US3900261A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic range finder
Assignee: TRANSITEK CORP
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Filing: 1974-03-18
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Granted: 1975-08-19
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Expires: 1994-03-18
Abstract
Abstract An interval measuring system comprising a clock circuit for periodically furnishing clock pulses; an interval generator for periodically generating a gating signal for defining the interval to be measured; a random trigger generator for randomly shifting the gating signals and the clock pulses relative to each other; a counter; an interval gating circuit responsive to the gating signal to pass the clock pulses to the counter during the period of the gating signal representing the interval to be measured; and a control circuit for controlling the counter to accumulate counts for a predetermined number of gating signals; in which the gating signals are subject to similar conditions throughout the system.
Inventors
- 👤 Sidney Wingate
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:44
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/02; G01S13/06; G01S13/08; G01S13/10; G01S13/14; G01S17/00; G01S17/02; G01S17/06; G01S17/08; G01S17/10; G01S17/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
A high resolution electronic range finder comprising: a transmitter unit for generating a first pulse of radiation and transmitting it to a target whose range is to be determined; a single channel receiver unit for receiving said first pulse of radiation after it is reflected from the target and producing a counterpart first signal pulse; an automatic gain control unit, responsive to said first signal pulse, for providing a control signal to said receiver unit to maintain said first signal pulse at a predetermined reference level; a variable attenuation system responsive to said first pulse of radiation at said transmitter unit for producing a second pulse of radiation having the same level that said first pulse of radiation has at said receiving unit; said receiver in response to said second pulse of radiation producing a counterpart second signal pulse; a clock pulse source; a range determining circuit responsive to said first and second signal pulses to count, during the interval defined by said first and second signal pulses, clock pulses from said clock pulse source as a representation of the range to the target; and a trigger generator for providing a trigger signal to said transmitter unit to enablE it to generate said first pulse of radiation, said trigger signal having a frequency which is a sub-multiple of the frequency of said clock pulse source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
A high resolution electronic range finder comprising: a transmitter unit for generating a first pulse of radiation and transmitting it to a target whose range is to be determined; a single channel receiver unit for receiving said first pulse of radiation after it is reflected from the target and producing a counterpart first signal pulse; an automatic gain control unit, responsive to said first signal pulse, for providing a control signal to said receiver unit to maintain said first signal pulse at a predetermined reference level; a variable attenuation system responsive to said first pulse of radiation at said transmitter unit for producing a second pulse of radiation having the same level that said first pulse of radiation has at said receiving unit; said receiver in response to said second pulse of radiation producing a counterpart second signal pulse; a clock pulse source; a range determining circuit responsive to said first and second signal pulses to count, during the interval defined by said first and second signal pulses, clock pulses from said clock pulse source as a representation of the range to the target; and a trigger generator for providing a trigger signal to said transmitter unit to enablE it to generate said first pulse of radiation, said trigger signal having a frequency which is a sub-multiple of the frequency of said clock pulse source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The electronic range finder of claim 1 in which said variable attenuator unit includes a level control circuit, responsive to said second signal pulse from said receiver unit, for controlling the level of attenuation of subsequent second pulses of radiation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The electronic range finder of claim 1 in which said range determining circuit includes a range gate generator responsive to said first and second signal pulses to produce a range gate signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electronic range finder of claim 3 in which said range determining circuit further includes a range counter for counting the number of clock pulses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The electronic range finder of claim 4 in which said range determining circuit further includes a range counter gate, responsive to said range gate signal to pass, during said range gate signal, clock pulses from said clock pulse source to said range counter to be counted as a representation of the range to the target.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The electronic range finder of claim 1 in which said trigger generator includes a noise generator, a reference signal source, and a comparator, responsive to the noise signal from said noise generator attaining a predetermined level relative to the reference signal from said reference signal source, to produce a trigger signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The electronic range finder of claim 6 in which said reference signal source includes a divider circuit responsive to said clock pulse source for producing an intermediate signal at a reduced frequency and a sawtooth generator responsive to said intermediate signal to produce said reference signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
98 words
An interval measuring system comprising: a clock circuit for periodically furnishing clock pulses; an interval generator for periodically initiating a gating signal defining the interval to be measured; a random trigger generator for randomly shifting the gating signals with an even distribution during the period of a clock pulse; a counter; an interval gating circuit responsive to said gating signal to pass said clock pulses to said counter during the period of said gating signal representing the interval to be measured; a control circuit for controlling said counter to accumulate counts for a predetermined number of gating signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
98 words
An interval measuring system comprising: a clock circuit for periodically furnishing clock pulses; an interval generator for periodically initiating a gating signal defining the interval to be measured; a random trigger generator for randomly shifting the gating signals with an even distribution during the period of a clock pulse; a counter; an interval gating circuit responsive to said gating signal to pass said clock pulses to said counter during the period of said gating signal representing the interval to be measured; a control circuit for controlling said counter to accumulate counts for a predetermined number of gating signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
The interval measuring system of claim 8 in which said interval generator includes a transmitter unit for generating a first pulse of radiation and transmitting it to a target and a receiver unit for receiving said first pulse of radiation after it is reflected from the target and producing a counterpart first signal pulse and for receiving a second pulse of radiation derived from said first pulse of radiation as it is transmitted for producing a counterpart second signal pulse.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The interval measuring system of claim 8 in which said random trigger generator includes a noise generator, a reference signal source, and a comparator, responsive to the noise signal from said noise generator attaining a predetermined level relative to the reference signal from said reference signal source, for producing a trigger signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The interval measuring system of claim 10 in which said reference signal source includes a divider circuit responsive to said clock pulses for producing an intermediate signal at a reduced frequency and a sawtooth generator responsive to said intermediate signal to produce said reference signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The interval measuring system of claim 8 further including an automatic gain control circuit responsive to said first signal pulse and a reference circuit for maintaining said first signal pulse at said reference level.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The interval measuring system of claim 9 further including variable attenuator system responsive to said second pulse of radiation and said second signal pulse for maintaining said second pulse of radiation at the same level as said first Pulse of radiation at said receiver unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
132 words
An electronic range measuring system comprising: a transmitter unit for generating a first pulse of radiation and transmitting it to a target whose range is to be determined; a receiver unit for receiving said first pulse of radiation to produce a reflected signal pulse and for receiving a second pulse of radiation derived from said first pulse of radiation as it is transmitted to produce a transmitted signal pulse; a clock pulse source; a range determining circuit, responsive to said signal pulses to count, during the interval defined by said signal pulses, clock pulses from said clock pulse source as a representation of the range to the target; and a random trigger generator for randomly shifting successive first pulses of radiation with an even distribution during the period of a clock pulse.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
132 words
An electronic range measuring system comprising: a transmitter unit for generating a first pulse of radiation and transmitting it to a target whose range is to be determined; a receiver unit for receiving said first pulse of radiation to produce a reflected signal pulse and for receiving a second pulse of radiation derived from said first pulse of radiation as it is transmitted to produce a transmitted signal pulse; a clock pulse source; a range determining circuit, responsive to said signal pulses to count, during the interval defined by said signal pulses, clock pulses from said clock pulse source as a representation of the range to the target; and a random trigger generator for randomly shifting successive first pulses of radiation with an even distribution during the period of a clock pulse.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
The electronic range measuring system of claim 14 in which said random trigger generator includes a noise generator, a reference signal source, and a comparator, responsive to the noise signal from said noise generator attaining a predetermined level relative to the reference signal from said reference signal source, for producing a trigger signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
The electronic range measuring system of claim 15 in which said reference signal source includes a divider circuit responsive to said clock pulses for producing an intermediate signal at a reduced frequency and a sawtooth generator responsive to said intermediate signal to produce said reference signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electronic range measuring system of claim 14 further including an automatic gain control circuit responsive to said reflected signal pulse and a reference circuit for maintaining said reflected signal pulse at said reference level.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
The electronic range measuring system of claim 14 further including a variable attenuator system responsive to said radiation pulse as it is transmitted and said transmitted signal pulse for maintaining said second pulse of radiation at the same level as said first pulse of radiation of said receiver unit.
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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) | 1978-08-18 | 1979-02-17 | 1979-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-18 | 1983-02-17 | 1983-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-18 | 1987-02-17 | 1987-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |