Signal-correlating apparatus for improving the angular resolution of a directionally ranging system

Claim 3

In a data pattern sampling system having output signal utilization means, correlation means for improving the indicated directional resolution of said system and comprising signal shaping means responsive to a range-gated output of said system and having an impulse response corresponding to an analog of a normalized replica of the response of said sampling system to a point source data element; and gating means responsively coupled to said signal shaping means for coupling an input of said signal utilization means to said system only during a preselected change in sense of the amplitude rate of response of said signal shaping means corresponding to a maximum correlation of said system response with said data element.

Claim 4

In a data pattern sampling system having output signal utilization means, correlation means for improving the indicated directional resolution of said system and comprising signal shaping means responsive to a range-gated output of said system and having an impulse response corresponding to an analog of a normalized replica of the response of said sampling system to a point source data element; and gating means responsively coupled to said signal shaping means for coupling an input of said signal utilization means to said system only during a preselected change in sense of the amplitude rate of response of said signal shaping means corresponding to a maximum correlation of said system response with said data element.

Claim 5

Means for improving the angular resolution of a directionally scannable directional sensor having a given beamwidth, comprising correlating electrical filter means adapted to be responsively coupled to an electrical output of said sensor and having an impulse response funcTion corresponding to an analog of a normalized replica of the scanned sensor response to a point source target; and means responsively coupled to said correlating filter for gating-on an output thereof only during a preselected change in sense of the amplitude rate of response of said filter.

Claim 6

Means for improving the angular resolution of a directionally scannable directional sensor having a given beamwidth, comprising correlating electrical filter means adapted to be responsively coupled to an electrical output of said sensor and having an impulse response funcTion corresponding to an analog of a normalized replica of the scanned sensor response to a point source target; and means responsively coupled to said correlating filter for gating-on an output thereof only during a preselected change in sense of the amplitude rate of response of said filter.

Claim 7

The device of claim 3 in which said filter means comprises range-time-gated sample-and-hold means adapted to be responsive to an electrical output of said sensor which is indicative of a preselected target range; and a filter circuit responsive to said sample-and-hold means and having a preselected impulse function.

Claim 8

The device of claim 3 in which said means for gating-on comprises rate-signalling means responsive to an output of said filter means for providing a signal indicative of the rate of change of said output of said filter means; gate control means coupled to an output of said rate-signalling means and responsive to a preselected change of sense of said rate of change signal for generating a gate control signal; and signal gate means coupled to said output of said filter and having a gate control input responsive to said gate control signal.

Claim 9

In a range-gated directionally scanned directionally ranging system having received signal utilization means, means for improving the indicated directional resolution of said system and comprising a correlation filter responsive to a range-gated output of said system and having an impulse response corresponding to an analog of a normalized replica of the response of said scanned system to a point source target; and gating means responsively coupled to said correlation filter for coupling said signal utilization means to said range-gated system output only during a preselected change in sense of the amplitude rate of response of said filter.

Claim 10

In a range-gated directionally scanned directionally ranging system having received signal utilization means, means for improving the indicated directional resolution of said system and comprising a correlation filter responsive to a range-gated output of said system and having an impulse response corresponding to an analog of a normalized replica of the response of said scanned system to a point source target; and gating means responsively coupled to said correlation filter for coupling said signal utilization means to said range-gated system output only during a preselected change in sense of the amplitude rate of response of said filter.

Claim 11

The device of claim 6 in which said signal utilization means is responsively coupled to said system by said correlation filter and said gating means in tandem.

Claim 12

The device of claim 6 in which said gating means comprises a signal gate gatingly interconnecting an input of said signal utilization means and an output of said filter and having a gate control input responsive to a preselected change in sense in the amplitude rate of change of the output of said filter.

Claim 13

The device of claim 6 in which said gating means comprises control signal means responsive to an output of said filter for providing a control signal only during a preselected change in sense of the amplitude rate of response of said output of said filter; and a signal gate interconnecting an output of said signal utilization means and said output of said filter and having a gate control input responsive to said control signal.

Claim 14

The device of claim 6 in which said filter means comprises range-time gated sample-and-hold means adapted to be responsive to an electrical output of said sensor indicative of a preselected target range; a filter circuit responsive to said sample-and-hold means and having a preselected impulse function.

Claim 15

The device of claim 6 in which said means for gating-on comprises rate-signalling means responsive to an output of said filter means for providing a signal indicative of the rate of change of said output of said filter means gate control means responsive to an output of said rate-signalling means responsive to a preselected change of sense of said rate of change signal for generating a gate control signal; signal gate means coupled to said output of said filter and having a gate control input responsive to said gate control signal.

Claim 16

In a directionally scanned directionally ranging system having output signal utilization means, correlation means for improving the indicated directional resolution of said system and comprising range-gated signal shaping means responsive to an output of said system and having an impulse response corresponding to analog of a normalized replica of the response of said ranging system to a point source target; and gating means responsively coupled to said signal shaping means for coupling said signal utilization means to said system only during a preselected change in sense of the amplitude rate of response of said signal means corresponding to a maximum correlation of said system response with said point source target.

Claim 17

In a directionally scanned directionally ranging system having output signal utilization means, correlation means for improving the indicated directional resolution of said system and comprising range-gated signal shaping means responsive to an output of said system and having an impulse response corresponding to analog of a normalized replica of the response of said ranging system to a point source target; and gating means responsively coupled to said signal shaping means for coupling said signal utilization means to said system only during a preselected change in sense of the amplitude rate of response of said signal means corresponding to a maximum correlation of said system response with said point source target.

Claim 18

A correlation technique for improving the indicated directional resolution of a data pattern sampling system having output utilization means and comprising the steps of subjecting a range-gated output of said system to signal shaping means having an impulse responsive corresponding to an analog of a normalized replica of the response of said sampling system to a scanned point source data element; and responsively coupling said signal utilization means to said system only during a preselected change in sense of the amplitude rate of the response of said signal shaping means corresponding to a maximum correlation of said system response with said data element.

Claim 19

A correlation technique for improving the indicated directional resolution of a data pattern sampling system having output utilization means and comprising the steps of subjecting a range-gated output of said system to signal shaping means having an impulse responsive corresponding to an analog of a normalized replica of the response of said sampling system to a scanned point source data element; and responsively coupling said signal utilization means to said system only during a preselected change in sense of the amplitude rate of the response of said signal shaping means corresponding to a maximum correlation of said system response with said data element.

Claim 20

A correlation technique for improving the indicated directional resolution a data pattern sampling system having output utilization means of and comprising the steps of subjecting a range-gated output of said system to signal shaping means having an impulse response corresponding to an analog of a normalized replica of the response of said sampling system to a directionally scanned point source data element; and responsively coupling said signal utilization means to said signal shaping means only during a preselected change in sense of the amplitude rate of the response of said signal shaping means corresponding to a maximum correlation of said system response with said data element.

Claim 21

A correlation technique for improving the indicated directional resolution a data pattern sampling system having output utilization means of and comprising the steps of subjecting a range-gated output of said system to signal shaping means having an impulse response corresponding to an analog of a normalized replica of the response of said sampling system to a directionally scanned point source data element; and responsively coupling said signal utilization means to said signal shaping means only during a preselected change in sense of the amplitude rate of the response of said signal shaping means corresponding to a maximum correlation of said system response with said data element.

Claim 22

In a range-gated directionally scanned directionally ranging system having received signal utilization means, means for improving the indicated directional resolution of said system and comprising range-time gated sample-and-hold means adapted to be responsive to an electrical output of said system indicative of a preselected target range; a filter circuit responsive to said sample-and-hold means and having a preselected impulse function; rate-signalling means responsive to an output of said filter means for providing a signal indicative of the rate of change of said output of said filter means; gate control means coupled to an output of said rate-signalling means and responsive to a preselected change of sense of said rate of change signal for generating a gate control signal; and signal gate means coupled to said output of said filter and having a gate control input responsive to said gate control signal.

Claim 23

In a range-gated directionally scanned directionally ranging system having received signal utilization means, means for improving the indicated directional resolution of said system and comprising range-time gated sample-and-hold means adapted to be responsive to an electrical output of said system indicative of a preselected target range; a filter circuit responsive to said sample-and-hold means and having a preselected impulse function; rate-signalling means responsive to an output of said filter means for providing a signal indicative of the rate of change of said output of said filter means; gate control means coupled to an output of said rate-signalling means and responsive to a preselected change of sense of said rate of change signal for generating a gate control signal; and signal gate means coupled to said output of said filter and having a gate control input responsive to said gate control signal.