Multiple element sensing apparatus

Claim 2

Radiant energy sensing apparatus, comprising: radiant energy detection means having a plurality of coaxial radiation responsive elements surrounding a detection axis; alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling quadrature phased bias signals through said elements; and means coupled to said detection means for producing an output signal.

Claim 3

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object; light energy detection means coupled to said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive elements surrounding a detection axis; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals through an inner of said elements; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadrature phased bias signals through an outer of said elements; and filter means coupled to said detection means for producing an output signal indicative of an object signal within said light responsive areas.

Claim 4

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object; light energy detection means coupled to said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive elements surrounding a detection axis; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals through an inner of said elements; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadrature phased bias signals through an outer of said elements; and filter means coupled to said detection means for producing an output signal indicative of an object signal within said light responsive areas.

Claim 5

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object; light energy detection means coupled to said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive elements surrounding a detection axis; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals at a first frequency through an inner of said elements; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadrature phased bias signals at a second frequency through an outer of said elements; inner filter means coupled to said inner element for producing a first frequency output signal indicative of an object signal within said inner element; and outer filter means coupled to said outer element for producing a second frequency output signal indicative of an object signal within said outer element.

Claim 6

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object; light energy detection means coupled to said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive elements surrounding a detection axis; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals at a first frequency through an inner of said elements; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadrature phased bias signals at a second frequency through an outer of said elements; inner filter means coupled to said inner element for producing a first frequency output signal indicative of an object signal within said inner element; and outer filter means coupled to said outer element for producing a second frequency output signal indicative of an object signal within said outer element.

Claim 7

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object; light energy detection means coupled to said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive elements surrounding a detection axis; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals at a first frequency through an inner of said elements; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadrature phased bias signals at a second frequency through an outer of said elements; inner filter means coupleD to said inner element for producing a first frequency output signal indicative of an object signal within said inner element; outer filter means coupled to said outer element for producing a second frequency output signal indicative of an object signal within said outer elements; and switching means coupled to said inner and outer filter means for disabling, in response to said first frequency output signal, said second frequency output signal.

Claim 8

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object; light energy detection means coupled to said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive elements surrounding a detection axis; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals at a first frequency through an inner of said elements; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadrature phased bias signals at a second frequency through an outer of said elements; inner filter means coupleD to said inner element for producing a first frequency output signal indicative of an object signal within said inner element; outer filter means coupled to said outer element for producing a second frequency output signal indicative of an object signal within said outer elements; and switching means coupled to said inner and outer filter means for disabling, in response to said first frequency output signal, said second frequency output signal.

Claim 9

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object; light energy detection means coupled to said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive areas surrounding a detection axis, each of said areas being in insulated overlapping relation and having a plurality of input bias electrodes and an output centrally disposed electrode; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of an inner of said areas; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of an outer of said areas; inner filter means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of said inner area for producing a first output signal indicative of an object signal within said inner area; and outer filter means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of said outer area for producing a second output signal indicative of an object signal within said outer area.

Claim 10

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object; light energy detection means coupled to said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive areas surrounding a detection axis, each of said areas being in insulated overlapping relation and having a plurality of input bias electrodes and an output centrally disposed electrode; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of an inner of said areas; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of an outer of said areas; inner filter means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of said inner area for producing a first output signal indicative of an object signal within said inner area; and outer filter means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of said outer area for producing a second output signal indicative of an object signal within said outer area.

Claim 11

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object; light energy detection means coupled to said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive areas surrounding a detection axis, each of said areas being in insulated overlapping relation and having a plurality of input bias electrodes and an output centrally disposed electrode; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of an inner of said areas; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of an outer of said areas; inner filter means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of said inner area for producing a first output signal indicative of an object signal within said inner area; outer filter means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of said outer area for producing a second output signal indicative of an object signal within said outer area; and switching means coupled to said inner and outer filter means for disabling, in response to said first output signal, said second output signal.

