US3665196A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Solid state scanning system
Assignee: MIDLAND CAPITAL CORP
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Filing: 1971-02-22
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Granted: 1972-05-23
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Expires: 1991-02-22
Abstract
Abstract A solid state infrared scanning system for generating a train of pulse-position modulated pulses with the position of each pulse representative of the radiation incident upon a corresponding detector cell in a linear detector array. Conversion of the pulse-position modulated signal to a corresponding amplitude modulated signal allows visual display of the amplitude modulated signal to produce an image of the incident radiation. The array of detector cells can also be rotated to provide a solid angle field of view.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas F Macall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 08:29
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J5/00; G01J5/02; G01J5/03; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/20; H04N25/00; H04N25/20; H04N25/70; H04N25/701; G01J2005/0077
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
286 words
A system for sequentially scanning a plurality of radiation sensors to provide a sequence of signals representing radiation incident on corresponding sensors, said system comprising: a plurality of series connected networks, each including: one of said plurality of radiation sensors; means for averaging the signal input to each said netWork; and a signal accumulating element connected to receive the output of said signal averaging means; means for applying a periodic electrical signal having a portion of steadily rising signal level to said series connection of networks; each of said signal accumulating elements providing an output signal for said network having an offset from the level of the output signal of said associated signal averaging means by an amount representative of the signal accumulated by said signal accumulating element; each of said signal averaging means receiving the output of the preceeding network in said series connection and being operative to reduce variations in said offset from the preceding network; said signal accumulating element being operative in response to said applied periodic electrical signal to provide an increase in the signal accumulated by each of said signal accumulating elements whenever the output of the associated signal averaging means is above a reference level and to provide a decrease in the signal accumulated by each said signal accumulating element at a rate representative of the radiation incident on each said associated sensor whenever the output of the associated signal averaging means is below said reference level; and means operative in response to the output signal of each network for producing a signal at a time corresponding to the time when said output signal crosses a predetermined signal level in response to the rising portion of said periodic electrical signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
286 words
A system for sequentially scanning a plurality of radiation sensors to provide a sequence of signals representing radiation incident on corresponding sensors, said system comprising: a plurality of series connected networks, each including: one of said plurality of radiation sensors; means for averaging the signal input to each said netWork; and a signal accumulating element connected to receive the output of said signal averaging means; means for applying a periodic electrical signal having a portion of steadily rising signal level to said series connection of networks; each of said signal accumulating elements providing an output signal for said network having an offset from the level of the output signal of said associated signal averaging means by an amount representative of the signal accumulated by said signal accumulating element; each of said signal averaging means receiving the output of the preceeding network in said series connection and being operative to reduce variations in said offset from the preceding network; said signal accumulating element being operative in response to said applied periodic electrical signal to provide an increase in the signal accumulated by each of said signal accumulating elements whenever the output of the associated signal averaging means is above a reference level and to provide a decrease in the signal accumulated by each said signal accumulating element at a rate representative of the radiation incident on each said associated sensor whenever the output of the associated signal averaging means is below said reference level; and means operative in response to the output signal of each network for producing a signal at a time corresponding to the time when said output signal crosses a predetermined signal level in response to the rising portion of said periodic electrical signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The scanning system of claim 1 wherein said reference level and said predetermined signal level for said network output are circuit ground for said signal producing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
146 words
The scanning system of claim 1 wherein: said signal averaging means comprises a low-pass filter; said signal accumulating element comprises: a capacitor having said associated sensor connected in parallel with said capacitor; a diode; a resistance; said capacitor receiving the output of the associated low-pass filter at one terminal thereof and conducting the signal on the other terminal to one terminal of said diode; the other terminal of said diode providing the output of said network and being connected to said reference level through said resistance; said signal producing means is a plurality of pulse generators associated with a corresponding network to provide a pulse output whenever said output of said network crosses said predetermined signal level; and means are provided for summing the outputs of each of said plurality of pulse generators to produce said sequence of signals representing the radiation incident on corresponding sensors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The scanning system of claim 3 wherein a plurality of means are provided for amplifying the response of each said sensor to received incident radiation to provide a greater change in the rate of decrease of said signal accumulated by said capacitor with change in the incident radiation on the associated sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
The scanning system of claim 4 wherein said means for increasing the response of each said sensor includes a solid state amplification device having a control terminal thereof controlled by variation of said associated sensor in response to incident radiation thereon and having controlled conduction terminals thereof connected in a path to cause said decrease in the signal accumulated by said associated capacitor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
109 words
The scanning system of claim 1 further comprising: a substrate supporting a linear array of said sensors; means for directing radiation from an angle of view onto said linear array of sensors; means for scanning said directing means to cause said angle of view to sweep repetitively across a solid angle of view for radiation incident upon said sensors and to provide a series of said sequence of signals wherein each said sequence of signals represents radiation incident upon said linear array of sensors from an angle of view which is displAced in the direction of sweep from the angle of view for the directly previous sequence of signals.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
253 words
A system for sequentially scanning a plurality of radiation sensors to provide a sequence of signals representing the radiation incident on corresponding sensors, said system comprising: means for generating a periodic electrical signal having a portion of steadily rising signal level; a plurality of similar electrical networks each having a respective one of said sensors associated therewith; each of said networks having: input signal filtering means for filtering variations, from period to period of said periodic electrical signal, in signals input to said network; and means for accumulating signals from said filtering means whenever said signals from said filtering means exceed a reference level and for reducing the signal accumulated by said accumulating means at a rate determined by the radiation incident upon the sensor associated with said network during a portion of the signal from said filtering means below said reference level; said signal accumulating means being connected between an output of said filtering means and an output of said network whereby the signal at the output of said network is offset from the signal at the output of said filtering means by the signal from said accumulating means; means for serially connecting said networks; means for applying said periodic electrical signal to said series connection of networks; and means responsive to the output of each of said networks for producing one of the signals of said sequence of signals whenever the output of a corresponding network crosses a predetermined level in response to the rising portion of said periodic electrical signal.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
253 words
A system for sequentially scanning a plurality of radiation sensors to provide a sequence of signals representing the radiation incident on corresponding sensors, said system comprising: means for generating a periodic electrical signal having a portion of steadily rising signal level; a plurality of similar electrical networks each having a respective one of said sensors associated therewith; each of said networks having: input signal filtering means for filtering variations, from period to period of said periodic electrical signal, in signals input to said network; and means for accumulating signals from said filtering means whenever said signals from said filtering means exceed a reference level and for reducing the signal accumulated by said accumulating means at a rate determined by the radiation incident upon the sensor associated with said network during a portion of the signal from said filtering means below said reference level; said signal accumulating means being connected between an output of said filtering means and an output of said network whereby the signal at the output of said network is offset from the signal at the output of said filtering means by the signal from said accumulating means; means for serially connecting said networks; means for applying said periodic electrical signal to said series connection of networks; and means responsive to the output of each of said networks for producing one of the signals of said sequence of signals whenever the output of a corresponding network crosses a predetermined level in response to the rising portion of said periodic electrical signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
The scanning system of claim 7 further comprising: means for combining the signals of said sequence of signals into a pulse train where each pulse is pulse-position modulated in accordance with the radiation incident upon its corresponding sensor; means for converting said pulse train of pulse-position modulated pulses into an amplitude modulated signal; and a display responsive to said amplitude modulated signal to provide a light pattern which is intensity modulated at points which indicate the position and magnitude of radiation incident upon said sensors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
92 words
The scanning system of claim 8 wherein said converting means comprises: means for generating a sawtooth signal with each rising portion thereof coextensive in position with the range of expected positions for a corresponding pulse in said pulse train; means for summing said sawtooth signal and said pulse train to provide a sum signal; means for clipping said sum signal at a clipping level which eliminates all portions of said sum signal except portions attributable to said pulse train; and means for smoothing said clipped signal to produce said amplitude modulated signal.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
246 words
A system for sequentially scanning a plurality of radiation sensors to provide a sequence of signals representing the radiation incident on corresponding sensors, said system comprising: means for generating a periodic electrical signal output having a portion of steadily rising signal level; a plurality of signal shift networks series connected to receive the output of said generating means and to provide a signal at the output of each said network which is of a signal level cumulatively less than the output of said generating means as determined by the position of each said shift network in the series connection thereof; means associated with each of said networks and each of said sensors for accumulating a signal at a first rate whenever the output of the associated network is above a predetermined signal level and for reducing said accumulated signal at a rate representative of the radiation incident upon the associated sensor during other portions of the output of the associated network; each of said accumulating means Producing an output which is the output of the associated network offset by an amount representative of the signal accumulated on said signal accumulating means; means associated with each of said signal accumulating means for producing a signal at a time corresponding to the time when the output of the associated signal accumulating means exceeds a predetermined signal level; and means for combining said produced signals to provide said sequence of signals representative of the radiation incident on corresponding sensors.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
246 words
A system for sequentially scanning a plurality of radiation sensors to provide a sequence of signals representing the radiation incident on corresponding sensors, said system comprising: means for generating a periodic electrical signal output having a portion of steadily rising signal level; a plurality of signal shift networks series connected to receive the output of said generating means and to provide a signal at the output of each said network which is of a signal level cumulatively less than the output of said generating means as determined by the position of each said shift network in the series connection thereof; means associated with each of said networks and each of said sensors for accumulating a signal at a first rate whenever the output of the associated network is above a predetermined signal level and for reducing said accumulated signal at a rate representative of the radiation incident upon the associated sensor during other portions of the output of the associated network; each of said accumulating means Producing an output which is the output of the associated network offset by an amount representative of the signal accumulated on said signal accumulating means; means associated with each of said signal accumulating means for producing a signal at a time corresponding to the time when the output of the associated signal accumulating means exceeds a predetermined signal level; and means for combining said produced signals to provide said sequence of signals representative of the radiation incident on corresponding sensors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
The scanning system of claim 10 wherein: said plurality of series connected networks includes a resistive voltage divider with the junction between each adjacent pair of resistive elements of said voltage divider providing the output of each network; and said generating means provides a substantially uniform current to said series connection of networks and a variation in the potential at the terminal points of said series connection corresponding to said periodic electrical signal.
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) | 1975-05-23 | 1975-11-22 | 1976-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-23 | 1979-11-22 | 1980-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-23 | 1983-11-22 | 1984-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |