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:
May. 05, 1992
Filed:
Sep. 21, 1990
John C Brock, Redondo Beach, CA (US);
TRW Inc., Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and a related method for detecting signal photons of a selected wavelength using ionization induced by collisions between atomic or molecular particles. Signal photons raise the energy level of a proportion of particles introduced into a detection chamber to a selected metastable state. Optionally, a pump laser assists in raising the energy level of the particles to a metastable state close to the ionization continuum. Collisions between particles in the selected metastable state and particles of the buffer gas cause ionization of the metastable particles, and a measurable electrical current is obtained, without the need for strong electric fields for ionization, or the need for strong optical fields for photoionization. In a variant form of the invention, a second substance is admitted into the detection chamber. Collisions between the original atomic or molecular particles and particles of the second substance cause ionization of the second substance, again providing a measurable electric current from the free electrons or ions that are produced.