US3586770A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adaptive gated digital tracker
Assignee: Raytheon Co
•
Filing: 1967-08-30
•
Granted: 1971-06-22
•
Expires: 1987-08-30
Abstract
Abstract A system for distinguishing a designated object in space from objects of similar intensity within the receiving aperture of a TV (television) camera and for determining the location thereof. A video processor, coupled to the TV camera limits the system''s response to signals representative of the inner intensity contour of possible targets. A digital processor, in response to the video processor output signals, determines the difference between the angular location of the designated object and a previously stored estimate of this position and updates the stored position. The updating function of the digital processor is normalized by the target''s image dimensions so that the tracking response of the system is essentially independent of target image size.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L Bonebreak
- 👤 William A Chambers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:58
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01S3/7864
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
A system for determining the location of a designated object in response to energy received from a sector of space, comprising: sensor means for producing signals which are amplitude representative of the relative intensity of the received energy; acquisition means coupled to said sensor means and responsive to the sensor signals for determining the approximate location of a designated object; storage means coupled to said acquisition means for storing the approximate location of the designated object; logic means responsive to the sensor signals for distinguishing the designated object from other objects by a comparison of the location of the objects to the stored approximate location of the designated object; digital processor means coupled to said logic means and being responsive to the sensor signals corresponding to the designated object for determining the difference between the location of the designated object and the stored location; and updating means, coupled to said digital processor means and said logic means, for updating the stored approximate location of the designated object, said updating means including means, coupled to said logic means and responsive to the sensor signals corresponding to the designated object, for determining the relative area of the designated object, and means, coupled to said area determining means and to said digital processor means, for updating the stored approximate location of the designated object as a function of the relative area of the designated object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
232 words
A system for determining the location of a designated object in response to energy received from a sector of space, comprising: sensor means for producing signals which are amplitude representative of the relative intensity of the received energy; acquisition means coupled to said sensor means and responsive to the sensor signals for determining the approximate location of a designated object; storage means coupled to said acquisition means for storing the approximate location of the designated object; logic means responsive to the sensor signals for distinguishing the designated object from other objects by a comparison of the location of the objects to the stored approximate location of the designated object; digital processor means coupled to said logic means and being responsive to the sensor signals corresponding to the designated object for determining the difference between the location of the designated object and the stored location; and updating means, coupled to said digital processor means and said logic means, for updating the stored approximate location of the designated object, said updating means including means, coupled to said logic means and responsive to the sensor signals corresponding to the designated object, for determining the relative area of the designated object, and means, coupled to said area determining means and to said digital processor means, for updating the stored approximate location of the designated object as a function of the relative area of the designated object.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
234 words
A system for determining the location of a designated object in response to energy received from a sector of space, comprising: sensor means for producing signals which are amplitude representative of the relative intensity of the received energy; acquisition means coupled to said sensor means and responsive to the sensor signals for determining the approximate location of a designated object; storage means coupled to said acquisition means for storing the approximate location of the designated object; logic means responsive to the sensor signals for distinguishing the designated object from other objects by a comparison of the location of the objects to the stored approximate location of the designated object; digital processor means coupled to said logic means and being responsive to the sensor signals corresponding to the designated object for determining the difference between the location of the designated object and the stored location; and updating means, coupled to said digital processor means and said logic means, for updating the stored approximate location of the designated object, said updating means including first means, coupled to said logic means and responsive to the sensor signals corresponding to the designated object, for determining the relative dimensions of the designated object, and second means, coupled to said dimension determining means and to said digital processor means, for updating the stored approximate loCation of the designated object as a function of the relative dimensions of the designated object.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
234 words
A system for determining the location of a designated object in response to energy received from a sector of space, comprising: sensor means for producing signals which are amplitude representative of the relative intensity of the received energy; acquisition means coupled to said sensor means and responsive to the sensor signals for determining the approximate location of a designated object; storage means coupled to said acquisition means for storing the approximate location of the designated object; logic means responsive to the sensor signals for distinguishing the designated object from other objects by a comparison of the location of the objects to the stored approximate location of the designated object; digital processor means coupled to said logic means and being responsive to the sensor signals corresponding to the designated object for determining the difference between the location of the designated object and the stored location; and updating means, coupled to said digital processor means and said logic means, for updating the stored approximate location of the designated object, said updating means including first means, coupled to said logic means and responsive to the sensor signals corresponding to the designated object, for determining the relative dimensions of the designated object, and second means, coupled to said dimension determining means and to said digital processor means, for updating the stored approximate loCation of the designated object as a function of the relative dimensions of the designated object.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
271 words
A system for determining the location of a designated one of a plurality of objects in response to energy received from a sector in space, comprising: sensor means, for producing signals which are amplitude representative of the relative intensity of the received energy; acquisition means coupled to said sensor means and responsive to the sensor signals for determining the approximate location of a designated object; means, coupled to said acquisition means and to said sensor means, for storing a signal which is amplitude representative of the received energy intensity of the designated object; a video processor, coupled to said sensor means and said signal storage means, for distinguishing objects of approximately the same energy intensity as the designated object from other objects, by an amplitude comparison of the sensor signals to the stored signal representative of the energy intensity of the designated object; means, coupled to said acquisition means, for storing the approximate location of the designated object; logic means, coupled to said video processor and said location storage means and responsive to the sensor signals corresponding to objects of approximately the same energy intensity as the designated object, for distinguishing the designated object by a comparison of the location of the objects to the stored approximate location of the designated object; digital processor means, coupled to said logic means and responsive to the sensor signals corresponding to the designated object, for determining the difference between the location of the designated object and the stored location; and updating means, coupled to said digital processor means, and to said location storage means for updating the stored approximate location of the designated object.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
271 words
A system for determining the location of a designated one of a plurality of objects in response to energy received from a sector in space, comprising: sensor means, for producing signals which are amplitude representative of the relative intensity of the received energy; acquisition means coupled to said sensor means and responsive to the sensor signals for determining the approximate location of a designated object; means, coupled to said acquisition means and to said sensor means, for storing a signal which is amplitude representative of the received energy intensity of the designated object; a video processor, coupled to said sensor means and said signal storage means, for distinguishing objects of approximately the same energy intensity as the designated object from other objects, by an amplitude comparison of the sensor signals to the stored signal representative of the energy intensity of the designated object; means, coupled to said acquisition means, for storing the approximate location of the designated object; logic means, coupled to said video processor and said location storage means and responsive to the sensor signals corresponding to objects of approximately the same energy intensity as the designated object, for distinguishing the designated object by a comparison of the location of the objects to the stored approximate location of the designated object; digital processor means, coupled to said logic means and responsive to the sensor signals corresponding to the designated object, for determining the difference between the location of the designated object and the stored location; and updating means, coupled to said digital processor means, and to said location storage means for updating the stored approximate location of the designated object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said logic means includes means for distinguishing the designated object from other objects by determining which object encompasses the stored reference location.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
91 words
The system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said digital processor means includes: means, coupled to said logic means, for generating series of digital signals that represent increments of area of the designated object; means, coupled to said digital signal generator means, for counting the number of digital signals on opposite sides of the stored reference location; and means, coupled to said counting means, for generating a series of digital pulses which represent the difference in the number of digital signals counted on opposite sides of the stored reference location.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system as set forth in claim 3, in which said updating means comprises: means, coupled to said logic means and responsive to the sensor signals corresponding to the designated object, for determining the relative area of the designated object; and means, coupled to said area determining means and to said digital processor means, for updating the stored approximate location of the designated object as a function of the relative area of the designated object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system as set forth in claim 3, in which said updating means comprises: means, coupled to said logic means and responsive to the sensor signals corresponding to the designated object, for determining the relative dimensions of the designated object; and means, coupled to said dimension determining means and to said digital processor means, for updating the stored approximate location of the designated object as a function of the relative dimensions of the designated object.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
309 words
A system for tracking the location in first and second orthogonal coordinates, of the center of a designated one of a plurality of objects, in response to energy received from a sector in space, comprising: sensor means, responsive to energy received from a sector in space including the desigNated object, for sequentially scanning increments of area of the sector in space and developing area signals that are amplitude representative of the relative intensity of the increments of area; acquisition means, coupled to said sensor means, for generating first and second coordinate positions that are representative of the approximate location of a designated object; means coupled to said acquisition means for storing the first coordinate position; means coupled to said acquisition means for storing the second coordinate position; video processor means, coupled to said sensor means and said acquisition means and responsive to the area signals for developing first and second timing signals that are indicative of the time occurrence, relative to the sensor scan sequence, of area signals of a selected amplitude level; logic means, coupled to said video processor means and to said first and second coordinate storage means and responsive to timing signals, for developing digital area signals representative of area increments of only those objects in continuity with the designated object; digital processor means, coupled to said logic means and to said first and second coordinate storage means and responsive to said digital area signals, for developing first and second digital position difference signals representative of the difference between the location of the designated object and the first and second stored coordinate positions respectively; and updating means, coupled to said digital processor means and to said first and second coordinate storage means and responsive to first and second digital position difference signals, for updating the stored coordinate positions to represent the location of the designated object.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
309 words
A system for tracking the location in first and second orthogonal coordinates, of the center of a designated one of a plurality of objects, in response to energy received from a sector in space, comprising: sensor means, responsive to energy received from a sector in space including the desigNated object, for sequentially scanning increments of area of the sector in space and developing area signals that are amplitude representative of the relative intensity of the increments of area; acquisition means, coupled to said sensor means, for generating first and second coordinate positions that are representative of the approximate location of a designated object; means coupled to said acquisition means for storing the first coordinate position; means coupled to said acquisition means for storing the second coordinate position; video processor means, coupled to said sensor means and said acquisition means and responsive to the area signals for developing first and second timing signals that are indicative of the time occurrence, relative to the sensor scan sequence, of area signals of a selected amplitude level; logic means, coupled to said video processor means and to said first and second coordinate storage means and responsive to timing signals, for developing digital area signals representative of area increments of only those objects in continuity with the designated object; digital processor means, coupled to said logic means and to said first and second coordinate storage means and responsive to said digital area signals, for developing first and second digital position difference signals representative of the difference between the location of the designated object and the first and second stored coordinate positions respectively; and updating means, coupled to said digital processor means and to said first and second coordinate storage means and responsive to first and second digital position difference signals, for updating the stored coordinate positions to represent the location of the designated object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
161 words
The system as set forth in claim 8 in which said video processor means includes: sampling means coupled to said acquisition means and said sensor means for developing a signal which is amplitude representative of the received energy intensity of the designated object; means, coupled to said sampling means, for storing a signal which is amplitude representative of the received energy intensity of the designated object; means, coupled to said signal storage means and to said sensor means, for distinguishing objects of approximately the same energy intensity as the designated object from other objects by an amplitude comparison of the sensor signals to the stored signal representative of the energy intensity of the designated object; and means, coupled to said amplitude comparison means, and responsive to the area signals for developing first and second timing signals that are indicative of the time occurrence, relative to the transducer scan sequence of objects of approximately the same energy intensity as the designated object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
221 words
A system as set forth in claim 8 in which said logic means includes: first logic gating means, coupled to said sensor means, said video processor means and to said first coordinate storage means, for developing a first logic signal if the first stored coordinate position is scanned by said sensor between the time of occurrence of the first and second timing signals on an individual sensor scan along a first coordinate; digital signal generating means, coupled to said sensor means and to said first logic gating means, for developing a series of digital area signals which are numerically representative of the area increments of the object being scanned by said sensor during the time of occurrence of the first logic signal; second logic gating means, coupled to said first logic gating circuit means, to said video processor means and to said sensor means, for developing a second logic signal if the first logic signal is absent during a successive sensor scan along the first coordinate; and third logic gating means, coupled to said first and second logic gating means and to said second coordinate storage means, for developing a computation signal upon the occurrence of the second logic signal if the first logic signal has been generated continually during sensor scans on opposite sides of the second stored coordinate position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
105 words
The system as set forth in claim 8 in said digital processor means includes: first counting means, coupled to said logic means and said first coordinate storage means for developing a first series of digital difference signals numerically representative of the difference between the number of digital area signals to the left and to the right of the first stored coordinate position; and second counting means, coupled to said logic means and said second coordinate storage means, for developing a second series of digital difference signals numerically representative of difference between the number of digital area signals above and below the second stored coordinate position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system as set forth in claim 10 in which said second logic gating means includes a plurality of latching circuits coupled in series between said first and third logic gating means, for developing a second logic signal if the first logic signal is consecutively absent during a predetermined number of sensor scans along the first coordinate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
313 words
The system as set forth in claim 10 in which said digital processor means includes: first digital counting means, coupled to said digital signal generating means and to said first coordinate storage means, for counting the digital area signals that occur during the transducer scan time left of the first stored coordinate position; second digital counting means, coupled to said digital signal generating means and to said first coordinate storage means, for counting the digital area signals that occur during the transducer scan time right of the first stored coordinate position; third digital counting means, coupled to said digital signal generating means and said second coordinate storage means, for counting the digital area signals that occur during the transducer scan time above the second stored coordinate position; fourth digital counting means, coupled to said digital signal generating means and said second coordinate storage means, for counting the digital area signals that occur during the transducer scan time below the second stored coordinate position; reset means coupled to the first, second, third and fourth digital counting means and responsive to the second and third logic gating means, for resetting the digital counting means if the second logic signal occurs in the absence of the computation signal; first digital subtraction means coupled to said first and second digital counting means, and to said third logic gating means for developing a first series of digital difference signals which are numerically representative of the difference between the number of digital area signals counted to the left and right of the first stored coordinate position; and second digital subtraction means coupled to said third and fourth digital counting means, and to said third logic gating means for developing a second series of digital difference signals which are numerically representative of the difference between the number of digital area signals counted above and below the second stored coordinate position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
115 words
The system as set forth in claim 13 in which said updating means includes: means, coupled to said logic means and responsive to the sensor signals corresponding to the designated object, for determining the relative dimensions of the designated object; first integrating means, coupled to said dimension determining means and to said first digital subtraction means, for updating the first stored coordinate position as a function of the dimension of the designated object along the first coordinate; and second integrating means, coupled to said dimension determining means and to said second digital subtraction means, for updating the second stored coordinate position as a function of the dimension of the designated object along the second coordinate.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
243 words
A system for determining the location of a designated object in response to energy received from a sector of space, comprising: sensor means for producing signals which are amplitude representative of the relative intensity of the received energy; acquisition means coupled to said sensor means and responsive to the sensor signals for determining the approximate location of a designated object; means coupled to said acquisition means for storing the approximate location of the designated object; logic means responsive to the sensor signals for distinguishing the designated object from other objects by a comparison of the location of the objects to the stored approximate location of the designated object; updating means for updating the stored approximate location of the designated object; and digital processor means coupled to said updating means and logic means and being responsive to the sensor signals corresponding to the designated object for determining the difference between the location of the designated object and the stored location; said digital processor means further including means coupled to said logic means for generating series of digital signals that numerically represent increments of area of the designated object; means coupled to said digital signal generator means for counting the number of digital signals on opposite sides of the stored reference location; and means coupled to said counting means for generating series of digital pulses which numerically represent the difference in the number of digital signals counted on opposite sides of the stored reference location.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
243 words
A system for determining the location of a designated object in response to energy received from a sector of space, comprising: sensor means for producing signals which are amplitude representative of the relative intensity of the received energy; acquisition means coupled to said sensor means and responsive to the sensor signals for determining the approximate location of a designated object; means coupled to said acquisition means for storing the approximate location of the designated object; logic means responsive to the sensor signals for distinguishing the designated object from other objects by a comparison of the location of the objects to the stored approximate location of the designated object; updating means for updating the stored approximate location of the designated object; and digital processor means coupled to said updating means and logic means and being responsive to the sensor signals corresponding to the designated object for determining the difference between the location of the designated object and the stored location; said digital processor means further including means coupled to said logic means for generating series of digital signals that numerically represent increments of area of the designated object; means coupled to said digital signal generator means for counting the number of digital signals on opposite sides of the stored reference location; and means coupled to said counting means for generating series of digital pulses which numerically represent the difference in the number of digital signals counted on opposite sides of the stored reference location.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-21 | 1974-12-21 | 1975-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-21 | 1978-12-21 | 1979-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-21 | 1982-12-21 | 1983-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |