Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
In a star-scanning system, a linear array of detectors; first means to cause said array to scan along a path to sample a first field of view until a presumed star signal is detected; and, second means for rescanning only a small segment of said field where said presumed signal is located, the signal to noise ratio during rescan being higher and matched filter band being different than during the scan so that any signal appearing during the rescan will almost undoubtedly be a star, whereby the system performance gain of this invention over the prior state of the art, which art is based on a nonvariable, optimum or linear matched filter is achieved without an increase in to total time required to acquire a star with high probability.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
In a star-scanning system, a linear array of detectors; first means to cause said array to scan along a path to sample a first field of view until a presumed star signal is detected; and, second means for rescanning only a small segment of said field where said presumed signal is located, the signal to noise ratio during rescan being higher and matched filter band being different than during the scan so that any signal appearing during the rescan will almost undoubtedly be a star, whereby the system performance gain of this invention over the prior state of the art, which art is based on a nonvariable, optimum or linear matched filter is achieved without an increase in to total time required to acquire a star with high probability.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
153 words
In a star detector wherein suspected star energy is received by optical means and directed along a path across a plurality of detector elements, the improvement therein comprising in combination, first level detector means responsive to a certain level signal to which the output of said detector elements if fed; electronic and/or magnetic and/or servo means responsive to said first level detector means causing the rescan of a portion of the previously scanned path in a second scanning mode, and, second level detector means in said second scanning mode set at a higher threshold than in the first scanning mode with matched filter bandwidth corresponding to second scanning speed, whereby the system performance gain of this invention over the prior state of the art, which art is based on a nonvariable, optimum or linear matched filter is achieved without an increase in the total time required to acquire a star with high probability.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
153 words
In a star detector wherein suspected star energy is received by optical means and directed along a path across a plurality of detector elements, the improvement therein comprising in combination, first level detector means responsive to a certain level signal to which the output of said detector elements if fed; electronic and/or magnetic and/or servo means responsive to said first level detector means causing the rescan of a portion of the previously scanned path in a second scanning mode, and, second level detector means in said second scanning mode set at a higher threshold than in the first scanning mode with matched filter bandwidth corresponding to second scanning speed, whereby the system performance gain of this invention over the prior state of the art, which art is based on a nonvariable, optimum or linear matched filter is achieved without an increase in the total time required to acquire a star with high probability.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
In a star detector as claimed in claim 2, said star energy being directed into a scanning mirror as a beam which is deflected along said path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
In a star detector as claimed in claim 3, said mirror scan in said second scanning mode being slower than in said first scanning mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
In a star detector as claimed in claim 4, the scanning speed in the second scanning mode being of the order of one third the scanning speed in the first mode of scanning.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
A star detector as claimed in claim 5 wherein the detector elements comprise at least three detector units in parallel so as to provide pulsating output, a band-pass amplifier responsive to said pulsating output a demodulator and filter receiving said amplified pulsating output and supplying a rectified filtered output, and, a Schmitt trigger including level setting means responsive to said rectified filtered output.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A star detector as claimed in claim 5 said second scanning mode enabling a fine mode including angularly disposed detector means, said detector means providing informatiOn as to whether said star energy is on axis or off axis.