US3696248A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser tracking method and apparatus
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1970-08-26
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Granted: 1972-10-03
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Expires: 1990-08-26
Abstract
Abstract A device and method for remotely positioning a device utilized to illuminate a remote target. The illuminating device is scanned until illumination is detected in the field of view of a detector sighted on the remote target. On acquisition of the illumination, the scan signals are replaced by error signals related to the departure of the detected illumination from the target sight axis and the illuminating device positioned responsively thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A Cunningham
- 👤 John T Winkler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:10
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/66; F; F41; F41G; F41G3/00; F41G3/14; F41G3/145; F41G7/00; F41G7/20; F41G7/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for remotely positioning a laser device comprising: illuminating means for illuminating a remote target with a beam of radiant energy; optical sighting means remote from said illuminating means and from said target for establishing an optical line of sight to said target; radiant energy detecting means carried by said optical sighting means for detecting radiant energy from said illuminating means reflected by said target and for generating error signals related to the relative positions of said optical line of sight and the detected radiant energy; and positioning means responsive to said error signals for varying the propagation direction of the radiant energy from said illuminating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for remotely positioning a laser device comprising: illuminating means for illuminating a remote target with a beam of radiant energy; optical sighting means remote from said illuminating means and from said target for establishing an optical line of sight to said target; radiant energy detecting means carried by said optical sighting means for detecting radiant energy from said illuminating means reflected by said target and for generating error signals related to the relative positions of said optical line of sight and the detected radiant energy; and positioning means responsive to said error signals for varying the propagation direction of the radiant energy from said illuminating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said illuminating means is a laser; wherein the mass of said sighting means is smaller than the mass of said laser means; and wherein said positioning means is carried by said illuminating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further including scan signal generating means operatively connected to said positioning means for selectively varying the propagation direction of the radiant energy from said laser means in a predetermined cyclic manner.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further including gyroscope means carried by said positioning means for generating vibration error signals, said gyroscope means being operatively connected to said positioning means to reduce laser means vibration induced variation in the propagation direction of the radiant energy from said laser beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said laser means includes laser means for selectively generating a second beam of radiant energy coincident with the beam from said first-mentioned laser means, the radiant energy of said second laser means being at least an order of magnitude greater than the radiant energy of said first-mentioned laser means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said laser means includes means for selectively generating a second beam of radiant energy coincident with the beam from said first mentioned laser means, the radiant energy of said second laser means being at least an order of magnitude greater than the radiant energy of said first mentioned laser means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further including gyroscope means carried by said laser means for generating vibration error signals, said gyroscope means being operatively connected to said positioning means to reduce laser means induced variation in the propagation direction of the radiant energy from said laser means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
95 words
Laser target illuminating apparatus comprising: a laser; means for modifying the direction of propagation of the radiant energy from said laser in a predetermined cyclical manner; a remote control device for optically viewing the target, said device having a radiant energy detector aligned therewith for generating an error signal related to the relative positions of the detected energy and said detector; means for modifyiNg the direction of propagation of the radiant energy from said laser responsively to said error signal; and means for selectively connecting said laser to one of said propagation direction modifying means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
Laser target illuminating apparatus comprising: a laser; means for modifying the direction of propagation of the radiant energy from said laser in a predetermined cyclical manner; a remote control device for optically viewing the target, said device having a radiant energy detector aligned therewith for generating an error signal related to the relative positions of the detected energy and said detector; means for modifyiNg the direction of propagation of the radiant energy from said laser responsively to said error signal; and means for selectively connecting said laser to one of said propagation direction modifying means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 8 including: a second laser aligned with said first mentioned laser, the radiant energy from said second laser being at least an order of magnitude greater than the radiant energy from said first mentioned laser; and means for selectively energizing said second laser.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
106 words
Portable apparatus for remotely positioning an illuminating device comprising: optical sighting means remote from the illuminating device and from a target illuminated by the illuminating device for establishing an optical line of sight to the target; radiant energy detecting means carried by said optical sighting means for detecting radiant energy from the illuminating device reflected by the target, and for generating error signals related to the relative positions of said optical line of sight and the detected radiant energy; and positioning means responsive to said error signals and carried by the illuminating device for varying the propagation direction of the radiant energy from the illuminating device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
106 words
Portable apparatus for remotely positioning an illuminating device comprising: optical sighting means remote from the illuminating device and from a target illuminated by the illuminating device for establishing an optical line of sight to the target; radiant energy detecting means carried by said optical sighting means for detecting radiant energy from the illuminating device reflected by the target, and for generating error signals related to the relative positions of said optical line of sight and the detected radiant energy; and positioning means responsive to said error signals and carried by the illuminating device for varying the propagation direction of the radiant energy from the illuminating device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
66 words
Portable apparatus for designating a target to a remote source of radiant energy comprising: optical sighting means; a detector of radiant energy boresighted with said optical sighting means for producing an error signal related to the position of the detected radiant energy relative to the axis of said optical sighting means; and transmitting means for transmitting said error signals to the remote source of radiant energy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
Portable apparatus for designating a target to a remote source of radiant energy comprising: optical sighting means; a detector of radiant energy boresighted with said optical sighting means for producing an error signal related to the position of the detected radiant energy relative to the axis of said optical sighting means; and transmitting means for transmitting said error signals to the remote source of radiant energy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 11 including handle means adapted to be grasped by a human hand and an optical filter for increasing the sensitivity of said detector to the frequency of the energy from the remote source of radiant energy.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the illuminating device is a laser and wherein the mass of said sighting means is smaller than the mass of the laser device.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of designating a remote target to be illuminated by a laser comprising the steps of: a. generating a laser beam; b. modifying the direction of propagation of the laser beam in a predetermined manner; c. focusing a radiant energy detector on the target to be illuminated; d. detecting the reflected radiant energy of the laser beam in the field of view of the detector; and e. thereafter modifying the direction of propagation of the laser beam responsively to the position of the detected reflected radiant energy relative to the detector.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of designating a remote target to be illuminated by a laser comprising the steps of: a. generating a laser beam; b. modifying the direction of propagation of the laser beam in a predetermined manner; c. focusing a radiant energy detector on the target to be illuminated; d. detecting the reflected radiant energy of the laser beam in the field of view of the detector; and e. thereafter modifying the direction of propagation of the laser beam responsively to the position of the detected reflected radiant energy relative to the detector.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 14 further including the step of increasing by at least one order of magnitude the power of the laser upon substantial centering of the detected energy in the field of the detector.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of designating a remote target to a remote source of radiant energy comprising the steps of: a. optically acquiring the remote target thereby centering a radiant energy detector on the target; b. detecting radiant energy from the remote source in the field of view of the target; c. generating error signals related to the position of the detected radiant energy relative to the center of the detector; and d. transmitting the error signals to the remote source whereby the source may be positioned to reduce the error signals.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of designating a remote target to a remote source of radiant energy comprising the steps of: a. optically acquiring the remote target thereby centering a radiant energy detector on the target; b. detecting radiant energy from the remote source in the field of view of the target; c. generating error signals related to the position of the detected radiant energy relative to the center of the detector; and d. transmitting the error signals to the remote source whereby the source may be positioned to reduce the error signals.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of performing surgery comprising the steps of: a. focusing a radiant energy detector on the tissue to be cut; b. scanning a beam of radiant energy over tissue in the area of the tissue to be cut until detected in the field of view of the detector, said radiant energy being insufficient to cut the tissue; c. aligning the beam of radiant energy with the detector; and d. increasing the radiant energy of the beam sufficiently to cut the tissue whereby inadvertent damage to tissue due to improper positioning of the laser is avoided.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of performing surgery comprising the steps of: a. focusing a radiant energy detector on the tissue to be cut; b. scanning a beam of radiant energy over tissue in the area of the tissue to be cut until detected in the field of view of the detector, said radiant energy being insufficient to cut the tissue; c. aligning the beam of radiant energy with the detector; and d. increasing the radiant energy of the beam sufficiently to cut the tissue whereby inadvertent damage to tissue due to improper positioning of the laser is avoided.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of Claim 17 wherein the radiant energy of the beam is increased by removal of an optical attenuator.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the radiant energy of the beam is increased by the energization of a laser aligned with the first mentioned beam of radiant energy.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3514608A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-03 | 1976-04-03 | 1976-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-03 | 1980-04-03 | 1980-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-03 | 1984-04-03 | 1984-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |