Patent US1990055A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3566026A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3566026A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic acquisition and tracking system
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1967-02-27
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Granted: 1971-02-23
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Expires: 1987-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A system that acquires and tracks an object designated by a light sensor placed over the object''s image on a display monitor. The system includes a tracking sensor, such as a television camera, a video tracker and a tracking sensor stabilization unit. Sample and hold circuits are gated by an output pulse of the light sensor at which time these circuits sample the value of the deflection signals of the tracking sensor. The output signals from the sample and hold circuits are applied to switchable amplifier-integrator circuits that preposition the tracking gates of the video tracker. A monitor video gating circuit is coupled to the display monitor for intensification of the display during a portion of the acquisition sequence. Delay and limiting means are coupled between the video tracker and the tracking sensor stabilization unit for allowing the video tracker to stabilize prior to initiating maximum sensor position tracking rates.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L Bonebreak
- 👤 David B Park
- 👤 Phillip R Tulloh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 07:13
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/038; G06F3/0386; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01S3/7864
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A target acquisition system comprising: a tracking sensor having a tracking axis and being responsive to energy received from a sector in space surrounding and including a selected target for producing video signals having amplitudes representative of the intensity of the received energy; a gated video tracker, including tracking gate generators, coupled to said tracking sensor for producing output signals corresponding to the position of the selected target relative to the tracking axis of said tracking sensor; a display monitor, including a display screen, coupled to said tracking sensor for forming images on the display screen in response to the video signals; position sampling means coupled to said tracking sensor and being responsive to light energy emitted from the selected target image on said display screen for generating position voltages representative of the position of the selected target image relative to said display screen; and integrator-amplifier means coupled to said gated video tracker and to said position sampling means and responsive to the respective output signals and position voltages therefrom for positioning the tracking gates into time coincidence with the position of the desired target image relative to said display screen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A target acquisition system comprising: a tracking sensor having a tracking axis and being responsive to energy received from a sector in space surrounding and including a selected target for producing video signals having amplitudes representative of the intensity of the received energy; a gated video tracker, including tracking gate generators, coupled to said tracking sensor for producing output signals corresponding to the position of the selected target relative to the tracking axis of said tracking sensor; a display monitor, including a display screen, coupled to said tracking sensor for forming images on the display screen in response to the video signals; position sampling means coupled to said tracking sensor and being responsive to light energy emitted from the selected target image on said display screen for generating position voltages representative of the position of the selected target image relative to said display screen; and integrator-amplifier means coupled to said gated video tracker and to said position sampling means and responsive to the respective output signals and position voltages therefrom for positioning the tracking gates into time coincidence with the position of the desired target image relative to said display screen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising: a logic control unit coupled to said tracking sensor and to said integrator-amplifier means for generating signals to control the operation of saiD integrator-amplifier means; and a monitor video gate circuit coupled between said tracking sensor and said display monitor and to said logic control unit, said monitor circuit being controlled by said logic control unit for increasing the light intensity produced by said display tube during a selected interval of time.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
140 words
A system for prepositioning the tracking gates of a video tracker into time coincidence with a selected target image comprising: a tracking sensor responsive to the energy from a sector in space; a gated video tracker, including tracking gate generators, coupled to said tracking sensor; a display monitor, including a display tube, coupled to said tracking sensor; a light sensor responsive to light energy emitted from said display tube; position sampling means coupled to said light sensor and to said tracking sensor for generating position voltages representative of the position of said light sensor relative to said display tube; and integrator means coupled to said gated video tracker and to said position sampling means and responsive to the position voltages for positioning the tracking gates into time coincidence with a target designated by the relative position of said light sensor.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
140 words
A system for prepositioning the tracking gates of a video tracker into time coincidence with a selected target image comprising: a tracking sensor responsive to the energy from a sector in space; a gated video tracker, including tracking gate generators, coupled to said tracking sensor; a display monitor, including a display tube, coupled to said tracking sensor; a light sensor responsive to light energy emitted from said display tube; position sampling means coupled to said light sensor and to said tracking sensor for generating position voltages representative of the position of said light sensor relative to said display tube; and integrator means coupled to said gated video tracker and to said position sampling means and responsive to the position voltages for positioning the tracking gates into time coincidence with a target designated by the relative position of said light sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 3 further comprising: a logic control unit coupled to said tracking sensor and to said light sensor; and a monitor video gating circuit coupled between said tracking sensor and said display monitor and to said logic control unit, said monitor circuit being controlled by said logic control unit for increasing the light intensity produced by said display tube during a selected interval of time.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
225 words
A system for the acquisition and tracking of a selected object in space in response to energy received therefrom comprising: a tracking sensor responsive to energy received from a sector in space; a gated video tracker having first and second input circuits and having an output circuit, with said first input circuit coupled to said tracking sensor; a display monitor coupled to said tracking sensor and including a display screen; a light sensor responsive to light energy emitted from said display screen; a sample-hold circuit coupled to said light sensor and to said tracking sensor for generating position voltages representative of the position of said light sensor relative to said display screen; a logic control unit having a first input circuit coupled to said tracking sensor, having a second input circuit coupled to said light sensor, and having a first output terminal; an integrator-amplifier having a first input circuit coupled to said output circuit of said gated video tracker, having a second input circuit coupled to said sample-hold circuit, having an output circuit coupled to said second input circuit of said gated video tracker, and having a switching input circuit coupled to said first output terminal of said logic control circuit; and stabilization means having an input circuit coupled to said output circuit of said integrator-amplifier and an output means coupled to said tracking sensor.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
225 words
A system for the acquisition and tracking of a selected object in space in response to energy received therefrom comprising: a tracking sensor responsive to energy received from a sector in space; a gated video tracker having first and second input circuits and having an output circuit, with said first input circuit coupled to said tracking sensor; a display monitor coupled to said tracking sensor and including a display screen; a light sensor responsive to light energy emitted from said display screen; a sample-hold circuit coupled to said light sensor and to said tracking sensor for generating position voltages representative of the position of said light sensor relative to said display screen; a logic control unit having a first input circuit coupled to said tracking sensor, having a second input circuit coupled to said light sensor, and having a first output terminal; an integrator-amplifier having a first input circuit coupled to said output circuit of said gated video tracker, having a second input circuit coupled to said sample-hold circuit, having an output circuit coupled to said second input circuit of said gated video tracker, and having a switching input circuit coupled to said first output terminal of said logic control circuit; and stabilization means having an input circuit coupled to said output circuit of said integrator-amplifier and an output means coupled to said tracking sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system as set forth in claim 5, with said logic control unit having a second output terminal and further comprising a monitor video gate connected in the coupling between said tracking sensor and said display monitor, and having a control input terminal coupled to said second output terminal of said logic control unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system as set forth in claim 5, with said logic control unit having a third output terminal and further comprising a track-cage switch connected in the coupling between said stabilization means and said integrator-amplifier, and having a control terminal coupled to said third output terminal of said logic control unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system as set forth in claim 7, with said logic control unit having a fourth output terminal and further comprising a limiter connected in the coupling between said integrator-amplifier and said track-cage Switch, and having a control input circuit coupled to said fourth output terminal of said logic control means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
221 words
A system for the acquisition and tracking of an object in response to energy received from a sector in space, comprising: transducer means, including a tracking axis, and responsive to received energy from a sector of space for producing signals having amplitudes representative of the intensity of the received energy; a display monitor, including a display screen, for forming images on the display screen in response to said transducer signals; a light sensor responsive to light energy emitted from said display screen and movable to positions adjacent to a selected object image on said display screen; position sampling means coupled to said light sensor and to said transducer means, for generating signals representative of the position of said light sensor relative to said display screen; video tracking means coupled to said transducer means and to said position sampling means for developing difference signals that are amplitude representative of the location of the selected object relative to the tracking axis of said transducer; limiter means coupled to said video tracking means and responsive to said difference signals for limiting the magnitude of the difference signals during a selected time period; and stabilization means coupled to said limiter means and to said transducer means for aligning the tracking axis of said transducer means to coincide with location of the selected object in space.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
221 words
A system for the acquisition and tracking of an object in response to energy received from a sector in space, comprising: transducer means, including a tracking axis, and responsive to received energy from a sector of space for producing signals having amplitudes representative of the intensity of the received energy; a display monitor, including a display screen, for forming images on the display screen in response to said transducer signals; a light sensor responsive to light energy emitted from said display screen and movable to positions adjacent to a selected object image on said display screen; position sampling means coupled to said light sensor and to said transducer means, for generating signals representative of the position of said light sensor relative to said display screen; video tracking means coupled to said transducer means and to said position sampling means for developing difference signals that are amplitude representative of the location of the selected object relative to the tracking axis of said transducer; limiter means coupled to said video tracking means and responsive to said difference signals for limiting the magnitude of the difference signals during a selected time period; and stabilization means coupled to said limiter means and to said transducer means for aligning the tracking axis of said transducer means to coincide with location of the selected object in space.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 9 further comprising tracking delay means coupled between said limiter means and said stabilization means for inhibiting the difference signals for a selected period of time.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 10 further comprising a monitor video gating means coupled between said transducer means and said display means for generating video intensification signals for increasing the light intensity produced by said display screen during a selected interval of time.
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) | 1974-02-22 | 1974-08-24 | 1975-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-22 | 1978-08-24 | 1979-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-22 | 1982-08-24 | 1983-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |