The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 28, 1990
Filed:
Jul. 06, 1988
Robert K McEwen, Billericay, GB;
GEC-Marconi Limited, Stanmore, GB;
Abstract
An infra-red imaging system is operable selectively in wide and narrow field of view modes. Radiation from the object is imaged onto an infra-red CCD staring focal plane array (SFPA) which provides an output representing the image. In the narrow field of view mode, operative on detection of a particular target by target detection electronics, the image is not scanned but is made to follow any movement of the target, and the SFPA stares at the target to build up an image. In the wide field of view mode, the same SFPA is used to provide the image, but the image is scanned along a swath. Smearing of the image is minimized by driving the IRCCD array such that the image-bearing charge is passed down the array from element to element at a speed equal to the scanning speed, so that the output signal from the end element represents the intensity of radiation from a given portion of the object time-integrated by all the elements of the array in succession.