US3591292A — Optical control device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 289 words

An optical control device comprising: a quadrant array detector means responsive to a localized source of light and having outputs A, B, C, and D, from quadrants 2, 1, 3, and 4, respectively, each variable as a function of their respective exposure to said localized source of light; an optical means intermediate said quadrant array detector means and said source of light for collecting said light to form an image on said quadrant array detector means; a flexure means for flexing along two axes in response to an electromagnetic field, said flexure means having connected thereto said quadrant array detector means for controlling the position of said detector means relative to said localized source of light so as to proportion said source of localized light equally in each of said detector quadrants; a first means responsive to said quadrant array detector means for deriving reference signal A+B+C+D; a second means responsive to said quadrant array detector means for deriving signal A+B-(C+D); a third means responsive to said quadrant array detector means for deriving signal A+C-(B+D); a threshold detector means responsive to said first means as a function of a predetermined signal-to-noise ratio to control the flow of signals A+B-(C+D) and A+C-(B+D) therethrough; first and second amplifier means responsive, respectively, to signals A+B-(C+D) and A+C-(B+D) for providing current representing true angular errors between said quadrant array detector means and a line of sight to said localized source of light; said flexure means being responsive to said first and second amplifier means currents to reposition itself until said quadrant array detector outputs are equal; said first amplifier means current controlling vertical position axis of said flexure means; and said second amplifier means current controlling horizontal position axis of said flexure means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 289 words

An optical control device comprising: a quadrant array detector means responsive to a localized source of light and having outputs A, B, C, and D, from quadrants 2, 1, 3, and 4, respectively, each variable as a function of their respective exposure to said localized source of light; an optical means intermediate said quadrant array detector means and said source of light for collecting said light to form an image on said quadrant array detector means; a flexure means for flexing along two axes in response to an electromagnetic field, said flexure means having connected thereto said quadrant array detector means for controlling the position of said detector means relative to said localized source of light so as to proportion said source of localized light equally in each of said detector quadrants; a first means responsive to said quadrant array detector means for deriving reference signal A+B+C+D; a second means responsive to said quadrant array detector means for deriving signal A+B-(C+D); a third means responsive to said quadrant array detector means for deriving signal A+C-(B+D); a threshold detector means responsive to said first means as a function of a predetermined signal-to-noise ratio to control the flow of signals A+B-(C+D) and A+C-(B+D) therethrough; first and second amplifier means responsive, respectively, to signals A+B-(C+D) and A+C-(B+D) for providing current representing true angular errors between said quadrant array detector means and a line of sight to said localized source of light; said flexure means being responsive to said first and second amplifier means currents to reposition itself until said quadrant array detector outputs are equal; said first amplifier means current controlling vertical position axis of said flexure means; and said second amplifier means current controlling horizontal position axis of said flexure means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

An optical control device as claimed in claim 1, including a filter means intermediate said optical means and said localized light source to limit spectral response of said quadrant array detector.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

An optical control device as recited in claim 1, wherein the devicE is used as a closed-loop tracking system.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

A closed-loop tracking system as recited in claim 3, including an optical magnifying scope mounted externally on said tracking system for accomplishing tracking system target lock-on by visual observance.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

An optical control device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device is used as a guidance system further including roll and lateral missile motion stabilization.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 38 words

An optical control device are recited in claim 1, wherein said localized source of light approaches that of a point source and whose wavelength of emission lies in the visible or near infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 49 words

An optical control device as recited in claim 1, wherein said quadrant array detector means comprises: four photodiodes; each of said diodes forming one quadrant and being suitably mounted in a single package with close spacing of each diode relative to the others; each diode having a signal output.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 30 words

An optical control device as recited in claim 1, wherein said filter means is of predetermined transmission characteristics as a function of the intended use of said optical control device.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 129 words

An optical control device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said flexure means comprises: a means for providing cantilevered support; a first element responsive to current for bidirectionally positioning said cantilevered means in its vertical plane; a second element responsive to current for bidirectionally positioning said cantilevered means in its horizontal plane; said first and second elements being independently responsive simultaneously; a first pickoff element magnetically responsive to said first element to generate a current therein for use in a series flow closed-loop relationship with a first electronic control means which positions said first element; a second pickoff element magnetically responsive to said second element to generate a current therein for use in a series flow closed-loop relationship with a second electronic control means which positions said second element.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 35 words

An optical control device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first means responsive to said quadrant array detector means is a pulse transformer having inputs A, B, C, and D, and an output A+B+C+D.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 63 words

An optical control device as recited in claim 1, wherein said second means responsive to said quadrant array detector means comprises: a first subtraction means having inputs A and D, and an output A-D; a second subtraction means having inputs B and C, and an output B-C; an addition means having inputs from said first and second subtraction means, and an output A+B-(C+D).

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 64 words

An optical control device as recited in claim 1, wherein said third means responsive to said quadrant array detector means comprises: a first subtraction means having inputs A and D, and an output A-D; a second subtraction means having inputs B and C, and an output B-C; a third subtraction means having inputs from said first and second subtraction means, and an output A+C-(B+D).

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 82 words

An optical control device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second amplifier means each comprise: an input network to provide for pulse averaging and pulse stretching; a pulse driver stage responsive to said input network for passing said signal to a holding circuit; said holding circuit having an output upon a command signal from said threshold detector means; a high-gain servoamplifier being responsive to said holding circuit output to generate an output control signal proportional to said signal input.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 223 words

A photosensitive electromagnetic detector means comprising: a means for providing cantilevered support; a first element responsive to current for bidirectionally positioning said cantilevered meanS in its vertical plane; a second element responsive to current for bidirectionally positioning said cantilevered means in its horizontal plane; said first and second elements being independently responsive simultaneously; a first pickoff element magnetically responsive to said first element to generate a current therein for use in a series flow closed-loop relationship with a first electronic control means which positions said first element; a second pickoff element magnetically responsive to said second element to generate a current therein for use in a series flow closed-loop relationship with a second electronic control means which positions said second element; a quadrant array detector means rigidly mounted on the free end of said cantilevered means; said quadrant array detector means being comprised of four photodiodes with each of said diodes forming one quadrant and being suitably mounted in a single package with close spacing of each diode relative to the others to optimize the quadrant photosensitive area; and said quadrant array detector means being responsive to a localized source of light and having outputs A, B, C, and D, from quadrants 2, 1, 3, and 4, respectively, each variable as a function of their respective exposure to said localized source of light.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 223 words

A photosensitive electromagnetic detector means comprising: a means for providing cantilevered support; a first element responsive to current for bidirectionally positioning said cantilevered meanS in its vertical plane; a second element responsive to current for bidirectionally positioning said cantilevered means in its horizontal plane; said first and second elements being independently responsive simultaneously; a first pickoff element magnetically responsive to said first element to generate a current therein for use in a series flow closed-loop relationship with a first electronic control means which positions said first element; a second pickoff element magnetically responsive to said second element to generate a current therein for use in a series flow closed-loop relationship with a second electronic control means which positions said second element; a quadrant array detector means rigidly mounted on the free end of said cantilevered means; said quadrant array detector means being comprised of four photodiodes with each of said diodes forming one quadrant and being suitably mounted in a single package with close spacing of each diode relative to the others to optimize the quadrant photosensitive area; and said quadrant array detector means being responsive to a localized source of light and having outputs A, B, C, and D, from quadrants 2, 1, 3, and 4, respectively, each variable as a function of their respective exposure to said localized source of light.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 125 words

A flexure means for flexing along two axes in response to an electromagnetic field, said flexure means comprising: a means for providing cantilevered support; a first element responsive to current for bidirectionally positioning said cantilevered means in its vertical plane; a second element responsive to current for bidirectionally positioning said cantilevered means in its horizontal plane; a first pickoff element magnetically responsive to said first element to generate a current therein for use in a series flow closed-loop relationship with a first electronic control means which positions said first element; and a second pickoff element magnetically responsive to said second element to generate a current therein for use in a series flow closed-loop relationship with a second electronic control means which position said second element.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 125 words

A flexure means for flexing along two axes in response to an electromagnetic field, said flexure means comprising: a means for providing cantilevered support; a first element responsive to current for bidirectionally positioning said cantilevered means in its vertical plane; a second element responsive to current for bidirectionally positioning said cantilevered means in its horizontal plane; a first pickoff element magnetically responsive to said first element to generate a current therein for use in a series flow closed-loop relationship with a first electronic control means which positions said first element; and a second pickoff element magnetically responsive to said second element to generate a current therein for use in a series flow closed-loop relationship with a second electronic control means which position said second element.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 184 words

A tracking device comprising: array detector means having at least three sections responsive to a source of light, each section having an output which represents its exposure to said source of light; flexure means operatively connected to said array detector means for controlling the position of said array detector means relative to said source of light to proportion said source of light equally in each section; first means responsive to said outputs of said array detector means for generating a first signal; second means responsive to said outputs of said array detector means for generating a second signal; third means responsive to said outputs of said array detector means for generating a reference signal; and threshold detector means responsive to said reference signal to control the flow of said first and second signals unless a predetermined signal-to-noise ratio has been exceeded; said flexure means including a cantilevered shaft that bends in response to a magnetic field to reposition itself until said outputs of said array detector means are equal, said first and second signals controlling vertical and horizontal bending, respectively, of said flexure means.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 184 words

A tracking device comprising: array detector means having at least three sections responsive to a source of light, each section having an output which represents its exposure to said source of light; flexure means operatively connected to said array detector means for controlling the position of said array detector means relative to said source of light to proportion said source of light equally in each section; first means responsive to said outputs of said array detector means for generating a first signal; second means responsive to said outputs of said array detector means for generating a second signal; third means responsive to said outputs of said array detector means for generating a reference signal; and threshold detector means responsive to said reference signal to control the flow of said first and second signals unless a predetermined signal-to-noise ratio has been exceeded; said flexure means including a cantilevered shaft that bends in response to a magnetic field to reposition itself until said outputs of said array detector means are equal, said first and second signals controlling vertical and horizontal bending, respectively, of said flexure means.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 82 words

The tracking device, as recited in claim 16, wherein said array detector means has four quadrants, each quadrant corresponding to one of said sections, said first signal being generated when first opposing halves of said quadrant sections are not exposed to the same amount of said source of light, said second signal being generated when second opposing halves of said quadrant sections which are perpendicular to said first opposing halves are not exposed to the same amount of said source of light.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 33 words

The tracking device, as recited in claim 17, further comprising amplifier means for maGnifying said first and second signals to drive perpendicularly located coils on said flexure means to generate said magnetic fields.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 39 words

The tracking device, as recited in claim 17, further comprising: optical means intermediate said array detector means and said source of light; and pickup means for determining the position of said flexure means after a repositioning has taken place.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-07-05	1975-01-04	1975-07-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-07-05	1979-01-04	1979-07-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-07-05	1983-01-04	1983-07-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Optical control device

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