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US3783271A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Radiation tracking system
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1971-09-27
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Granted: 1974-01-01
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Expires: 1991-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A tracking system including a staggered array of radiation detectors for use with a telescope wherein the configuration of the array, the geometry of sweep of the array, and the electronics connected to the elements of the array are combined to produce control signals adapted to be used to point the optical axis of the telescope at the geometrical centroid of all signals, above a predetermined amplitude, within the field of view of the apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 E Abbott
- 👤 D Blanchard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:15
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/783; G01S3/784
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
473 words
Apparatus for pointing the axis of a sighting device at the geometrical centroid of a signal defined target area comprising: a. a target sighting device having means to scaN a predetermined field of view about a central axis; b. a radiation signal sensing assembly associated with said device and having first and second substantially colinear arrays of sensors each containing a plurality of sensors, the dimension of the sensors of said first array being smaller than the dimension of the sensors of said second array in the direction of said line of sensors, said first array being substantially symmetrical about a center point of said line of sensors, and said second array being split with a substantially equal number of sensors on each end of said line of sensors; c. a plurality of electronic channels, equal in number to said sensors, each said channels being connected to receive signals from a different one of said sensors and having amplifying means to amplify said signals and a threshold circuit for producing output signals only when the radiation sensed by the sensor attached to the particular electronic channel exceeds a predetermined amplitude; d. each of said electronic channels further including an automatic gain control circuit between its sensor and its threshold circuit and a band pass filter positioned between its sensor and its threshold circuit; e. first and second pairs of digital-to-analog converters, said first pair of converters being connected to receive signals from the electronic channels of said first array, said second pair of converters being connected to receive signals from the electronic channels of said second array, the outputs of electronic channels associated with the elements of each array on the first side of said center point being connected to the first said digital-to-analog converter in each said pairs of converters, and the outputs of electronic channels connected to the sensing elements on the other side of said center point being connected to the second said digital-to-analog converter of each said pair of converters; f. said first converter in each said pair of converters producing a positive output signal, said second converter in each said pair of converters producing a negative output signal, the amplitude of each said output signal being proportional to the weighted amplitudes of the input signals at the particular said converter, the weighting of said input signals being proportional to the distance of the sensor, associated with the particular input, from said center point; g. first and second summing means connected to the outputs of said first and second pairs of digital converters, respectively, to produce first and second signals, respectively, which are measures of the difference in amplitudes of the outputs of said converters in each pair; and h. means operatively connected to utilize said first and second signals to servo position said axis of said sighting device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
473 words
Apparatus for pointing the axis of a sighting device at the geometrical centroid of a signal defined target area comprising: a. a target sighting device having means to scaN a predetermined field of view about a central axis; b. a radiation signal sensing assembly associated with said device and having first and second substantially colinear arrays of sensors each containing a plurality of sensors, the dimension of the sensors of said first array being smaller than the dimension of the sensors of said second array in the direction of said line of sensors, said first array being substantially symmetrical about a center point of said line of sensors, and said second array being split with a substantially equal number of sensors on each end of said line of sensors; c. a plurality of electronic channels, equal in number to said sensors, each said channels being connected to receive signals from a different one of said sensors and having amplifying means to amplify said signals and a threshold circuit for producing output signals only when the radiation sensed by the sensor attached to the particular electronic channel exceeds a predetermined amplitude; d. each of said electronic channels further including an automatic gain control circuit between its sensor and its threshold circuit and a band pass filter positioned between its sensor and its threshold circuit; e. first and second pairs of digital-to-analog converters, said first pair of converters being connected to receive signals from the electronic channels of said first array, said second pair of converters being connected to receive signals from the electronic channels of said second array, the outputs of electronic channels associated with the elements of each array on the first side of said center point being connected to the first said digital-to-analog converter in each said pairs of converters, and the outputs of electronic channels connected to the sensing elements on the other side of said center point being connected to the second said digital-to-analog converter of each said pair of converters; f. said first converter in each said pair of converters producing a positive output signal, said second converter in each said pair of converters producing a negative output signal, the amplitude of each said output signal being proportional to the weighted amplitudes of the input signals at the particular said converter, the weighting of said input signals being proportional to the distance of the sensor, associated with the particular input, from said center point; g. first and second summing means connected to the outputs of said first and second pairs of digital converters, respectively, to produce first and second signals, respectively, which are measures of the difference in amplitudes of the outputs of said converters in each pair; and h. means operatively connected to utilize said first and second signals to servo position said axis of said sighting device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The assembly of claim 1 in which each said array has an even number of sensors, one-half on each side of said center point.