Tracking system

Claim 2

Sensing apparatus, comprising: a radiation responsive, photoconductive detector element, said element having four input ohmic bias terminals arranged in a rhombic pattern and an output ohmic terminal centrally disposed with respect to said pattern; reference phase bias signal transformer means having a secondary winding coupled to a pair of said input terminals for coupling said element to a source of alternating current reference phase bias signal; reference phase balancing means coupled to said reference bias transformer means with a potentiometer stator coupled in parallel with said secondary winding and having a variable potentiometer electrical connection for producing a variable reference voltage level; quadrature phase bias signal transformer means having a secondary winding coupled to a pair of said input terminals for coupling said element to a source of alternating current quadrature phase bias signal in phase quadrature with said reference bias signal; quadrature phase balancing means coupled to said quadrature phase bias transformer means with a potentiometer stator coupled in parallel with said quadrature bias secondary winding and having a variable potentiometer electrical connection coupled to the first said potentiometer connection for producing a variable reference voltage level; and output means coupled to said element through said output terminal for providing an output signal indicative of position of a remote radiation source, said quadrature and output signals being balanced with respect to said reference level, said output means including vertical and horizontal position resolution indicator means.

Claim 3

Target tracking system, comprising: mount means including a movable member with two degrees of freedom; a radiation responsive, photoconductive detector element carried by said member, said element having four input ohmic bias terminals arranged in a rhombic pattern and an output ohmic terminal centrally disposed with respect to said pattern; reference phase bias signal transformer means having a secondary winding coupled to a pair of diametrically opposed said input terminals for coupling said element to a source of alternating current reference phase bias signal; reference phase balancing means coupled to said reference bias transformer means with a potentiometer stator coupled in parallel with said secondary winding and having a variable potentiometer electrical connection for producing a variable reference voltage level; quadrature phase bias signal transformer means having a secondary winding coupled to the other pair of said input terminals for coupling said element to a source of alternating current quadrature phase bias signal in phase quadrature with said reference bias signal; quadrature phase balancing means coupled to said quadrature bias transformer means with a potentiometer stator coupled in parallel with said quadrature bias secondary winding and having a variable potentiometer electrical connection coupled to the first said potentiometer connection for producing a variable reference voltage level; output means coupled to said element through said output terminal for providing vertical and horizontal drive control signals indicative of position of a remote radiation source, said quadrature and output signals being balanced; and drive means coupled to said output means and said movable member for controlling the orientation of said member in response to said drive control signal.

Claim 4

Target tracking system, comprising: mount means including a movable member with two degrees of freedom; a radiation responsive, photoconductive detector element carried by said member, said element having four input ohmic bias terminals arranged in a rhombic pattern and an output ohmic terminal centrally disposed with respect to said pattern; reference phase bias signal transformer means having a secondary winding coupled to a pair of diametrically opposed said input terminals for coupling said element to a source of alternating current reference phase bias signal; reference phase balancing means coupled to said reference bias transformer means with a potentiometer stator coupled in parallel with said secondary winding and having a variable potentiometer electrical connection for producing a variable reference voltage level; quadrature phase bias signal transformer means having a secondary winding coupled to the other pair of said input terminals for coupling said element to a source of alternating current quadrature phase bias signal in phase quadrature with said reference bias signal; quadrature phase balancing means coupled to said quadrature bias transformer means with a potentiometer stator coupled in parallel with said quadrature bias secondary winding and having a variable potentiometer electrical connection coupled to the first said potentiometer connection for producing a variable reference voltage level; output means coupled to said element through said output terminal for providing vertical and horizontal drive control signals indicative of position of a remote radiation source, said quadrature and output signals being balanced; and drive means coupled to said output means and said movable member for controlling the orientation of said member in response to said drive control signal.

Claim 5

Sensing apparatus, comprising: a radiation responsive, variable impedance detector element having a first impedance region variable with respect to a second impedance region; biasing means coupled to said element for providing an alternating current, axis-defining bias signal serially through each of said regions of said element; output means coupled to said element between said regions for providing an output signal derived from said bias signal indicative of the presence of a radiation source and proportional to the differential impedance between said regions in response to radiation impingent upon one of said regions; and balancing means coupled to said element between said biasing means and said element, said balancing means enabling continuous adjustment of a variable reference voltage level for balancing said bias and output signals relative to said level when no radiation is present.

Claim 6

Sensing apparatus, comprising: a radiation responsive, variable impedance detector element having a first impedance region variable with respect to a second impedance region; biasing means coupled to said element for providing an alternating current, axis-defining bias signal serially through each of said regions of said element; output means coupled to said element between said regions for providing an output signal derived from said bias signal indicative of the presence of a radiation source and proportional to the differential impedance between said regions in response to radiation impingent upon one of said regions; and balancing means coupled to said element between said biasing means and said element, said balancing means enabling continuous adjustment of a variable reference voltage level for balancing said bias and output signals relative to said level when no radiation is present.

Claim 7

Sensing apparatus, comprising: a radiation responsive, variable impedance detector element having a first impedance region variable with respect to a second impedance region, a pair of input, ohmic bias connections and an output, ohmic connection centrally disposed between said bias connections; biasing means coupled to said element for providing an alternating current, axis-defining bias signal serially through each of said regions of said element; output means coupled to said element between said regions for providing an output signal derived from said bias signal indicative of the presence of a radiation source and proportional to the differential impedance between said regions in response to radiation impingent upon one of said regions; and balancing means coupled to said element between said biasing means and said element, said balancing means enabling continuous adjustment of a variable reference voltage level for balancing said bias and output signals relative to said level when no radiation is present.

Claim 8

Sensing apparatus, comprising: a radiation responsive, variable impedance detector element having a first impedance region variable with respect to a second impedance region, a pair of input, ohmic bias connections and an output, ohmic connection centrally disposed between said bias connections; biasing means coupled to said element for providing an alternating current, axis-defining bias signal serially through each of said regions of said element; output means coupled to said element between said regions for providing an output signal derived from said bias signal indicative of the presence of a radiation source and proportional to the differential impedance between said regions in response to radiation impingent upon one of said regions; and balancing means coupled to said element between said biasing means and said element, said balancing means enabling continuous adjustment of a variable reference voltage level for balancing said bias and output signals relative to said level when no radiation is present.

Claim 9

Sensing apparatus, comprising: a radiation responsive, variable impedance photoconductive detector element having a first impedance region variable with respect to a second impedance region; biasing means coupled to said element for providing an alternating current, axis-defining bias signal serially through each of said regions of said element; output means coupled to said element between said regions for providing an output signal derived from said bias signal indicative of the presence of a radiation source and proportional to the differential impedance between said regions in response to radiation impingent upon one of said regions; and balancing means coupled to said element between said biasing means and said element, said balancing means enabling continuous adjustment of a variable reference voltage level for balancing said bias and output signals relative to said level when no radiation is present.

Claim 10

Sensing apparatus, comprising: a radiation responsive, variable impedance photoconductive detector element having a first impedance region variable with respect to a second impedance region; biasing means coupled to said element for providing an alternating current, axis-defining bias signal serially through each of said regions of said element; output means coupled to said element between said regions for providing an output signal derived from said bias signal indicative of the presence of a radiation source and proportional to the differential impedance between said regions in response to radiation impingent upon one of said regions; and balancing means coupled to said element between said biasing means and said element, said balancing means enabling continuous adjustment of a variable reference voltage level for balancing said bias and output signals relative to said level when no radiation is present.

Claim 11

Sensing apparatus, comprising: a radiation responsive, variable impedance thermoconductive detector element having a first impedance region variable with respect to a second impedance region; biasing means coupled to said element for providing an alternating current, axis-defining bias signal serially through each of said regions of said element; output means coupled to said element between said region for providing an output signal derived from said bias signal indicative of the presence of a radiation source and proportional to the differential impedance between said regions in response to radiation impingent upon one of said regions; and balancing means coupled to said element between said biasing means and said element, said balancing means enabling continuous adjustment of a variable reference voltage level for balancing said bias and output signals relative to said level when no radiation is present.

Claim 12

Sensing apparatus, comprising: a radiation responsive, variable impedance thermoconductive detector element having a first impedance region variable with respect to a second impedance region; biasing means coupled to said element for providing an alternating current, axis-defining bias signal serially through each of said regions of said element; output means coupled to said element between said region for providing an output signal derived from said bias signal indicative of the presence of a radiation source and proportional to the differential impedance between said regions in response to radiation impingent upon one of said regions; and balancing means coupled to said element between said biasing means and said element, said balancing means enabling continuous adjustment of a variable reference voltage level for balancing said bias and output signals relative to said level when no radiation is present.

Claim 13

Sensing apparatus, comprising: a radiation responsive, variable impedance detector element having impedance regions variable with respect to other impedance regions; biasing means coupled to said element for providing a pair of alternating current, axis-defining bias signals, differing in phase, through said regions of said element; output means coupled to said element between said regiOns for providing an output signal derived from said bias signal indicative of the presence of a radiation source and proportional to the differential impedances between said regions in response to radiation impingent upon one of said regions; and balancing means coupled between said biasing means and said element for each said bias signal and including a variable voltage control for each said bias signal for enabling continuous adjustment of a variable reference voltage level to balance said bias and output signals with respect to said reference level.

Claim 14

Sensing apparatus, comprising: a radiation responsive, variable impedance detector element having impedance regions variable with respect to other impedance regions; biasing means coupled to said element for providing a pair of alternating current, axis-defining bias signals, differing in phase, through said regions of said element; output means coupled to said element between said regiOns for providing an output signal derived from said bias signal indicative of the presence of a radiation source and proportional to the differential impedances between said regions in response to radiation impingent upon one of said regions; and balancing means coupled between said biasing means and said element for each said bias signal and including a variable voltage control for each said bias signal for enabling continuous adjustment of a variable reference voltage level to balance said bias and output signals with respect to said reference level.

Claim 15

Sensing apparatus, comprising: a radiation responsive, variable impedance detector element having a plurality of first impedance regions variable with respect to a plurality of second impedance regions; biasing means coupled to said element for providing a pair of alternating current, axis-defining bias signals, said bias signals being in phase quadrature for defining a pair of orthogonal axes, each said bias signal being serially coupled through a first and a second impedance region of said element; output means coupled to said element between said regions for providing output signals derived from said bias signals indicative of the presence of a radiation source relative to said orthogonal axes and proportional to the differential impedance between said regions in response to radiation impingent upon one of said regions; and balancing means coupled to said biasing means between said element and said biasing means for each said bias signal, said balancing means enabling continuous adjustment of a variable reference voltage level for balancing said quadrature bias and output signals relative to said level when no radiation is present.

Claim 16

Sensing apparatus, comprising: a radiation responsive, variable impedance detector element having a plurality of first impedance regions variable with respect to a plurality of second impedance regions; biasing means coupled to said element for providing a pair of alternating current, axis-defining bias signals, said bias signals being in phase quadrature for defining a pair of orthogonal axes, each said bias signal being serially coupled through a first and a second impedance region of said element; output means coupled to said element between said regions for providing output signals derived from said bias signals indicative of the presence of a radiation source relative to said orthogonal axes and proportional to the differential impedance between said regions in response to radiation impingent upon one of said regions; and balancing means coupled to said biasing means between said element and said biasing means for each said bias signal, said balancing means enabling continuous adjustment of a variable reference voltage level for balancing said quadrature bias and output signals relative to said level when no radiation is present.

Claim 17

Sensing apparatus, comprising: a radiation responsive, variable impedance detector element having a plurality of first impedance regions variable with respect to a plurality of second impedance regions, said element having four input bilateral ohmic connections and a centrally disposed output bilateral ohmic connection; biasing means coupled to said element for providing a pair of alternating current, axis-defining bias signals, said bias signals being in phase quadrature for defining a pair of orthogonal axes, each said bias signal being serially coupled through a first and a second impedance region of said element; output means coupled to said element between said regions for providing output signals derived from said bias signals indicative of the presence of a radiation source relative to said orthogonal axes and proportional to the differential impedance between said regions in response to radiation impingent upon one of said regions; and balancing means coupled to said biasing means between said element and said biasing means for each said bias signal, said balancing means enabling continuous adjustment of a variable reference voltage level for balancing said quadrature bias and output signals relative to said level when no radiation is present.

Claim 18

Sensing apparatus, comprising: a radiation responsive, variable impedance detector element having a plurality of first impedance regions variable with respect to a plurality of second impedance regions, said element having four input bilateral ohmic connections and a centrally disposed output bilateral ohmic connection; biasing means coupled to said element for providing a pair of alternating current, axis-defining bias signals, said bias signals being in phase quadrature for defining a pair of orthogonal axes, each said bias signal being serially coupled through a first and a second impedance region of said element; output means coupled to said element between said regions for providing output signals derived from said bias signals indicative of the presence of a radiation source relative to said orthogonal axes and proportional to the differential impedance between said regions in response to radiation impingent upon one of said regions; and balancing means coupled to said biasing means between said element and said biasing means for each said bias signal, said balancing means enabling continuous adjustment of a variable reference voltage level for balancing said quadrature bias and output signals relative to said level when no radiation is present.

Claim 19

Sensing apparatus, comprising: a radiation responsive, variable impedance detector element having a plurality of first impedance regions variable with respect to a plurality of second impedance regions, said element having four input bilateral ohmic connections and a centrally disposed output bilateral ohmic connection; biasing means coupled to said element for providing a pair of alternating current, axis-defining bias signals, said bias signals being in phase quadrature for defining a pair of orthogonal axes, each said bias signal being serially coupled through a first and a second impedance region of said element; output means coupled to said element between said regions for providing output signals derived from said bias signals indicative of the position of a remote radiation source relative to said orthogonal axes and proportional to the differential impedance between said regions in response to radiation impingent upon one of said regions, said output means includIng vertical and horizontal position resolution indicator means for said remote radiation source; and balancing means coupled to said biasing means between said element and said biasing means for each said bias signal, said balancing means enabling continuous adjustment of a variable reference voltage level for balancing said quadrature bias and output signals relative to said level when no radiation is present.

Claim 20

Sensing apparatus, comprising: a radiation responsive, variable impedance detector element having a plurality of first impedance regions variable with respect to a plurality of second impedance regions, said element having four input bilateral ohmic connections and a centrally disposed output bilateral ohmic connection; biasing means coupled to said element for providing a pair of alternating current, axis-defining bias signals, said bias signals being in phase quadrature for defining a pair of orthogonal axes, each said bias signal being serially coupled through a first and a second impedance region of said element; output means coupled to said element between said regions for providing output signals derived from said bias signals indicative of the position of a remote radiation source relative to said orthogonal axes and proportional to the differential impedance between said regions in response to radiation impingent upon one of said regions, said output means includIng vertical and horizontal position resolution indicator means for said remote radiation source; and balancing means coupled to said biasing means between said element and said biasing means for each said bias signal, said balancing means enabling continuous adjustment of a variable reference voltage level for balancing said quadrature bias and output signals relative to said level when no radiation is present.

Claim 21

Sensing apparatus, comprising: a radiation responsive, variable impedance detector element having a plurality of first impedance regions variable with respect to a plurality of second impedance regions, said element having four input bias terminals and a centrally disposed output terminal; biasing means coupled to said element for providing a pair of alternating current, axis-defining bias signals, said bias signals being in phase quadrature for defining a pair of orthogonal axes, each said bias signal being serially coupled through a first and a second impedance region of said element, said biasing means including a reference phase biasing transformer means having a secondary winding coupled to a pair of said input terminals for coupling said element to a source of alternating current reference phase bias signal and a quadrature phase bias signal transformer means having a secondary winding coupled to the other pair of said input terminals for coupling said element to a source of alternating current quadrature phase bias signal in phase quadrature with said reference bias signal; output means coupled to said element through said output terminal between said regions for providing output signals derived from said bias signals indicative of the position of a remote radiation source relative to said orthogonal axes and proportional to the differential impedance between said regions in response to radiation impingent upon one of said regions; and balancing means coupled to said biasing means between said element and said biasing means for each said bias signal, said balancing means enabling continuous adjustment of a variable reference voltage level for balancing said quadrature bias and output signals relative to said level when no radiation is present.

Claim 22

Sensing apparatus, comprising: a radiation responsive, variable impedance detector element having a plurality of first impedance regions variable with respect to a plurality of second impedance regions, said element having four input bias terminals and a centrally disposed output terminal; biasing means coupled to said element for providing a pair of alternating current, axis-defining bias signals, said bias signals being in phase quadrature for defining a pair of orthogonal axes, each said bias signal being serially coupled through a first and a second impedance region of said element, said biasing means including a reference phase biasing transformer means having a secondary winding coupled to a pair of said input terminals for coupling said element to a source of alternating current reference phase bias signal and a quadrature phase bias signal transformer means having a secondary winding coupled to the other pair of said input terminals for coupling said element to a source of alternating current quadrature phase bias signal in phase quadrature with said reference bias signal; output means coupled to said element through said output terminal between said regions for providing output signals derived from said bias signals indicative of the position of a remote radiation source relative to said orthogonal axes and proportional to the differential impedance between said regions in response to radiation impingent upon one of said regions; and balancing means coupled to said biasing means between said element and said biasing means for each said bias signal, said balancing means enabling continuous adjustment of a variable reference voltage level for balancing said quadrature bias and output signals relative to said level when no radiation is present.

Claim 23

The sensing apparatus of claim 11, wherein: each pair of said input terminals is axis-defining and orthogonal to the other pair of said input terminals with said reference secondary winding coupled to one said pair of axis-defining input terminals and said quadrature secondary winding coupled to the other pair of said input terminals; and said balancing means include reference phase balancing means coupled in parallel with said reference secondary winding and have a variable voltage control for enabling a continuous adjustment of a variable reference voltage level, and quadrature phase balancing means coupled in parallel with said quadrature secondary winding and include a variable voltage control for enabling a continuous adjustment of a variable reference voltage level.

Claim 24

The sensing apparatus of claim 12, wherein: said reference and quadrature balancing means each include a potentiometer stator coupled in parallel with its respective secondary winding and having a variable potentiometer electrical connection for enabling said continuous adjustment of said variable reference voltage level.