US3752582A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical range and range-rate sensor
Assignee: Bendix Corp
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Filing: 1971-01-27
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Granted: 1973-08-14
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Expires: 1991-01-27
Abstract
Abstract An optical system for measuring the range and range-rate between two objects is described. An optical sensor system transmits modulated optical energy and receives energy reflected from an object. The optical sensor system includes a narrow band correlation type receiver and a transmitter which uses a single tone frequency to amplitude modulate a noncoherent continuous wave output. Range is measured as a function of the modulation envelope phase delay of the received signal with respect to the reference transmitted signal by a range tracking loop. A synchronous detector generates a range tracking error signal which is filtered and used to control a time delay of the reference signal input to the synchronous detector. The tracking loop causes the delay introduced into the reference signal to approximate the received signal modulation envelope delay, so a signal proportional to the reference signal delay is used as the range output signal. Range rate is derived by differentiating the range signal.
Inventors
- 👤 R Fowler
- 👤 W Troll
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 19:26
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/02; G01S17/06; G01S17/08; G01S17/32; G01S17/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
An optical system for determining the range and relative velocity between two objects comprising: transmitting means for generating an initial signal and transmitting said initial signal as optical energy; receiving means for receiving said optical energy as reflected energy after the reflection thereof from one of said objects and generating a reflected signal, said reflected energy being time delayed with respect to said transmitted energy by an amount proportional to the distance between said objects; means for producing range proportional signals and relative velocity proportional signals, said means for producing including first signal combining means, said first signal combining means receiving said reflected signal and a portion of said initial signal, the output of said signal combining means being dependent upon said time delay and thereby useful in producing said range proportional signal and said relative velocity proportional signal; delay means interposed between said transmitting means and said first signal combining means, said delay means delaying said initial signal by an amount proportional to said distance so that the output of said first signal combining means is said relative velocity signal; said delay means including gate means, and voltage responsive function generator means, said gate means receiving the output of said function generator and said initial signal so that said initial signal is injected into said first signal combining means as a modified signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
An optical system for determining the range and relative velocity between two objects comprising: transmitting means for generating an initial signal and transmitting said initial signal as optical energy; receiving means for receiving said optical energy as reflected energy after the reflection thereof from one of said objects and generating a reflected signal, said reflected energy being time delayed with respect to said transmitted energy by an amount proportional to the distance between said objects; means for producing range proportional signals and relative velocity proportional signals, said means for producing including first signal combining means, said first signal combining means receiving said reflected signal and a portion of said initial signal, the output of said signal combining means being dependent upon said time delay and thereby useful in producing said range proportional signal and said relative velocity proportional signal; delay means interposed between said transmitting means and said first signal combining means, said delay means delaying said initial signal by an amount proportional to said distance so that the output of said first signal combining means is said relative velocity signal; said delay means including gate means, and voltage responsive function generator means, said gate means receiving the output of said function generator and said initial signal so that said initial signal is injected into said first signal combining means as a modified signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for producing includes integration means for integrating said relative velocity signal to produce said range signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said function generator is controlled by the output of said gate and said gate also receives said range signal so that the output of said gate is dependent upon said range signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said modified signal is injected into said first signal combining means through a phase shift network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 4 further including integrator means responsive to said first signal combining means and wherein said delayed initial signal varies in accordance with said range output to force the output of said first signal combining means toward zero so that the output of said integrator indicates the range between said objects.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 1 further including threshold means for producing a target present signal when said received signal is above a predetermined threshold level, said threshold means being responsive to the output of threshold gate means, said threshold gate means receiving said received signal and said delayed initial signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 6 further including means for applying a self-test signal to said system to thereby test the operability of said system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 5 wheRein said function generator is a ramp generator which generates a new ramp each half cycle of said initial signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 8 further including a zero crossing detector interposed between said transmitting means and said gate means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said signal combining means is a synchronous detector and said gate means is a gated dual differential amplifier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
172 words
An optical system for determining the range and relative velocity between two relatively moving objects comprising: transmitting means for generating an initial signal and transmitting said initial signal as optical energy; receiving means for receiving said optical energy as reflected energy after the reflection thereof from one of said objects and generating a reflected signal; said reflected energy being phase shifted with respect to said transmitted energy by an amount proportional to the distance between said objects; means for producing a range proportional signal and a relative velocity proportional signal, said means for producing including; signal combining means, said signal combining means receiving said reflected signal, voltage responsive control signal generating means receiving said initial signal, said signal combining means also receiving said control signal to thereby generate said relative velocity proportional signal, integrator means receiving said relative velocity proportional signal and generating said range proportional signal, said voltage responsive control signal generating means also receiving said range proportional signal so that said control signal is proportional to said range proportional signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
172 words
An optical system for determining the range and relative velocity between two relatively moving objects comprising: transmitting means for generating an initial signal and transmitting said initial signal as optical energy; receiving means for receiving said optical energy as reflected energy after the reflection thereof from one of said objects and generating a reflected signal; said reflected energy being phase shifted with respect to said transmitted energy by an amount proportional to the distance between said objects; means for producing a range proportional signal and a relative velocity proportional signal, said means for producing including; signal combining means, said signal combining means receiving said reflected signal, voltage responsive control signal generating means receiving said initial signal, said signal combining means also receiving said control signal to thereby generate said relative velocity proportional signal, integrator means receiving said relative velocity proportional signal and generating said range proportional signal, said voltage responsive control signal generating means also receiving said range proportional signal so that said control signal is proportional to said range proportional signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said voltage responsive generating means includes: function generator means; first gate means receiving said range proportional signal and the output of said function generator producing a gated signal; said function generator being responsive to said gated signal; and first switching means receiving said gated signal and actuating said signal combining means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 12 further including pulse generator means receiving said initial signal and actuating said first gate means to periodically restart said function generator in accordance with said initial signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 13 further including second switching means actuated by said first switching means and said gated signal and coupled to said pulse generator means for resetting said pulse generator in accordance with said gated signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said function generator is a ramp generator, the output of which cannot exceed said range proportional signal; said pulse generator is zero crossing detector which generates pulses of like polarity for all zero crossings.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-13 | 1977-02-12 | 1977-08-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-13 | 1981-02-12 | 1981-08-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-13 | 1985-02-12 | 1985-08-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |