Erase beam apparatus and method for spatial intensity threshold detection
US4720176A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 20, 1986 |
| Grant date | Jan 19, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 20, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/3538
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A phase conjugate resonator (PCR) (2) employing a phase conjugate mirror (PCM) (4) provides high resolution spatial detection of individual locations in a two-dimensional optical array which exceed or fall below a threshold level. The optical intensity profile under investigation is imposed onto an input erase beam (18) to the PCM (4). The erase beam (18) is directed parallel to the PCR axis (16), thereby preventing walkoff. The PCR (2) oscillates at those locations where the erase beam's optical intensity is below a threshold level. The spatially modulated optical output may be read out with multiple detectors or an imaging system, or the cumulative area output of the PCR can be read out with a single detector (28) to characterize the intensity profile relative to the threshold.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.