Claim 12

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object; light energy detection means coupled to said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive areas surrounding a detection axis, each of said areas being in insulated overlapping relation and having a plurality of input bias electrodes and an output centrally disposed electrode; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of an inner of said areas; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of an outer of said areas; inner filter means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of said inner area for producing a first output signal indicative of an object signal within said inner area; outer filter means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of said outer area for producing a second output signal indicative of an object signal within said outer area; and switching means coupled to said inner and outer filter means for disabling, in response to said first output signal, said second output signal.

Claim 13

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object; light energy detection means coupled to said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive areas surrounding a detection axis, each of said areas, being in insulated overlapping relation and having a plurality of input bias electrodes and an output centrally disposed electrode; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of an inner of said area; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of an outer of said areas; inner filter means coupled to said detection means through said output elecTrode of said inner area for producing a first output signal indicative of an object signal within said inner area; outer filter means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of said outer area for producing a second output signal indicative of an object signal within said outer ares; inverter means coupled to said outer means for inverting said second output signal; switching means coupled to said inner filter, outer filter and inverter means for coupling said second output signal through said inverter means only in response to said first output signal; and mixer means coupled to said inverter and inner filter means tending to reject in response to said first output signal, said second output signal from said inner area.

Claim 14

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object; light energy detection means coupled to said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive areas surrounding a detection axis, each of said areas, being in insulated overlapping relation and having a plurality of input bias electrodes and an output centrally disposed electrode; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of an inner of said area; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of an outer of said areas; inner filter means coupled to said detection means through said output elecTrode of said inner area for producing a first output signal indicative of an object signal within said inner area; outer filter means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of said outer area for producing a second output signal indicative of an object signal within said outer ares; inverter means coupled to said outer means for inverting said second output signal; switching means coupled to said inner filter, outer filter and inverter means for coupling said second output signal through said inverter means only in response to said first output signal; and mixer means coupled to said inverter and inner filter means tending to reject in response to said first output signal, said second output signal from said inner area.

Claim 15

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: movable focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object along a tracking axis; drive means coupled to said focusing means for orienting said focusing means; light energy detection means carried by said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive areas surrounding a detection axis; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals through an inner of said areas; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadrature phased bias signals through an outer of said areas; output means coupled to said detection means for producing an output signal indicative of an object signal within said light responsive areas; and tracking means coupled to said output and drive means for orienting said focusing means along said tracking axis in response to said output signal.

Claim 16

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: movable focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object along a tracking axis; drive means coupled to said focusing means for orienting said focusing means; light energy detection means carried by said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive areas surrounding a detection axis; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals through an inner of said areas; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadrature phased bias signals through an outer of said areas; output means coupled to said detection means for producing an output signal indicative of an object signal within said light responsive areas; and tracking means coupled to said output and drive means for orienting said focusing means along said tracking axis in response to said output signal.

Claim 17

Light energy sensing and tracking apparatus, comprising: movable focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object along a tracking axis; drive means coupled to said focusing means for orienting said focusing means; light energy detection means carried by said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive areas surrounding a detection axis; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals at a first frequency through an inner of said areas; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadrature phased bias signals at a second frequency through an outer of said areas; inner filter means coupled to said inner area for producing a first frequency output signal indicative of an object signal within said inner area; outer filter means coupled to said outer area for producing a second frequency output signal indicative of an object signal within said outer areas; and tracking means coupled to said inner filter, outer filter and drive means for orienting said focusing means to align said detection axis along said tracking axis in response to said output signals.

Claim 18

Light energy sensing and tracking apparatus, comprising: movable focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object along a tracking axis; drive means coupled to said focusing means for orienting said focusing means; light energy detection means carried by said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive areas surrounding a detection axis; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals at a first frequency through an inner of said areas; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadrature phased bias signals at a second frequency through an outer of said areas; inner filter means coupled to said inner area for producing a first frequency output signal indicative of an object signal within said inner area; outer filter means coupled to said outer area for producing a second frequency output signal indicative of an object signal within said outer areas; and tracking means coupled to said inner filter, outer filter and drive means for orienting said focusing means to align said detection axis along said tracking axis in response to said output signals.

Claim 19

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: movable focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object along a tracking axis; drive means coupled to said focusing means for orienting said focusing means; light energy detection means carried by said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive areas surrounding a detection axis, each of said areas being in insulated overlapping relation and having a plurality of input bias electrodes and an output centrally disposed electrode; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of an inner of said areas; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadRature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of an outer of said areas; inner filter means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of said inner area for producing a first output signal indicative of an object signal within said inner area; outer filter means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of said outer area for producing a second output signal indicative of an object signal within said outer area; and tracking means coupled to said inner filter, outer and drive means for orienting said focusing means to align said detection axis along said tracking axis in response to said output signals.

Claim 20

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: movable focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object along a tracking axis; drive means coupled to said focusing means for orienting said focusing means; light energy detection means carried by said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive areas surrounding a detection axis, each of said areas being in insulated overlapping relation and having a plurality of input bias electrodes and an output centrally disposed electrode; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of an inner of said areas; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadRature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of an outer of said areas; inner filter means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of said inner area for producing a first output signal indicative of an object signal within said inner area; outer filter means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of said outer area for producing a second output signal indicative of an object signal within said outer area; and tracking means coupled to said inner filter, outer and drive means for orienting said focusing means to align said detection axis along said tracking axis in response to said output signals.

Claim 21

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object; light energy detection means coupled to said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive areas surrounding a detection axis, each of said areas having four symmetrically disposed input bias electrodes defining a pair of mutually orthogonal reference axes and a centrally disposed output electrode; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said four input bias electrodes of an inner of said areas; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said four inner bias electrodes of an outer of said areas; and means coupled to said detection means through said output electrodes for producing an output signal.

Claim 22

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object; light energy detection means coupled to said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive areas surrounding a detection axis, each of said areas having four symmetrically disposed input bias electrodes defining a pair of mutually orthogonal reference axes and a centrally disposed output electrode; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said four input bias electrodes of an inner of said areas; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said four inner bias electrodes of an outer of said areas; and means coupled to said detection means through said output electrodes for producing an output signal.

Claim 23

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: focusing means for simultaneously receiving optical images of a plurality of remote light transmitting objects; light energy detection means coupled to said focusing means and having a plurality of concentric photoelectric light responsive areas surrounding a detection axis, each of said areas being in insulated overlapping relation and having a plurality of input bias electrodes and an output centrally disposed electrode; alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of each said area; scanning means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of each said area for sequentially producing an output signal indicative of an object signal within each said area; and display means coupled to said scanning means and said bias means for producing indications of said images with respect to a plurality of concentric reference curves corresponding to said areas respectively.

Claim 24

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: focusing means for simultaneously receiving optical images of a plurality of remote light transmitting objects; light energy detection means coupled to said focusing means and having a plurality of concentric photoelectric light responsive areas surrounding a detection axis, each of said areas being in insulated overlapping relation and having a plurality of input bias electrodes and an output centrally disposed electrode; alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of each said area; scanning means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of each said area for sequentially producing an output signal indicative of an object signal within each said area; and display means coupled to said scanning means and said bias means for producing indications of said images with respect to a plurality of concentric reference curves corresponding to said areas respectively.

Claim 25

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: movable focusing means for simultaneously receiving optical images of a plurality of remote light transmitting objects; drive means coupled to said focusing means for orienting said focusing means; light energy detection means carried by said focusing means and having a plurality of concentric photoelectric light responsive areas surrounding a detection axis, each of said areas being in insulated overlapping relation and having a plurality of input bias electrodes and an output centrally disposed electrode; alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of each said area; scanning means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of each said area for sequentially producing an output signal indicative of an object signal within each said area; display means coupled to said scanning means and said bias means for producing indications of said images with respect to a plurality of concentric reference curves each corresponding to one of said areas; and tracking means coupled to said scanning and drive means for orienting said focusing means to align said detection axis along a tracking axis corresponding with a selected one of said objects in response to a selected one of said output signals corresponding with said selected object.

Claim 26

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: movable focusing means for simultaneously receiving optical images of a plurality of remote light transmitting objects; drive means coupled to said focusing means for orienting said focusing means; light energy detection means carried by said focusing means and having a plurality of concentric photoelectric light responsive areas surrounding a detection axis, each of said areas being in insulated overlapping relation and having a plurality of input bias electrodes and an output centrally disposed electrode; alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of each said area; scanning means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of each said area for sequentially producing an output signal indicative of an object signal within each said area; display means coupled to said scanning means and said bias means for producing indications of said images with respect to a plurality of concentric reference curves each corresponding to one of said areas; and tracking means coupled to said scanning and drive means for orienting said focusing means to align said detection axis along a tracking axis corresponding with a selected one of said objects in response to a selected one of said output signals corresponding with said selected object.

Claim 27

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object along a tracking axis; drive means coupled to said focusing means for orienting said focusing means; light energy detection means carried by said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive areas surrounding a detection axis, each of said areas, being in insulated overlapping relation and having a plurality of input bias electrodes and an output centrally disposed electrode; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of an inner of said area; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of an outer of said area; inner filter means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of said inner area for producing a first output signal indicative of an object signal within said inner area; outer filter means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of said outer area for producing a second output signal indicative of an object signal within said outer area; inverter means coupled to said outer means for inverting said second output signal; switching means coupled to said inner filter, outer and inverter means for coupling said second output signal through said inverter means only in response to said first output signal; and mixer means coupled to said inverter and inner filter means tending to reject, in response to said first output signal, said second output signal from said inner area; and tracking means coupled to said mixer and drive means for orienting said focusing mean to align said detection axis along said tracking axis, whereby said apparatus tends to reject an image in said outer area only in response to an image in said inner area.

Claim 28

Light energy sensing apparatus, comprising: focusing means for receiving an optical image of a remote light transmitting object along a tracking axis; drive means coupled to said focusing means for orienting said focusing means; light energy detection means carried by said focusing means and having a plurality of coaxial photoelectric light responsive areas surrounding a detection axis, each of said areas, being in insulated overlapping relation and having a plurality of input bias electrodes and an output centrally disposed electrode; a first alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a first pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of an inner of said area; a second alternating current bias means coupled to said detection means for coupling a second pair of quadrature phased bias signals through said input bias electrodes of an outer of said area; inner filter means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of said inner area for producing a first output signal indicative of an object signal within said inner area; outer filter means coupled to said detection means through said output electrode of said outer area for producing a second output signal indicative of an object signal within said outer area; inverter means coupled to said outer means for inverting said second output signal; switching means coupled to said inner filter, outer and inverter means for coupling said second output signal through said inverter means only in response to said first output signal; and mixer means coupled to said inverter and inner filter means tending to reject, in response to said first output signal, said second output signal from said inner area; and tracking means coupled to said mixer and drive means for orienting said focusing mean to align said detection axis along said tracking axis, whereby said apparatus tends to reject an image in said outer area only in response to an image in said inner area.

Claim 29

Radiant energy detection means, comprising: base means; radiant energy responsive material coating said base means for providing a detection surface relative to a detection axis which changes an electrical characteristic in response to said energy; an inner bias electrode means having at least four coupling points each symmetrically radially disposed relative to said detection axis and providing a boundary for an inner radiation response area on said surface; an inner output electrode means centrally disposed relative to said inner bias coupling points; an outer bias electrode means having at least four coupling points arranged in a radially symmetric pattern, relative to said detection axis, surrounding said inner bias electrode means to provide a boundary for an outer radiation responsive area surrounding said inner area; and an outer output electrode means centrally disposed relative to said outer coupling points.

Claim 30

Radiant energy detection means, comprising: base means; radiant energy responsive material coating said base means for providing a detection surface relative to a detection axis which changes an electrical characteristic in response to said energy; an inner bias electrode means having at least four coupling points each symmetrically radially disposed relative to said detection axis and providing a boundary for an inner radiation response area on said surface; an inner output electrode means centrally disposed relative to said inner bias coupling points; an outer bias electrode means having at least four coupling points arranged in a radially symmetric pattern, relative to said detection axis, surrounding said inner bias electrode means to provide a boundary for an outer radiation responsive area surrounding said inner area; and an outer output electrode means centrally disposed relative to said outer coupling points.