US3602903A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical sensing system for detecting and storing the position of a point source target
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corp
•
Filing: 1969-01-06
•
Granted: 1971-08-31
•
Expires: 1989-01-06
Abstract
Abstract The position of a point source target in a field of view is simultaneously focused onto a plurality of sensing units by means of a multifaceted lens. Each of the sensing units has a photosensitive area which is divided into a pair of equal area sensing elements which are arranged in either horizontal or vertical finger patterns. The finger patterns are arranged in a binary coded fashion and at any particular time one or the other of the elements of each unit generates an output in response to the optical target, the combination of such outputs being indicative of the position of the target. The output of the optical sensing units are fed to digital registers which develop a binary coded signal indicative of the target position for utilization in a readout device.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley C Requa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:14
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/783; G01S3/7835; H; H03; H03M; H03M1/00; H03M1/12; H03M1/22; H03M1/24; H03M1/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A system for generating a digital readout signal in accordance with the position of an optical point source target, comprising: a plurality of sensor units, each of said sensor units comprising a pair of light sensitive sensor elements arranged in binary coded finger patterns, multifaceted lens means for simultaneously focusing an image of the point source target on one or the other of the sensor elements of each of said sensor units, and digital storage register means for receiving the outputs of said sensor units and developing a binary coded signal uniquely indicative of the position of said target.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A system for generating a digital readout signal in accordance with the position of an optical point source target, comprising: a plurality of sensor units, each of said sensor units comprising a pair of light sensitive sensor elements arranged in binary coded finger patterns, multifaceted lens means for simultaneously focusing an image of the point source target on one or the other of the sensor elements of each of said sensor units, and digital storage register means for receiving the outputs of said sensor units and developing a binary coded signal uniquely indicative of the position of said target.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said multifaceted lens means comprises a plurality of similar lens elements for focusing an image of the target at corresponding portions of each of said sensor units.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device of claim 1 wherein one half of said sensor units include sensor elements having finger patterns running in a first direction, and the other half of said sensor units have sensor elements with finger patterns running in a direction normal to said first direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device as in claim 1 wherein each of said sensor units comprises a conductive backing, a silicon wafer attached to said backing, and metallic layers deposited on said wafer to form said finger patterns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device of claim 4 and further including power source means for back biasing said wafer and a load resistor connected between said power source means and each of said sensor elements, a voltage being developed across each of said load resistors when the sensor element connected thereto has an image of the target focused thereon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said storage register means Includes a first digital register for receiving the outputs of said one half of sensor units and a second digital register for receiving the outputs of said other half of said sensor units.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
In an optical sensing system for detecting the position of a point source target, a plurality of sensor units, each of said sensor units comprising a photosensitive area divided equally between a pair of sensor elements, means for focusing an image of said target onto a corresponding portion of each of said sensor units, and digital storage register means for generating a binary coded signal in accordance with the outputs of said sensor units, said digital storage register means comprising a binary storage element connected to receive the sensor element outputs of each of said sensor units.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
In an optical sensing system for detecting the position of a point source target, a plurality of sensor units, each of said sensor units comprising a photosensitive area divided equally between a pair of sensor elements, means for focusing an image of said target onto a corresponding portion of each of said sensor units, and digital storage register means for generating a binary coded signal in accordance with the outputs of said sensor units, said digital storage register means comprising a binary storage element connected to receive the sensor element outputs of each of said sensor units.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said sensor elements are arranged in binary coded finger patterns, the elements of each pair being similar in configuration to each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system as recited in claim 7 wherein said focusing means comprises a multifaceted lens.
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) | 1974-08-30 | 1975-03-01 | 1975-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-30 | 1979-03-01 | 1979-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-30 | 1983-03-01 | 1983-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |