Patent US4729357A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3581090A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3581090A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Utilizing penetrating radiation
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1966-10-20
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Granted: 1971-05-25
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Expires: 1986-10-20
Abstract
Abstract A system for determining the position of a plurality of objects carrying sources of radiation relative to a detector for said radiation includes means for modulating each of the radiation sources at a different frequency. The modulated radiation is received by an array including a plurality of mutually shielded detectors. Each detector feeds a voltage indicative of the amount of penetrating radiation impinging thereon to a computing network which derives visual signals indicative of the angular location and range of each object carrying a radiation source. Provision is made for eliminating background radiation from the signal derived from each of the detectors.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard Carlton Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:43
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/16; G01S5/166; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/29; G01T1/2907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
274 words
A system for deriving information indicative of the range and angular position of a source of penetrating radiation comprising a stationary array of at least three receivers for said radiation, shield means disposed between said receivers for varying the relative amount of said radiation impinging on each of said receivers in response to the angular position of said source, said shield means and receivers being arranged so that the response of each of said receivers is periodic with respect to the angular position of said source, the periodicity of said receivers being substantially the same but displaced in angular position relative to each other, means for deriving a signal proportional in magnitude to the amount of said radiation impinging on each of said receivers, means for combining said signals for deriving first and second voltages respectively proportional to the range and angular position of said source, means responsive to said voltages for deriving an indication of the range and angular position of said source, said means for combining and deriving said second voltage including means for taking the difference between the signals proportional to the amount of radiation impinging on said receivers, said difference taking means including means for deriving a signal proportional to the tangent of the angle between said source and array. Said array comprising three receivers symmetrically arranged about an axis of the array, the signals derived proportional to the radiation impinging on said three receivers being denominated as C1, C2 and C3, respectively, said combining means forming the signal proportional to the tangent of the angle between said source and array in response to said three signals in accordance with
Claim 2
Independent Claim
274 words
A system for deriving information indicative of the range and angular position of a source of penetrating radiation comprising a stationary array of at least three receivers for said radiation, shield means disposed between said receivers for varying the relative amount of said radiation impinging on each of said receivers in response to the angular position of said source, said shield means and receivers being arranged so that the response of each of said receivers is periodic with respect to the angular position of said source, the periodicity of said receivers being substantially the same but displaced in angular position relative to each other, means for deriving a signal proportional in magnitude to the amount of said radiation impinging on each of said receivers, means for combining said signals for deriving first and second voltages respectively proportional to the range and angular position of said source, means responsive to said voltages for deriving an indication of the range and angular position of said source, said means for combining and deriving said second voltage including means for taking the difference between the signals proportional to the amount of radiation impinging on said receivers, said difference taking means including means for deriving a signal proportional to the tangent of the angle between said source and array. Said array comprising three receivers symmetrically arranged about an axis of the array, the signals derived proportional to the radiation impinging on said three receivers being denominated as C1, C2 and C3, respectively, said combining means forming the signal proportional to the tangent of the angle between said source and array in response to said three signals in accordance with
Claim 3
Independent Claim
246 words
A system for deriving information indicative of the range and angular position of a source of penetrating radiation comprising a stationary array of at least three receivers for said radiation, shield means disposed between said receivErs for varying the relative amount of said radiation impinging on each of said receivers in response to the angular position of said source, said shield means and receivers being arranged so that the response of each of said receivers is periodic with respect to the angular position of said source, the periodicity of said receivers being substantially the same but displaced in angular position relative to each other, means for deriving a signal proportional in magnitude to the amount of said radiation impinging on each of said receivers, means for combining said signals for deriving first and second voltages respectively proportional to the range and angular position of said source, and means responsive to said voltages for deriving an indication of the range and angular position of said source, said means for combining and deriving said second voltage including means for taking the difference between the signals proportional to the amount of radiation impinging on said receivers, said array comprising four receivers symmetrically arranged about a common axis of said array, the signals derived proportional to the radiation impinging on said four receivers being denominated as C1, C2, C3 and C4, respectively, said means for combining including means for generating difference signals to ((C1-C3) + (C2-C4)) and ((C1-C3) - (C2-C4)).
Claim 4
Independent Claim
246 words
A system for deriving information indicative of the range and angular position of a source of penetrating radiation comprising a stationary array of at least three receivers for said radiation, shield means disposed between said receivErs for varying the relative amount of said radiation impinging on each of said receivers in response to the angular position of said source, said shield means and receivers being arranged so that the response of each of said receivers is periodic with respect to the angular position of said source, the periodicity of said receivers being substantially the same but displaced in angular position relative to each other, means for deriving a signal proportional in magnitude to the amount of said radiation impinging on each of said receivers, means for combining said signals for deriving first and second voltages respectively proportional to the range and angular position of said source, and means responsive to said voltages for deriving an indication of the range and angular position of said source, said means for combining and deriving said second voltage including means for taking the difference between the signals proportional to the amount of radiation impinging on said receivers, said array comprising four receivers symmetrically arranged about a common axis of said array, the signals derived proportional to the radiation impinging on said four receivers being denominated as C1, C2, C3 and C4, respectively, said means for combining including means for generating difference signals to ((C1-C3) + (C2-C4)) and ((C1-C3) - (C2-C4)).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
242 words
A system for deriving information indicative of the range and angular position of a source of penetrating radiation in a background of said radiation comprising a stationary array of at least three receivers for said radiation, shield means disposed between said receivers, said shield means and receivers being positioned and constructed so that the relative amount of said radiation impinging on each of said receivers is varied in response to the angular position of said source, said shield means and receivers being arranged so that the response of each of said receivers is periodic with respect to the angular position of said source, the periodicity of said receivers being substantially the same but displaced in angular position relative to each other, means for deriving a signal proportional in magnitude to the amount of said radiation, including said background radiation, impinging on each of said receivers, means for combining said signals for deriving an indication of the range and angular position of said source, and means responsive to the amount of radiation impinging on said receivers for substantially eliminating the effect of said background radiation on the magnitude of each of said signals, said means for eliminating including means response to said signal deriving means for deriving a signal commensurate with the deviation of the square of the average amplitude of the radiation level impinging on said receivers from the sum of the squares of the individual radiation levels impinging on said receivers.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
242 words
A system for deriving information indicative of the range and angular position of a source of penetrating radiation in a background of said radiation comprising a stationary array of at least three receivers for said radiation, shield means disposed between said receivers, said shield means and receivers being positioned and constructed so that the relative amount of said radiation impinging on each of said receivers is varied in response to the angular position of said source, said shield means and receivers being arranged so that the response of each of said receivers is periodic with respect to the angular position of said source, the periodicity of said receivers being substantially the same but displaced in angular position relative to each other, means for deriving a signal proportional in magnitude to the amount of said radiation, including said background radiation, impinging on each of said receivers, means for combining said signals for deriving an indication of the range and angular position of said source, and means responsive to the amount of radiation impinging on said receivers for substantially eliminating the effect of said background radiation on the magnitude of each of said signals, said means for eliminating including means response to said signal deriving means for deriving a signal commensurate with the deviation of the square of the average amplitude of the radiation level impinging on said receivers from the sum of the squares of the individual radiation levels impinging on said receivers.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
242 words
A system for deriving information indicative of the range and angular position of a radiation source of known amplitude, the amplitude of radiation from said source varying in a predetermined inverse manner as a function of distance, comprising a stationary array of at least three receivers for said radiation, shield means disposed between said receivers, said shield means and receivers being positioned and constructed so that the relative amount of said radiation impinging on each of said receivers is varied in response to the angular position of said source, said shield means and receivers being arranged so that the response of each of said receivers is periodic with respect to the angular position of said source, the periodicity of said receivers being substantially the same but displaced in angular position relative to each other, means for deriving a signal proportional in magnitude to the amount of said radiation impinging on each of said receivers, means for combing said signals for deriving a voltAge magnitude proportional to the range of said source, a PPI including a cathode-ray beam and having a coordinate system origin, means responsive to said voltage for deflecting said beam away from said origin by a distance proportional to the range between said source and array, and means responsive to the difference between a plurality of said signals for controlling the angle at which said beam is deflected about said origin in accordance with the angular position of said target.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
242 words
A system for deriving information indicative of the range and angular position of a radiation source of known amplitude, the amplitude of radiation from said source varying in a predetermined inverse manner as a function of distance, comprising a stationary array of at least three receivers for said radiation, shield means disposed between said receivers, said shield means and receivers being positioned and constructed so that the relative amount of said radiation impinging on each of said receivers is varied in response to the angular position of said source, said shield means and receivers being arranged so that the response of each of said receivers is periodic with respect to the angular position of said source, the periodicity of said receivers being substantially the same but displaced in angular position relative to each other, means for deriving a signal proportional in magnitude to the amount of said radiation impinging on each of said receivers, means for combing said signals for deriving a voltAge magnitude proportional to the range of said source, a PPI including a cathode-ray beam and having a coordinate system origin, means responsive to said voltage for deflecting said beam away from said origin by a distance proportional to the range between said source and array, and means responsive to the difference between a plurality of said signals for controlling the angle at which said beam is deflected about said origin in accordance with the angular position of said target.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
