US3646263A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Semiautomatic television tracking system
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
•
Filing: 1971-01-04
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Granted: 1972-02-29
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Expires: 1991-01-04
Abstract
Abstract Movable crosshairs on a television monitor are controlled by a circuit responsive to manual control, and a television camera is controlled by a circuit responsive to the same manual control. The crosshairs are centered on a contrasting target in the fieldof-view of the television system in response to the manual control. The system is then switched to an automatic mode of operation, and moves the crosshairs and the camera to keep the crosshairs on the target, and the target centered in the fieldof-view. A hardstick providing outputs directly related to the pressure applied thereto is the manual control.
Inventors
- 👤 Kilmer L Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:11
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01S3/7864
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A television tracking system including a television camera, means for panning and tilting said camera, a television monitor fed by said camera, first means for causing a certain portion of the field-of-view of said monitor to track a contrasting object in said field-of-view, and second means for causing said means for panning and tilting to move said camera to maintain said certain portion of said field-of-view centered on said monitor, the improvement comprising: a manually operable hardstick having output signals directly related to the pressure applied to said hardstick; means responsive to said output signals for providing, at a first terminal, first signals directly related to said output signals up to a certain amplitude, and thereafter maintaining said first signals at said certain amplitude until said output signals drop bElow said certain amplitude, and providing, at a second terminal, second signals directly related to said output signals only when said output signals equal or exceed said certain amplitude; switching means for disconnecting said first means for causing from said monitor and connecting said first terminal thereto and for disconnecting said second means for causing from said means for panning and tilting and connecting thereto said second terminal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A television tracking system including a television camera, means for panning and tilting said camera, a television monitor fed by said camera, first means for causing a certain portion of the field-of-view of said monitor to track a contrasting object in said field-of-view, and second means for causing said means for panning and tilting to move said camera to maintain said certain portion of said field-of-view centered on said monitor, the improvement comprising: a manually operable hardstick having output signals directly related to the pressure applied to said hardstick; means responsive to said output signals for providing, at a first terminal, first signals directly related to said output signals up to a certain amplitude, and thereafter maintaining said first signals at said certain amplitude until said output signals drop bElow said certain amplitude, and providing, at a second terminal, second signals directly related to said output signals only when said output signals equal or exceed said certain amplitude; switching means for disconnecting said first means for causing from said monitor and connecting said first terminal thereto and for disconnecting said second means for causing from said means for panning and tilting and connecting thereto said second terminal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said switching means includes a relay having a coil and having contacts connected to said first and second means for causing, to said first and second terminals, to said monitor, and to said means for panning and tilting, and further includes a relay power source, and a manually operable switch mounted on said hardstick for connecting said power source to said coil of said relay.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means responsive includes a clipping circuit having its output connected to said first terminal, and a trigger circuit having its output connected to said second terminal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2970187A
Cited
US3257505A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-28 | 1975-08-30 | 1976-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-28 | 1979-08-30 | 1980-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-28 | 1983-08-30 | 1984-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |