US5095212A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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High-efficiency photon detector
Assignee: CMCE DATACOM Inc
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Filing: 1990-07-20
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Granted: 1992-03-10
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Expires: 2010-07-20
Abstract
Abstract High efficiency method of detecting incident photons including illuminating a laser driven gaseous vapor with electromagnetic radiation enabling the excitation of an atom of the vapor upon absorption of an incident photon by the atom, introducing the incident photons into the vapor which is constituted to absorb the incident photons which in response, generates atomic fluroescence to in turn produce a long steam of secondary photons upon the absorption of an incident photon by an atom of the vapor and detecting the long stream of secondary photons with an ordinary low efficiency photo-detector.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J. Cook
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/58; G01J1/42; G01J2001/4295
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
Method of detecting incident photons comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating a substance with electromagnetic radiation enabling the excitation of an atom of said substance upon absorption of an incident photon by said atom; (b) introducing said incident photons into said substance constituted to absorb said incident photons and which in response thereto generates atomic fluorescence, which in turn produces long streams of secondary photons upon the absorption of incident photons by atoms of said substance; and (c) detecting said long streams of secondary photons produced in accordance with step (b).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
Method of detecting incident photons comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating a substance with electromagnetic radiation enabling the excitation of an atom of said substance upon absorption of an incident photon by said atom; (b) introducing said incident photons into said substance constituted to absorb said incident photons and which in response thereto generates atomic fluorescence, which in turn produces long streams of secondary photons upon the absorption of incident photons by atoms of said substance; and (c) detecting said long streams of secondary photons produced in accordance with step (b).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each incident photon directed into said substance has a first frequency which promotes an atom of said substance from a ground state to an excited state at a lower level of an atomic transition and wherein the lower level and an upper level of said atomic transition have long lifetimes for radiative decay to the ground state, thereby to produce substantial atomic photon amplification.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein an ordinary photon detector is provided for detecting said long streams of secondary photons.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 wherein an ordinary photon detector is provided for detecting said long stream of secondary photons.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 2, or 4 where step (a) includes illuminating said substance with electromagnetic radiation of a second frequency which promotes said atom to an upper level by absorbing a first photon of said electromagnetic radiation of a second frequency, is quickly returned to a lower level by spontaneous emission, which again quickly promotes said atom to said upper level by absorption of a second photon of said electromagnetic radiation of a second frequency and so forth during the production of said long stream of photons.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4 wherein said substance is a gaseous vapor.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
31 words
The method of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein an image sensor is provided for counting the number of atoms of said substance simultaneously emitting said long streams of photons.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 5 wherein an image sensor is provided for counting the number of atoms of said substance simultaneously emitting said long streams of photons.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 6 wherein an image sensor is provided for counting the number of atoms of said substance simultaneously emitting said long stream of photons.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for detecting incident photons comprising: (a) means for illuminating a substance with electromagnetic radiation enabling the excitation of an atom of said substance upon absorption of an incident photon by said atom; (b) means for introducing said incident photons into said substance which is constituted to absorb said incident photons and which in response thereto generates atomic fluorescence which in turn produces a long stream of secondary photons upon the absorption of an incident photon by an atom of said substance; and (c) a detector for detecting said long stream of secondary photons.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for detecting incident photons comprising: (a) means for illuminating a substance with electromagnetic radiation enabling the excitation of an atom of said substance upon absorption of an incident photon by said atom; (b) means for introducing said incident photons into said substance which is constituted to absorb said incident photons and which in response thereto generates atomic fluorescence which in turn produces a long stream of secondary photons upon the absorption of an incident photon by an atom of said substance; and (c) a detector for detecting said long stream of secondary photons.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each incident photon directed into said substance has a first frequency which promotes an atom of said substance from a ground state to an excited state at a lower level of an atomic transition and wherein the lower level and an upper level of said atomic transition have long lifetimes for radiative decay to the ground state, thereby to produce substantial atomic photon amplification.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said detector is ordinary photon detector for detecting said long stream of secondary photons.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein an ordinary photon detector is provided for detecting said long stream of secondary photons.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claims 11, or 13 wherein the means of paragraph (a) includes means for illuminating said substance with electromagnetic radiation of a second frequency which promotes said atom to an upper level by absorbing a first photon is quickly returned to a lower level by spontaneous emission, which again quickly promotes said atom to said upper level by absorption of a second photon, and so forth during the production of said long stream of photons.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 10, 11, 12, or 13 wherein said substance is a gaseous vapor.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claims 10, 11, 12, or 13 including an image sensor for counting the number of atoms of said substance simultaneously emitting said long stream of photons.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 14 including an image sensor for counting the number of atoms of said substance simultaneously emitting said long stream of photons.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 15 including an image sensor for counting the number of atoms of said substance simultaneously emitting said long stream of photons.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-10 | 1995-09-09 | 1996-03-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-10 | 1999-09-09 | 2000-03-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-10 | 2003-09-09 | 2004-03-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |