies through a range of frequencies and detect a range of fundamental difference frequency signals and the number of harmonics of the fundamental difference frequency signal in response to transmitting the collimated beams using the range of frequencies.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a transmitter system capable of transmitting a first collimated beam having a first frequency and a second collimated beam having a second frequency; a receiver system capable of monitoring for a fundamental difference frequency signal having a difference frequency equal to a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency and a number of harmonics of the fundamental difference frequency signal each of which is a harmonic of the fundamental difference frequency signal, wherein the fundamental difference frequency signal and the number of harmonics of the fundamental difference frequency signal are generated by an object having non-linear electrical characteristics in response to receiving the first collimated beam and the second collimated beam; and a processor unit connected to the transmitter system and the receiver system, wherein the processor unit is capable of controlling operation of the transmitter system and the receiver system to change at least one of the first frequency and the second frequency through a range of frequencies and to detect a range of fundamental difference frequency signals and a range of the number of harmonics of the fundamental difference frequency signals in response to the transmitter system transmitting the first collimated beam and the second collimated beam using the range of frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus comprising:
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a transmitter system capable of transmitting a plurality of electromagnetic signals having a first frequency and a second frequency; a receiver system capable of monitoring for a fundamental difference frequency signal having a difference frequency equal to a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency and a number of harmonics of the fundamental difference frequency signal each of which is a harmonic of the fundamental difference frequency signal, wherein the fundamental difference frequency signal and the number of harmonics of the fundamental difference frequency signal are generated by an object having non-linear electrical characteristics in response to receiving the plurality of electronic signals having the first frequency and the second frequency; and a processor unit connected to the transmitter system and the receiver system, wherein the processor unit is capable of controlling operation of the transmitter system and the receiver system to change at least one of the first frequency and the second frequency through a range of frequencies and to detect a range of fundamental difference frequency signals and a range of the number of harmonics of the fundamental difference frequency signals in response to the transmitter system transmitting the plurality of electromagnetic signals using the range of frequencies.
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13. A method for detecting objects, the method comprising:
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transmitting a first collimated beam having a first frequency and a second collimated beam having a second frequency; changing at least one of the first frequency and the second frequency through a range of frequencies; and monitoring for a range of fundamental difference frequency signals and a range of a number of harmonics of the fundamental difference frequency signals each of which is a harmonic of the range of fundamental difference frequency signals generated by an object having non-linear electrical characteristics in response to receiving the first collimated beam and the second collimated beam in which at least one of the first frequency and the second frequency is changed through the range of frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for detecting objects, the method comprising:
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transmitting a first collimated beam having a first selected frequency and a second collimated beam having a second selected frequency at a known object having non-linear electrical characteristics; changing at least one of the first selected frequency and the second selected frequency through a selected range of frequencies; receiving an expected range of fundamental difference frequency signals and an expected range of a number of harmonics of the fundamental difference frequency signals each of which is a harmonic of the expected range of fundamental difference frequency signals generated by the known object in response to receiving the first collimated beam and the second collimated beam using a range of frequencies to form a profile for the known object; and storing the profile. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification