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. 15, 2000
Filed:
Feb. 23, 1998
Mark K Goldstein, Del Mar, CA (US);
Robert E Nelson, Weston, MA (US);
Louis T Montulli, East Islip, NY (US);
Quantum Group, Inc., San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
Surveillance systems of this invention incorporate a charge coupled device image sensor with an illumination source that is made of an emitter which concentrates its optical output in a narrow band at or about the peak optical response of the photoconverter being used. Where a silicon imaging sensor is being used, the illumination system can comprise an emitter made of a rare earth oxide, such as ytterbium oxide, in the form of a filamentary network and fuel to energize the emitter. Different emitters can be employed to achieve the optimal radiant energy for any type of photoconverter device, including those based on silicon, germanium, indium gallium arsenide, and gallium antimonide. These surveillance systems may be applied in a number of specialized applications, such as, for example, in the covert surveillance of commercial, industrial, residential, or military sites, or any site in which the visible illumination of the surveillance area is undesirable. Because the emitters of the present invention emit radiation at or about the peak optical response wavelengths of the imaging sensors, the surveillance systems of the present invention are also advantageous in situations in which efficient energy consumption is important.