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A radiation sensor assembly as recited in claim 1 in which adjacent sensors of each array are staggered into two closely-spaced lines of sensors with adjacent sensors in different ones of said closely-spaced lines.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A radiation sensor assembly as recited in claim 1 in which said sensors have a larger dimension in the direction of said line of sensors than in the direction perpendicular to said line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A radiation sensor as recited in claim 4 in which said sensors are substantially rectangular, their larger dimension being in the direction of said line of sensors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 and further comprising: third summing means, connected to receive signals from said four digital-to-analog converters to produce a signal which is proportional to the sum of the amplitudes of the outputs of said digital converters; and switching means including an output terminal, a pair of input terminals, and a control terminal, said input terminals being connected to the outputs of said first and second summing means, and said control termInal being connected to the output of said third summing means to cause the connection of said output terminal to said first or second input terminals to be controlled in response to the amplitude of the output of said third summing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said sighting device comprises a telescope having a field of view in which an optical axis is defined therein, and first and second directions, in a plane perpendicular to said optical axis, are defined therein; said telescope being adapted to project its said field of view onto said radiation sensor assembly with said first defined direction projected substantially parallel to the line of sensors of said assembly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
389 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 7 and further comprising means for sweeping said field of view across said radiation sensor assembly in said second direction; means for generating a scan signal which is a measure of the position, in said second direction, of said optical axis relative to the line of sensors of said sensing assembly, including means for generating a scan turn around signal indicating change of direction of the sweep of said field of view; a fourth summing means; a first source of scaled signal; a first and second plurality of gate means, each having an input terminal and a control terminal, said input terminals being connected to said source of scaled signal, the control terminals of said first plurality of gate means being connected to the electronic channels from said first array of sensors, the control terminals of said second plurality of gate means being connected to the electronic channels from said second array of sensors, the output of said first and second plurality of gate means being connected to the input of said fourth summing amplifier means with different weighting on the output of said first and second plurality of gating means, said weighting being proportional to the length of said sensors in the direction of said line of sensors; first integrating means connected to the output of said fourth summing means; first multiplier means connected to receive signals from said fourth summing means and to receive a signal from said means for generating a scan signal to multiply these signals together; second integrating means connected to the output of said first multiplier means; dividing means, connected to receive signals from said first and second integrating means to divide the output of said second integrating means by the output of said first integrating means; sample and hold means, connected to receive signals from said dividing means and to be activated in response to said scan turn around signal at the end of the sweep of said field of view across said sensor assembly; and means for resetting said integrating means immediately after said sample and hold means samples the output of said dividing means; whereby the output of said sample and hold means is a measure of the displacement in said second direction of the area centroid of target images within said field of view.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
383 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 8 and further comprising: a third plurality of gate means, each having an input terminal and two control terminals; window detector means connected to said means for generating a scan signal, and adapted to produce an output signal when said scan signal is within an amplitude range representing a predetermined narrowed field of view, in said second direction, adjacent said optical axis, the output of said window detector means being connected to one of the control terminals of each of the gate means of said third plurality of gate means; a second source of scaled signal, connected to the input terminals of said gate means of said third plurality of gate means; the second control terminals of said gate means of said third plurality of gate means being connected to receive signals from the electronic channels of said first array of sensors; fifth summing mEans, connected to the outputs of said gate means of said third plurality of gate means; third integrating means connected to the output of said fifth summing means; second multiplier means connected to receive signals from said fifth summing means and to receive a signal from said means for generating a scan signal to multiply these signals together; fourth integrating means connected to the output of said second multiplier means; second dividing means connected to receive signals from said third and fourth integrating means to divide the output of said fourth integrating means by the output of said third integrating means; second sample and hold means, connected to receive signals from said second dividing means and to be activated in response to signals from said window detector means at the end of the window defined by said window detecting means; means for resetting said third and fourth integrating means immediately after said second sample and hold means samples the output of said second dividing means; means for resetting said third and fourth integrating means immediately after said second sample and hold means samples the output of said second dividing means; whereby the output of said second sample and hold means is a measure of the displacement, within the field of view defined by said window detecting means, in said second direction, of the area centroid of target images within said limited field of view.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
159 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 9 and further comprising: second switch means having two input terminals, an output terminal, and a control terminal, the output of said first sample and hold means being connected to a first said input terminal, the output of said second sample and hold means being connected to the second said input terminal, said switch means being adapted, in response to control signals on its control terminal, to connect its first or second input terminal to its output terminal; and means responsive to the output of said third summing means, said fifth summing means, and the output of said window detector means to apply a control signal to said control terminal of said second switching means to control said second switching means in response to the amplitude of the output of said third summing means and said fifth summing means when a target is within the field of view defined by said window detector means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 10 in which said telescope is adapted to be servoed in the direction of said first axis in response to the output of said first switching means, and is adapted to be servoed in the direction of said second axis in response to the output of said second switching means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 11 in which: said telescope is servoed in a direction to center its optical axis on the centroid of a target sensed by said sensor assembly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 12 in which said first axis extends in an elevation direction and said second axis extends in an azimuth direction of said telescope.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
305 words
In combination: a telescope having an optical axis defined therein and mounted for separately controllable motion of said optical axis in a first and a second direction defined in a plane perpendicular to said optical axis; means for sweeping the field of view of said telescope relative to a sensor position on the focal plane of said telescope in the direction of the image of said second axis on said focal plane; said sensor comprising a plurality of aligned sensing elements, each of which is sensitive to incoming radiation, substantially aligned substantially in said focal plane in a direction perpendicular to the image of said second direction and parallel to the image of said first direction; a plurality of electronic channels, including at least an amplifier in each channel, for producing amplified signals generated by said sensor elements, and including means for normalizing said signals into digital signals indicative of the presence or absence of radiation on the respective elements; first converter means, connected to receive signals from said electronic channels associated with sensor elements on one side of the center of said sensor to produce a signal which is proportional to the sum of the distances of the energized sensor elements from the center of said sensor; a second converter connected to receive signals from said electronic channels associated with the sensor elements on the second side of said center of said sensor to produce a signal proportional to the sum of the distances of the energized sensor elements on the second side of said center of said sensor; and summing means connected to receive the outputs of said converters to produce a signal which is a measure in said first direction of the deviation between the projection of the geometric centroid of a target image on said first axis and said optical axis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
305 words
In combination: a telescope having an optical axis defined therein and mounted for separately controllable motion of said optical axis in a first and a second direction defined in a plane perpendicular to said optical axis; means for sweeping the field of view of said telescope relative to a sensor position on the focal plane of said telescope in the direction of the image of said second axis on said focal plane; said sensor comprising a plurality of aligned sensing elements, each of which is sensitive to incoming radiation, substantially aligned substantially in said focal plane in a direction perpendicular to the image of said second direction and parallel to the image of said first direction; a plurality of electronic channels, including at least an amplifier in each channel, for producing amplified signals generated by said sensor elements, and including means for normalizing said signals into digital signals indicative of the presence or absence of radiation on the respective elements; first converter means, connected to receive signals from said electronic channels associated with sensor elements on one side of the center of said sensor to produce a signal which is proportional to the sum of the distances of the energized sensor elements from the center of said sensor; a second converter connected to receive signals from said electronic channels associated with the sensor elements on the second side of said center of said sensor to produce a signal proportional to the sum of the distances of the energized sensor elements on the second side of said center of said sensor; and summing means connected to receive the outputs of said converters to produce a signal which is a measure in said first direction of the deviation between the projection of the geometric centroid of a target image on said first axis and said optical axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 14 and further comprising servo means connected to the output of said summing means to be controlled thereby and connected to said telescope to move said telescope to cause said optical axis to coincide with the projection of said centroid on said first axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
166 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 15 and further comprising means connected to the output of said electronic channels to produce a signal which is proportional to the number of said sensor elements that are excited by incoming radiation; multiplying means connected to said last mentioned summing means to multiply its output by a signal which is a measure of the instantaneous displacement of said aligned sensor elements from the image of said optical axis on said focal plane; first integrating means for integrating the output of said last mentioned summing means; second integrating means for integrating the output of said multiplying means; dividing means for dividing the output of said second integrating means by the output of said first integrating means; sample and hold means, timed to sample the output of said dividing means at the end of a predetermined portion of sweep of said field of view; and means for resetting said integrating means immediately aafter the output of said dividing means has been sampled.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 16 and further comprising: second servo means, connected to be responsive to signals from said sample and hold means for servoing said telescope to reduce the outputs of said sample and hold means toward zero, thereby to cause the centroid of a target in said field of view to move toward coincidence with the optical axis of said telescope.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
104 words
In an optical system, including a telescope having an optical axis substantially centered in the field of view thereof, and second and third axes forming an orthogonal set with said optical axis, the improvement comprising: sensor means for sensing the distribution of a target image within the field of view of said telescope; means for sensing the moments of said image relative to said second and third axes; means for sensing the area of said image; and means for dividing each of said moments by said area to produce signals which are a measure of the offset of the centroid of said target image.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
104 words
In an optical system, including a telescope having an optical axis substantially centered in the field of view thereof, and second and third axes forming an orthogonal set with said optical axis, the improvement comprising: sensor means for sensing the distribution of a target image within the field of view of said telescope; means for sensing the moments of said image relative to said second and third axes; means for sensing the area of said image; and means for dividing each of said moments by said area to produce signals which are a measure of the offset of the centroid of said target image.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 18 and further comprising: servo means, connected to receive signals from said dividing means and to move the optical axis of said telescope in response to said signal until said optical axis coincides with the centroid of said target.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
116 words
In an optical system, including a telescope having an optical axis substantially centered in the field of view thereof, and second and third axes forming an orthogonal set with said optical axis, the improvement comprising: sensor means for sensing the distribution of a target within the field of view of said telescope; means for sensing the moment of said image relative to said second axis; means for sensing the arEa of said image relative to said second axis; and means for dividing said moment by said area to produce a signal which is a measure of the offset in the direction of said third axis from said second axis of the centroid of said target image.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
116 words
In an optical system, including a telescope having an optical axis substantially centered in the field of view thereof, and second and third axes forming an orthogonal set with said optical axis, the improvement comprising: sensor means for sensing the distribution of a target within the field of view of said telescope; means for sensing the moment of said image relative to said second axis; means for sensing the arEa of said image relative to said second axis; and means for dividing said moment by said area to produce a signal which is a measure of the offset in the direction of said third axis from said second axis of the centroid of said target image.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of tracking the geometrical centroid of a signal defined target image sighted by an optical system including a telescope having an optical axis substantially centered in the field view thereof and having second and third axes forming an orthogonal set with said optical axis, said method comprising the steps of: a. sensing the distribution of a target image within the field of view of said telescope; b. sensing the moments of elements of said image relative to said second and third axes; c. sensing the area of said image; d. producing signals which are a measure of the offset of the centroid of said target image from said optical axis by dividing each of said moments by said area; and e. servo controlling said telescope to move in a direction tending to reduce said offset signals to zero to thereby position said optical axis in alignment with the centroid of said target image.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of tracking the geometrical centroid of a signal defined target image sighted by an optical system including a telescope having an optical axis substantially centered in the field view thereof and having second and third axes forming an orthogonal set with said optical axis, said method comprising the steps of: a. sensing the distribution of a target image within the field of view of said telescope; b. sensing the moments of elements of said image relative to said second and third axes; c. sensing the area of said image; d. producing signals which are a measure of the offset of the centroid of said target image from said optical axis by dividing each of said moments by said area; and e. servo controlling said telescope to move in a direction tending to reduce said offset signals to zero to thereby position said optical axis in alignment with the centroid of said target image.
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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) | 1976-12-31 | 1977-07-02 | 1978-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-31 | 1981-07-02 | 1982-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-31 | 1985-07-02 | 1986-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |