Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
In combination, means for receiving electromagnetic radiation from above the earth, means for isolating from said radiation a discrete frequency band within the natural electromagnetic emission of the earth, means connecting said means for receiving to said means for isolating, variable level signal reference means for producing discrete reference signals having level characteristics representative of the radiometric temperature of said earth emission reflected by a metallic object and for modifying said level characteristics in proportion to changes in the level of background noise signals, means connecting said means for isolating to said variable level signal reference means, rate rise reference means producing discrete reference signals having rate rise characteristics representative of the rate rise of electromagnetic radiation from the earth reflected by said metallic object, means for comparing the level and rate rise of signals in said band with the said level and rate rise reference signals and for producing output signals when said compared signals positively indicate that said metallic object is reflecting said earth radiation into said means for receiving, means connecting said variable level signal reference means and said means for isolating to said means for comparing, means connecting said rate rise reference means and said means for isolating to said means for comparing, reaction means for responding to said output signals from said means for comparing and, means connecting said means for comparing to said reaction means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
In combination, means for receiving electromagnetic radiation from above the earth, means for isolating from said radiation a discrete frequency band within the natural electromagnetic emission of the earth, means connecting said means for receiving to said means for isolating, variable level signal reference means for producing discrete reference signals having level characteristics representative of the radiometric temperature of said earth emission reflected by a metallic object and for modifying said level characteristics in proportion to changes in the level of background noise signals, means connecting said means for isolating to said variable level signal reference means, rate rise reference means producing discrete reference signals having rate rise characteristics representative of the rate rise of electromagnetic radiation from the earth reflected by said metallic object, means for comparing the level and rate rise of signals in said band with the said level and rate rise reference signals and for producing output signals when said compared signals positively indicate that said metallic object is reflecting said earth radiation into said means for receiving, means connecting said variable level signal reference means and said means for isolating to said means for comparing, means connecting said rate rise reference means and said means for isolating to said means for comparing, reaction means for responding to said output signals from said means for comparing and, means connecting said means for comparing to said reaction means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for isolating includes means for detecting level and rate rise of signals in said band, said means connecting said means for isolating to said means for comparing being connected to said means for determining.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for comparing includes logic means producing an output trigger signal when said output signals from each of said means for comparing are produced simultaneously and means connecting the outputs of said level and rate rise comparing means as the inputs to said logic means and means connecting the output of said logic means as the input to said reaction means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 1 and means for indicating the signal level of radiation within said band and means connecting said means for indicating to the output of said means for isolating.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
135 words
The method of passively detecting metallic objects above the surface of the earth comprising: receiving natural electromagnetic radiation emitted from the earth and reflected by a metallic object above the earth, isolating a frequency band in said natural electromagnetic radiation which is optimal in the attenuation and the operating frequency relationship, generating an artificial signal representative of the magnitude and of the rate rise of known radiation responses resulting from a moving metallic object reflecting the said natural radiation, augmenting said artificial signal to be representative of said known responses under all ambient conditions, developing a critical output by comparing said isolated frequency band with said artificial signal to produce an output trigger signal when such comparison is a positive detection of a metallic object above the earth and responding to said output trigger signal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
135 words
The method of passively detecting metallic objects above the surface of the earth comprising: receiving natural electromagnetic radiation emitted from the earth and reflected by a metallic object above the earth, isolating a frequency band in said natural electromagnetic radiation which is optimal in the attenuation and the operating frequency relationship, generating an artificial signal representative of the magnitude and of the rate rise of known radiation responses resulting from a moving metallic object reflecting the said natural radiation, augmenting said artificial signal to be representative of said known responses under all ambient conditions, developing a critical output by comparing said isolated frequency band with said artificial signal to produce an output trigger signal when such comparison is a positive detection of a metallic object above the earth and responding to said output trigger signal.