Hughes Aircraft Company

Michael P Hasselbeck

David B Cohn

Gregory R Sasaki

A radiation protection system is operative within an optical section of a radiation imaging system for protection of an array of detectors of the radiation. The protection system is formed of one or more spark boards arranged in series along a path of radiation propagation, the spark boards having a central window through which the radiation propagates. On a front side of each spark board are arranged a set of electrodes disposed about a periphery of the window. Ground pads are disposed on a back side of each board in registration with the electrodes on the front side to form therewith a set of capacitors. A capacitive-discharge power-supply circuit is connected to a first pair of electrodes in a first one of said boards. In the presence of excessive incident radiation power, a capacitor of the power supply circuit is switched to apply a high voltage across said first pair of electrodes, the voltage being high enough to initiate an arc across the window in said first board. The capacitors and electrodes are connected serially to allow a current of one arc to charge a succeeding capacitor which, upon being charged, initiates a further arc in a process which continues until all arcs have been struck. The array of arcs blocks radiation so as to protect the detectors.

Growing community of inventors

Redondo Beach, CA, United States of America

Michael P Hasselbeck