Patent US4207002A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4207002A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for detecting an output image of an optical correlation

Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
•
Filing: 1978-12-18
•
Granted: 1980-06-10
•
Expires: 1998-12-18
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A coherent optical correlation system produces an output signal in the form of a beam of light which if focused onto an output plane would produce a spot of light somewhere in that output plane. To detect the position that spot would have in the output plane, the output beam is formed into two parts by a beam splitter and each part is passed through a multiple image diffraction grating arranged mutually at right angles to thereby form a linear array of spots parallel to the x and y axes of a correlation output plane. Each series of output spots illuminates a photodiode in a linear diode array thereby identifying the x and the y coordinates of a correlation image.

Inventors

  • 👤 Aaron D. Gara
  • 👤 Robert W. Lewis

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 18:43
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/26; G01B11/27; G01B11/272

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim 158 words
In an optical correlation system wherein the position of an object within a search area x-y is represented by the position of a correlation image in correlation space, the image being formed by a focused beam of light, means for detecting the position of the correlation image comprising; a beam splitter in the beam of light to form two light beams, multiple imaging diffraction grating means in each of the two light beams arranged to display two image patterns in respective correlation planes, each image pattern comprising a series of closely spaced spots arranged in a straight line, and a photoelectric detector in each correlation plane, each detector comprising a linear photodiode array positioned orthogonally to and intersecting the image pattern in its respective correlation plane so that a photodiode in each array is illuminated according to the position of the correlation image thereby providing a pair of electrical signals representing the coordinate position of the correlation image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 158 words
In an optical correlation system wherein the position of an object within a search area x-y is represented by the position of a correlation image in correlation space, the image being formed by a focused beam of light, means for detecting the position of the correlation image comprising; a beam splitter in the beam of light to form two light beams, multiple imaging diffraction grating means in each of the two light beams arranged to display two image patterns in respective correlation planes, each image pattern comprising a series of closely spaced spots arranged in a straight line, and a photoelectric detector in each correlation plane, each detector comprising a linear photodiode array positioned orthogonally to and intersecting the image pattern in its respective correlation plane so that a photodiode in each array is illuminated according to the position of the correlation image thereby providing a pair of electrical signals representing the coordinate position of the correlation image.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3666359A Cited
US4074131A Cited
US4045140A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1983-06-10 1983-12-10 1984-06-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1987-06-10 1987-12-10 1988-06-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1991-06-10 1991-12-10 1992-06-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag