Patent · US Expired

Ultrafast oscilloscope

US4956548A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
2References
13Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 6, 1989
Grant dateSep 11, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 6, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R13/20
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An oscilloscope constructed for use in real time resolving an ultrafast voltage signal includes a streak camera having a transmission line photocarthode, a constant light source for illuminating the photocathode, an input coupled to the transmission line photocathode, an accellerating mesh, a pair of sweep electrodes, electron multiplication means, a phosphor screen and a DC high voltage source. In use, the voltage signal to be examined is applied to the input. When the voltage signal on propagating through the photocathode intersects in time and space on the photocathode with the light from the light source, a number of electrons proportional to the intensity of the voltage signal are emitted from the photocathode. These electrons are then accelerated, deflected by the pair of sweep electrodes, multiplied by the microchannel plate and then impinge upon the phosphor screen, creating an optical image having an intensity proportional to the number of impinging electrons. The image on the phosphor screen is recorded by a video camera, processed by a computer and then displayed on a monitor. In another embodiment, the streak camera includes a second photocathode with input signals bein…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.