106 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said array comprises four receivers symmetrically arranged about a common axis of said array, the signals derived proportional to the radiation impinging on said four receivers being denominated as C1, C2, C3 and C4, respectively, said means for controlling the beam deflection angle including means for generating first and second difference signals respectively proportional to ((C1-C3) + (C2-C4)) and ((C1-C3) + (C2-C4)), said PPI including first and second orthogonal deflection means, and means responsive to said difference signal generating means for applying signals proportional to said first and second difference signals to said first and second orthogonal deflection means, respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said combining means derives a sum signal proportional to C1+C2+C3+C4 and includes means responsive to said sum signal for deriving a voltage in accordance with where: BR the magnitude of the sum signal; R the output voltage of the range voltage deriving means; e base of natural logarithms; lambda the mean free path length of the radiation; and K a constant.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
192 words
A system for deriving indications of the relative position of a first object and each of a plurality of second objects comprising a separate calibrated source of penetrating radiation mounted on each of said second objects, a nonscanning detector array for said radiation fixedly mounted on the other of said objects, said array including: at least three receivers for said radiation, shield means disposed between said receivers, said shield means and receivers being positioned and constructed so that the relative amount of said radiation impinging on each of said receivers is varied in response to the angular position of said source, said shield means and receivers being arranged so that the response of each of said receivers is periodic with respect to the angular position of said source, the periodicity of said receivers being substantially the same but displaced in angular position relative to each other; means for deriving a signal proportional in magnitude to the amount of said radiation impinging on each of said receivers, means for combining said signals for simultaneously deriving indications of the relative range and angular position between said first object and each of said second objects.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
192 words
A system for deriving indications of the relative position of a first object and each of a plurality of second objects comprising a separate calibrated source of penetrating radiation mounted on each of said second objects, a nonscanning detector array for said radiation fixedly mounted on the other of said objects, said array including: at least three receivers for said radiation, shield means disposed between said receivers, said shield means and receivers being positioned and constructed so that the relative amount of said radiation impinging on each of said receivers is varied in response to the angular position of said source, said shield means and receivers being arranged so that the response of each of said receivers is periodic with respect to the angular position of said source, the periodicity of said receivers being substantially the same but displaced in angular position relative to each other; means for deriving a signal proportional in magnitude to the amount of said radiation impinging on each of said receivers, means for combining said signals for simultaneously deriving indications of the relative range and angular position between said first object and each of said second objects.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 7 wherein each of said sources includes means for continuously modulating the amount of radiation emitted thereby, said modulation being at a constant predetermined different frequency for each of said sources, and said indication deriving means includes means for separating said frequencies.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said frequency separating means includes a phase locked loop for each of said frequencies, said phase locked loop being responsive to the combined signals from said receivers for deriving a separate signal at reference frequency and phase for each of the modulation frequencies, and phase detector means responsive to said combined signals and each of said reference frequency and phase signals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said indication deriving means comprises a plan position indicator having a cathode-ray beam, and means responsive tO said phase detector means for deflecting said cathode-ray beam to a position commensurate with the relative range and angular position between said first object and each of said second objects.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
79 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said deflecting means comprises means for rotating said cathode-ray beam about an origin of said plan position indicator, and means responsive to said phase detector means for applying a deflecting voltage to said beam proportional to the range between said first object and each of said second objects at a time when the angular position of the beam corresponds with the angular position between said first object and each of said second objects.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said indication deriving means comprises a plan position indicator having a cathode-ray beam, and means responsive to the combined signals for deflecting said cathode-ray beam to a position commensurate with the relative range and angular position between said first object and each of said second objects.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said deflecting means comprises means for rotating said cathode-ray beam about an origin of said plan position indicator, and means responsive to the combined signals for applying a deflecting voltage to said beam proportional to the range between said first object and each of said second objects at a time when the angular position of the beam corresponds with the angular position between said first object and each of said second objects.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said array comprises four receivers symmetrically arranged about a common axis of said array, the signals derived proportional to the radiation impinging on said four receivers being denominated as C1, C2, C3 and C4, respectively, said means for combining including means for generating difference signals proportional to ((C1-C3) + (C2-C4)) and ((C1-C3) -(C2-C4)), and means responsive to said difference signals for controlling the deflection angle of said cathode-ray beam.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said combining means derives a sum signal proportional to C1 + C2 + C3 + C4, means responsive to the sum signal for deriving a voltage proportional to the range of each said objects, and means responsive to said range voltage for controlling the amount by which said cathode-ray beam is deflected.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said range voltage deriving means responds to said sum signal in accordance with where: BR the magnitude of the sum signal'' R the output voltage of the range voltage deriving means; e the base of natural logarithms; lambda the means free path length of the radiation; and K a constant.
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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) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |