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:
Jul. 28, 1992
Filed:
Jun. 05, 1991
James R Jordan, Boulder, CO (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
A switchable local oscillator for use in a shared mixer radiometer is capable of providing at least two separate frequencies. The local oscillator contains at least two cavity resonators, a voltage controlled oscillator controlling a microwave generator, a microprocessor to intermittently control the voltage controlled oscillator and an output voltage detection circuit to provide output voltage levels to the microprocessor. The microprocessor controls the voltage controlled oscillator to tune the microwave generator through a frequency range. Output voltage level of the local oscillator is detected, and a resonant frequency is determined. In response, the microprocessor fixes the voltage of the voltage controlled oscillator at a voltage corresponding to the resonant frequency of one of the cavity resonators. Microprocessor control of the voltage controlled oscillator is then relinquished. The local oscillator generates a resonant frequency while measurements are made by the radiometer. Once measurements at the first resonant frequency are complete, the microprocessor reacquires control of the voltage controlled oscillator, and the process is repeated for the resonant frequency of another cavity resonator.