US3560724A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical correlators
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1968-08-19
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Granted: 1971-02-02
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Expires: 1988-08-19
Abstract
Abstract In one type of optical correlator disclosed, a Raleigh surface wave coded in accordance with electrical signal information is propagated down a solid, light-conducting member and changes the boundary surface of this member so as to permit light which is normally being propagated therethrough in a substantially total internal reflected mode to emerge therefrom and impinge on a spaced correlation mask. If the coded surface wave and the mask codings are in agreement, a maximum amount of light will leave the solid member, pass through transparent sections of the mask and arrive at a photodetector.
Inventors
- 👤 William J Condell Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:17
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06E; G06E3/00; G06E3/001; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/02; G01S13/50; G01S13/58; G01S13/585; G01S13/587; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/11; G02F1/125; G02F1/19; G02F1/195; G06E1/00; G06E1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
An optical correlator comprising, in combination: a light-conducting member having top and bottom parallel planar boundary surfaces and a pair of end surfaces; means for illuminating one end surface of Said light-conducting member such that substantially all of the light entering said member is internally reflected from said boundary surfaces as it proceeds through said member to the other end surface thereof; a piezoelectric transducer mounted on the top planar boundary surface of said member adjacent said one end thereof; said piezoelectric transducer being adapted to launch a Raleigh surface wave when excited by an electrical signal; said Raleigh surface wave altering the planar condition of said top boundary surface and causing light energy to be emitted therefrom; a mask positioned above the top planar surface of said lightconducting member; said mask having finite opaque and light transparent areas corresponding to a reference binary signal; means for detecting light energy which is emitted from said light-conducting member and thereafter passes through the transparent areas of said mask; and means for indicating the amount of light energy so detected, thereby to provide a measure of the correlation between the electrical signal exciting said piezoelectric transducer and said reference binary signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
An optical correlator comprising, in combination: a light-conducting member having top and bottom parallel planar boundary surfaces and a pair of end surfaces; means for illuminating one end surface of Said light-conducting member such that substantially all of the light entering said member is internally reflected from said boundary surfaces as it proceeds through said member to the other end surface thereof; a piezoelectric transducer mounted on the top planar boundary surface of said member adjacent said one end thereof; said piezoelectric transducer being adapted to launch a Raleigh surface wave when excited by an electrical signal; said Raleigh surface wave altering the planar condition of said top boundary surface and causing light energy to be emitted therefrom; a mask positioned above the top planar surface of said lightconducting member; said mask having finite opaque and light transparent areas corresponding to a reference binary signal; means for detecting light energy which is emitted from said light-conducting member and thereafter passes through the transparent areas of said mask; and means for indicating the amount of light energy so detected, thereby to provide a measure of the correlation between the electrical signal exciting said piezoelectric transducer and said reference binary signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
225 words
An optical correlator comprising, in combination: a light-conducting member having top and bottom parallel planar boundary surfaces and a pair of end surfaces; means for illuminating one end surface of said light-conducting member such that substantially all of the light entering said member is internally reflected from said boundary surfaces as it proceeds through said member to the other end surface thereof; a piezoelectric transducer mounted on the top planar boundary surface of said member adjacent said one end thereof; said piezoelectric transducer being adapted to launch a Raleigh surface wave when excited by an electrical signal; said Raleigh surface wave altering the planar condition of said top boundary surface and causing light energy to be emitted therefrom; a mask positioned above the top planar surface of said light-conducting member; said mask having finite opaque and light transparent areas corresponding to a reference binary signal; means for producing a first electrical signal proportional to the total amount of light energy which is emitted from said light-conducting member; means for producing a second electrical signal proportional to the amount of emitted light energy which passes through the transparent areas of said mask; and means for differentially combining said first and second electrical signals; the resultant difference signal being an indication of the correlation between the electric signal exciting said piezoelectric transducer and said reference binary signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
225 words
An optical correlator comprising, in combination: a light-conducting member having top and bottom parallel planar boundary surfaces and a pair of end surfaces; means for illuminating one end surface of said light-conducting member such that substantially all of the light entering said member is internally reflected from said boundary surfaces as it proceeds through said member to the other end surface thereof; a piezoelectric transducer mounted on the top planar boundary surface of said member adjacent said one end thereof; said piezoelectric transducer being adapted to launch a Raleigh surface wave when excited by an electrical signal; said Raleigh surface wave altering the planar condition of said top boundary surface and causing light energy to be emitted therefrom; a mask positioned above the top planar surface of said light-conducting member; said mask having finite opaque and light transparent areas corresponding to a reference binary signal; means for producing a first electrical signal proportional to the total amount of light energy which is emitted from said light-conducting member; means for producing a second electrical signal proportional to the amount of emitted light energy which passes through the transparent areas of said mask; and means for differentially combining said first and second electrical signals; the resultant difference signal being an indication of the correlation between the electric signal exciting said piezoelectric transducer and said reference binary signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-01 | 1974-08-03 | 1975-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-01 | 1978-08-03 | 1979-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-01 | 1982-08-03 | 1983-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |