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:
Jan. 02, 1996
Filed:
Apr. 19, 1995
Paul A Johnson, El Cajon, CA (US);
Ri-Chee Chou, San Diego, CA (US);
Chris A Martin, San Diego, CA (US);
Brett Spivey, Encinitas, CA (US);
John Lovberg, San Diego, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A broadband spectrum analyzer for radio frequency and microwave signals. The signal to be analyzed modulates an optical laser beam through an electro-optic modulator. The resultant modulated beam thus comprises light at a frequency (carrier frequency) corresponding to the wavelength of the laser beam and frequencies close to the carrier frequency corresponding to the frequencies representing the modulating signal. The modulated beam is expanded to produce a beam with light traveling in a large number of directions within a narrow angle. The expanded beam illuminates the aperture of an etalon. The etalon functions as an optical filter passing only portions of the beam which enter the etalon at an angle such that the distance traveled by the light within the etalon equals an integral number of wavelengths. Thus, different frequencies pass through the etalon at different angles. The output from the etalon is collected by a video camera for display and interpretation. This new approach allows a larger instantaneous bandwidths to be analyzed than is possible with current systems, and allows a simple video camera to be used for observation of the spectrum of interest.