US3649123A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable frequency phase matching distance measuring and positioning device
Assignee: Holobeam Inc
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Filing: 1969-04-16
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Granted: 1972-03-14
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Expires: 1989-04-16
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a laser driven distance measuring device, the output of which can be used to precisely control the distance between objects. Interrogating signals, modulated by a control signal, are beamed towards an object and the phase of reflected portions of these signals compared with that of the modulating control signal. The frequency of the transmitted signals is varied until a desired phase match between the transmitted and received signals is achieved. The distance to an object is determined mathematically from the value of two adjacent frequencies at which the designated phase relationship is observed to occur. By measuring the change in frequency of the modulating control signal necessary to effect the desired phase match with a reference frequency, a control signal is generated which can be utilized to adjust the distance measured.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward M Ulicki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:50
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/02; G01S17/06; G01S17/08; G01S17/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
A distance measuring device comprising means to transmit electromagnetic signals in the direction of a target, said transmitting means including voltage controlled variable frequency generator means to generate a control signal and means to modulate said transmitted signals with said control signal, means to receive portions of said transmitted signals and detect the modulating signal thereon, phase detector means to detect the phase difference between the output of said variable frequency generator means and the modulating signal detected upon said received signal, and generate an output representative thereof, means to generate a phase reference signal, means to combine the output of said phase detector means and said phase reference signal producing a phase error signal, said phase detector, voltage controlled variable frequency generator means and combining means, comprising a phase-locked loop in which said voltage controlled frequency generator responds to said error signal by changing frequency until said error signal becomes zero, and said variable frequency generator stabilizes at a first frequency characteristic of the distance to the target, meAns to indicate the frequency of said variable frequency generator means and, means to perturb said phase-locked loop so as to cause said variable frequency generator to stabilize at a second frequency characteristic of the distance to the target, adjacent in value to the first frequency at which said variable frequency generator stabilized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
A distance measuring device comprising means to transmit electromagnetic signals in the direction of a target, said transmitting means including voltage controlled variable frequency generator means to generate a control signal and means to modulate said transmitted signals with said control signal, means to receive portions of said transmitted signals and detect the modulating signal thereon, phase detector means to detect the phase difference between the output of said variable frequency generator means and the modulating signal detected upon said received signal, and generate an output representative thereof, means to generate a phase reference signal, means to combine the output of said phase detector means and said phase reference signal producing a phase error signal, said phase detector, voltage controlled variable frequency generator means and combining means, comprising a phase-locked loop in which said voltage controlled frequency generator responds to said error signal by changing frequency until said error signal becomes zero, and said variable frequency generator stabilizes at a first frequency characteristic of the distance to the target, meAns to indicate the frequency of said variable frequency generator means and, means to perturb said phase-locked loop so as to cause said variable frequency generator to stabilize at a second frequency characteristic of the distance to the target, adjacent in value to the first frequency at which said variable frequency generator stabilized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The device of claim 1, further including computer means, responsive to said frequency indicator means to calculate the distance to the target, including means to record the frequencies at which said phase-locked loop stabilizes, and means connected to said loop perturbation means to actuate the same after said variable frequency generator has stabilized at a first frequency, and readout means to display the calculated distance to the target.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
154 words
An electromagnetic echo ranging device comprising means to transmit a variable frequency continuous electromagnetic interrogating signal, means to receive portions of said interrogating signal reflected by a target, means to compare the phase of the reflected portions of said interrogating signal with the phase of the transmitted signals and produce an error signal representative thereof, said transmitting means being responsive to said error signal to vary the frequency of said transmitted signal to a frequency at which the phase of said received signal matches the phase of said transmitted signal, means to change the transmitting frequency of said variable frequency transmitter to a frequency from which said error signal will induce said variable frequency transmitter to seek a phase match between said transmitted and received signals at a second frequency adjacent in value to the first frequency at which a phase match occurred, means to indicate the frequencies at which said phase matches occur.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
154 words
An electromagnetic echo ranging device comprising means to transmit a variable frequency continuous electromagnetic interrogating signal, means to receive portions of said interrogating signal reflected by a target, means to compare the phase of the reflected portions of said interrogating signal with the phase of the transmitted signals and produce an error signal representative thereof, said transmitting means being responsive to said error signal to vary the frequency of said transmitted signal to a frequency at which the phase of said received signal matches the phase of said transmitted signal, means to change the transmitting frequency of said variable frequency transmitter to a frequency from which said error signal will induce said variable frequency transmitter to seek a phase match between said transmitted and received signals at a second frequency adjacent in value to the first frequency at which a phase match occurred, means to indicate the frequencies at which said phase matches occur.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
190 words
A device for controlling the distance between a distance measuring device and a target object wherein said distance measuring device comprises variable frequency transmitter means to transmit a continuous electromagnetic interrogating signal, means to receive portions of said interrogating signal reflected by a target, means to compare the phase of the reflected portions of said interrogating signal with the phase of the transmitted signals and produce an error signal representative thereof, said transmitting means being responsive to said error signal to vary the frequency of said transmitted signal to a first frequency at which the phase of said received signal matches the phase of said transmitted signal, variable frequency signal generator means to generate a reference signal at a selected frequency representative of the desired distance to the target object, means to compare said reference signal with said transmitted signal and produce a correction signal representative of the phase difference therebetween, and means responsive to said correction signal to move the target object to a position where the frequency at which the phase of said received signal matches the phase of said transmitted signal is equal to said reference frequency.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
190 words
A device for controlling the distance between a distance measuring device and a target object wherein said distance measuring device comprises variable frequency transmitter means to transmit a continuous electromagnetic interrogating signal, means to receive portions of said interrogating signal reflected by a target, means to compare the phase of the reflected portions of said interrogating signal with the phase of the transmitted signals and produce an error signal representative thereof, said transmitting means being responsive to said error signal to vary the frequency of said transmitted signal to a first frequency at which the phase of said received signal matches the phase of said transmitted signal, variable frequency signal generator means to generate a reference signal at a selected frequency representative of the desired distance to the target object, means to compare said reference signal with said transmitted signal and produce a correction signal representative of the phase difference therebetween, and means responsive to said correction signal to move the target object to a position where the frequency at which the phase of said received signal matches the phase of said transmitted signal is equal to said reference frequency.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-14 | 1975-09-13 | 1976-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-14 | 1979-09-13 | 1980-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-14 | 1983-09-13 | 1984-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |