US3711639A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Television target tracking system
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1969-12-29
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Granted: 1973-01-16
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Expires: 1989-12-29
Abstract
Abstract 3. In a television type target tracking system a figure eight scan system comprising: a scan frequency oscillator for generating an output voltage, sin omega t, a frequency doubler circuit coupled to said scan frequency oscillator for generating a synchronized voltage, sin 2 omega t, television camera means including deflection coils and an imaging tube, circuit means coupling the output of said scan frequency oscillator and said frequency doubler as inputs to said deflection coils, vertical gate generator means having an input coupled to said scan oscillator and being triggered by the output sine wave of said scan oscillator near the zero value, horizontal gate generator means coupled to said scan oscillator through a 180* phase shifter and being triggered by the output sine wave of said scan oscillator near the zero value, tracking coincidence circuits coupled to the outputs of said vertical and horizontal gate generators and said television camera means for generating a first output signal representing the horizontal position of a target edge and a second output signal representing the vertical position of the target edge, and circuit means coupling said first and second output signals to the deflection coils of said television camera means.
Inventors
- 👤 F Alpers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 06:36
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01S3/7864
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
835 words
In a television type target tracking system a vertical retrace system comprising: raster generator means including a horizontal sweep generator and a vertical sweep generator; television camera means coupled to said horizontal and vertical sweep generators for generating an output signal proportional to changes in contrast of its raster; blanking circuit means coupled to said horizontal sweep generator for blanking the horizontal retrace of said camera means; horizontal memory circuit means having an output voltage proportional to the horizontal position of a target in the scanning raster of said camera; horizontal positioning circuit means coupled to said horizontal sweep generator means and to said horizontal memory circuit means for generating an output pulse when the output voltage of said horizontal sweep generator means rises to equal the value of the output voltage of said horizontal memory circuit means; horizontal tracking gate generator means coupled to the output of said horizontal positioning circuit means for generating a gating pulse each time said horizontal positioning circuit means generates an output pulse; vertical trigger means having an input coupled to a reference voltage source for generating output pulses of the same frequency as said reference voltage, retrace trigger mixer means coupled to said vertical trigger means and to the output of said horizontal tracking gate generator for generating an output pulse upon the coincidence between the output pulse of said vertical trigger means and the output pulse of said horizontal tracking gate generator; retrace control circuit means coupled to said retrace trigger mixer means and said vertical sweep generator means for initiating and controlling the duration of the vertical retrace voltage of said vertical sweep generator; horizontal sweep clamping means coupled to said retrace control circuit means and to said horizontal sweep generator means for clamping the output of said horizontal sweep generatoR means for the duration of said vertical retrace voltage; vertical memory circuit means having an output voltage proportional to vertical position of a target in the scanning raster of said camera, line selector circuit means coupled to said vertical sweep generator means and to said vertical memory circuit means for generating an output pulse when the output voltage of vertical sweep generator means rises to equal the output of vertical memory circuit means; tracking line gate generator means coupled to the output of said line selector circuit means and to the output of said horizontal sweep generating means for generating an output pulse of a duration of slightly more than one horizontal scanning cycle upon the coincidence between the output pulse of line selector circuit means and the output of said horizontal sweep generating means; vertical positioning circuit means coupled to the output of said vertical sweep generating means and to said vertical memory circuit means for generating an output pulse when the output voltage of vertical sweep generating means falls to a value equal to the output voltage of said vertical memory circuit, vertical tracking gate generator means coupled to said vertical positioning circuit means for generating a vertical gate upon the occurrence of an output pulse from said vertical positioning circuit means, left tracking coincidence circuit means having a first input coupled directly from said horizontal tracking gate generator means and a second input coupled from said camera means for generating an output voltage proportional to coincidence of said first and second inputs, right tracking coincidence circuit means having a first input coupled to said horizontal tracking gate generator through a first delay network, and a second input coupled from said camera means for generating an output voltage proportional to the coincidence of the first and second inputs applied thereto; horizontal coincidence comparator means coupled to said left and right tracking coincidence circuit means and to said horizontal memory circuit means for causing a rise in the output voltage of said horizontal memory circuit means when the output voltage of said right tracking coincidence circuit predominates, and causing a decrease in the output voltage of said horizontal memory circuit means when the output of said left tracking coincidence circuit means predominates; down tracking coincidence circuit means having a first input coupled directly from said vertical tracking gate generator means and a second input coupled from said camera means for generating an output voltage proportional to the coincidence of the first and second inputs coupled thereto, up tracking coincidence circuit means having a first input coupled to said vertical tracking gate generator through a second delay network and a second input coupled from said camera means for generating an output voltage proportional to the coincidence of the first and second inputs applied thereto; and vertical coincidence comparator means coupled to said up and down tracking coincidence circuit means and to said vertical circuit means for causing a rise in the output voltage of said vertical memory circuit means when the output voltage of said up tracking coincidence circuit predominates and causing a decrease in the output voltage of said vertical memory circuit means when the output of said down tracking coincidence circuit means predominates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
835 words
In a television type target tracking system a vertical retrace system comprising: raster generator means including a horizontal sweep generator and a vertical sweep generator; television camera means coupled to said horizontal and vertical sweep generators for generating an output signal proportional to changes in contrast of its raster; blanking circuit means coupled to said horizontal sweep generator for blanking the horizontal retrace of said camera means; horizontal memory circuit means having an output voltage proportional to the horizontal position of a target in the scanning raster of said camera; horizontal positioning circuit means coupled to said horizontal sweep generator means and to said horizontal memory circuit means for generating an output pulse when the output voltage of said horizontal sweep generator means rises to equal the value of the output voltage of said horizontal memory circuit means; horizontal tracking gate generator means coupled to the output of said horizontal positioning circuit means for generating a gating pulse each time said horizontal positioning circuit means generates an output pulse; vertical trigger means having an input coupled to a reference voltage source for generating output pulses of the same frequency as said reference voltage, retrace trigger mixer means coupled to said vertical trigger means and to the output of said horizontal tracking gate generator for generating an output pulse upon the coincidence between the output pulse of said vertical trigger means and the output pulse of said horizontal tracking gate generator; retrace control circuit means coupled to said retrace trigger mixer means and said vertical sweep generator means for initiating and controlling the duration of the vertical retrace voltage of said vertical sweep generator; horizontal sweep clamping means coupled to said retrace control circuit means and to said horizontal sweep generator means for clamping the output of said horizontal sweep generatoR means for the duration of said vertical retrace voltage; vertical memory circuit means having an output voltage proportional to vertical position of a target in the scanning raster of said camera, line selector circuit means coupled to said vertical sweep generator means and to said vertical memory circuit means for generating an output pulse when the output voltage of vertical sweep generator means rises to equal the output of vertical memory circuit means; tracking line gate generator means coupled to the output of said line selector circuit means and to the output of said horizontal sweep generating means for generating an output pulse of a duration of slightly more than one horizontal scanning cycle upon the coincidence between the output pulse of line selector circuit means and the output of said horizontal sweep generating means; vertical positioning circuit means coupled to the output of said vertical sweep generating means and to said vertical memory circuit means for generating an output pulse when the output voltage of vertical sweep generating means falls to a value equal to the output voltage of said vertical memory circuit, vertical tracking gate generator means coupled to said vertical positioning circuit means for generating a vertical gate upon the occurrence of an output pulse from said vertical positioning circuit means, left tracking coincidence circuit means having a first input coupled directly from said horizontal tracking gate generator means and a second input coupled from said camera means for generating an output voltage proportional to coincidence of said first and second inputs, right tracking coincidence circuit means having a first input coupled to said horizontal tracking gate generator through a first delay network, and a second input coupled from said camera means for generating an output voltage proportional to the coincidence of the first and second inputs applied thereto; horizontal coincidence comparator means coupled to said left and right tracking coincidence circuit means and to said horizontal memory circuit means for causing a rise in the output voltage of said horizontal memory circuit means when the output voltage of said right tracking coincidence circuit predominates, and causing a decrease in the output voltage of said horizontal memory circuit means when the output of said left tracking coincidence circuit means predominates; down tracking coincidence circuit means having a first input coupled directly from said vertical tracking gate generator means and a second input coupled from said camera means for generating an output voltage proportional to the coincidence of the first and second inputs coupled thereto, up tracking coincidence circuit means having a first input coupled to said vertical tracking gate generator through a second delay network and a second input coupled from said camera means for generating an output voltage proportional to the coincidence of the first and second inputs applied thereto; and vertical coincidence comparator means coupled to said up and down tracking coincidence circuit means and to said vertical circuit means for causing a rise in the output voltage of said vertical memory circuit means when the output voltage of said up tracking coincidence circuit predominates and causing a decrease in the output voltage of said vertical memory circuit means when the output of said down tracking coincidence circuit means predominates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
835 words
In a television type target tracking system a vertical retrace system comprising: raster generator means including a horizontal sweep generator and a vertical sweep generator; television camera means coupled to said horizontal and vertical sweep generators for generating an output signal proportional to changes in contrast of its raster; blanking circuit means coupled to said horizontal sweep generator for blanking the horizontal retrace of said camera means; horizontal memory circuit means having an output voltage proportional to the horizontal position of a target in the scanning raster of said camera; horizontal positioning circuit means coupled to said horizontal sweep generator means and to said horizontal memory circuit means for generating an output pulse when the output voltage of said horizontal sweep generator means rises to equal the value of the output voltage of said horizontal memory circuit means; horizontal tracking gate generator means coupled to the output of said horizontal positioning circuit means for generating a gating pulse each time said horizontal positioning circuit means generates an output pulse; vertical trigger means having an input coupled to a reference voltage source for generating output pulses of the same frequency as said reference voltage, retrace trigger mixer means coupled to said vertical trigger means and to the output of said horizontal tracking gate generator for generating an output pulse upon the coincidence between the output pulse of said vertical trigger means and the output pulse of said horizontal tracking gate generator; retrace control circuit means coupled to said retrace trigger mixer means and said vertical sweep generator means for initiating and controlling the duration of the vertical retrace voltage of said vertical sweep generator; horizontal sweep clamping means coupled to said retrace control circuit means and to said horizontal sweep generator means for clamping the output of said horizontal sweep generatoR means for the duration of said vertical retrace voltage; vertical memory circuit means having an output voltage proportional to vertical position of a target in the scanning raster of said camera, line selector circuit means coupled to said vertical sweep generator means and to said vertical memory circuit means for generating an output pulse when the output voltage of vertical sweep generator means rises to equal the output of vertical memory circuit means; tracking line gate generator means coupled to the output of said line selector circuit means and to the output of said horizontal sweep generating means for generating an output pulse of a duration of slightly more than one horizontal scanning cycle upon the coincidence between the output pulse of line selector circuit means and the output of said horizontal sweep generating means; vertical positioning circuit means coupled to the output of said vertical sweep generating means and to said vertical memory circuit means for generating an output pulse when the output voltage of vertical sweep generating means falls to a value equal to the output voltage of said vertical memory circuit, vertical tracking gate generator means coupled to said vertical positioning circuit means for generating a vertical gate upon the occurrence of an output pulse from said vertical positioning circuit means, left tracking coincidence circuit means having a first input coupled directly from said horizontal tracking gate generator means and a second input coupled from said camera means for generating an output voltage proportional to coincidence of said first and second inputs, right tracking coincidence circuit means having a first input coupled to said horizontal tracking gate generator through a first delay network, and a second input coupled from said camera means for generating an output voltage proportional to the coincidence of the first and second inputs applied thereto; horizontal coincidence comparator means coupled to said left and right tracking coincidence circuit means and to said horizontal memory circuit means for causing a rise in the output voltage of said horizontal memory circuit means when the output voltage of said right tracking coincidence circuit predominates, and causing a decrease in the output voltage of said horizontal memory circuit means when the output of said left tracking coincidence circuit means predominates; down tracking coincidence circuit means having a first input coupled directly from said vertical tracking gate generator means and a second input coupled from said camera means for generating an output voltage proportional to the coincidence of the first and second inputs coupled thereto, up tracking coincidence circuit means having a first input coupled to said vertical tracking gate generator through a second delay network and a second input coupled from said camera means for generating an output voltage proportional to the coincidence of the first and second inputs applied thereto; and vertical coincidence comparator means coupled to said up and down tracking coincidence circuit means and to said vertical circuit means for causing a rise in the output voltage of said vertical memory circuit means when the output voltage of said up tracking coincidence circuit predominates and causing a decrease in the output voltage of said vertical memory circuit means when the output of said down tracking coincidence circuit means predominates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
835 words
In a television type target tracking system a vertical retrace system comprising: raster generator means including a horizontal sweep generator and a vertical sweep generator; television camera means coupled to said horizontal and vertical sweep generators for generating an output signal proportional to changes in contrast of its raster; blanking circuit means coupled to said horizontal sweep generator for blanking the horizontal retrace of said camera means; horizontal memory circuit means having an output voltage proportional to the horizontal position of a target in the scanning raster of said camera; horizontal positioning circuit means coupled to said horizontal sweep generator means and to said horizontal memory circuit means for generating an output pulse when the output voltage of said horizontal sweep generator means rises to equal the value of the output voltage of said horizontal memory circuit means; horizontal tracking gate generator means coupled to the output of said horizontal positioning circuit means for generating a gating pulse each time said horizontal positioning circuit means generates an output pulse; vertical trigger means having an input coupled to a reference voltage source for generating output pulses of the same frequency as said reference voltage, retrace trigger mixer means coupled to said vertical trigger means and to the output of said horizontal tracking gate generator for generating an output pulse upon the coincidence between the output pulse of said vertical trigger means and the output pulse of said horizontal tracking gate generator; retrace control circuit means coupled to said retrace trigger mixer means and said vertical sweep generator means for initiating and controlling the duration of the vertical retrace voltage of said vertical sweep generator; horizontal sweep clamping means coupled to said retrace control circuit means and to said horizontal sweep generator means for clamping the output of said horizontal sweep generatoR means for the duration of said vertical retrace voltage; vertical memory circuit means having an output voltage proportional to vertical position of a target in the scanning raster of said camera, line selector circuit means coupled to said vertical sweep generator means and to said vertical memory circuit means for generating an output pulse when the output voltage of vertical sweep generator means rises to equal the output of vertical memory circuit means; tracking line gate generator means coupled to the output of said line selector circuit means and to the output of said horizontal sweep generating means for generating an output pulse of a duration of slightly more than one horizontal scanning cycle upon the coincidence between the output pulse of line selector circuit means and the output of said horizontal sweep generating means; vertical positioning circuit means coupled to the output of said vertical sweep generating means and to said vertical memory circuit means for generating an output pulse when the output voltage of vertical sweep generating means falls to a value equal to the output voltage of said vertical memory circuit, vertical tracking gate generator means coupled to said vertical positioning circuit means for generating a vertical gate upon the occurrence of an output pulse from said vertical positioning circuit means, left tracking coincidence circuit means having a first input coupled directly from said horizontal tracking gate generator means and a second input coupled from said camera means for generating an output voltage proportional to coincidence of said first and second inputs, right tracking coincidence circuit means having a first input coupled to said horizontal tracking gate generator through a first delay network, and a second input coupled from said camera means for generating an output voltage proportional to the coincidence of the first and second inputs applied thereto; horizontal coincidence comparator means coupled to said left and right tracking coincidence circuit means and to said horizontal memory circuit means for causing a rise in the output voltage of said horizontal memory circuit means when the output voltage of said right tracking coincidence circuit predominates, and causing a decrease in the output voltage of said horizontal memory circuit means when the output of said left tracking coincidence circuit means predominates; down tracking coincidence circuit means having a first input coupled directly from said vertical tracking gate generator means and a second input coupled from said camera means for generating an output voltage proportional to the coincidence of the first and second inputs coupled thereto, up tracking coincidence circuit means having a first input coupled to said vertical tracking gate generator through a second delay network and a second input coupled from said camera means for generating an output voltage proportional to the coincidence of the first and second inputs applied thereto; and vertical coincidence comparator means coupled to said up and down tracking coincidence circuit means and to said vertical circuit means for causing a rise in the output voltage of said vertical memory circuit means when the output voltage of said up tracking coincidence circuit predominates and causing a decrease in the output voltage of said vertical memory circuit means when the output of said down tracking coincidence circuit means predominates.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
269 words
In a television type target tracking system a vertical retrace system comprising: raster generating means including a horizontal sweep circuit and a vertical sweep circuit; television camera means coupled to said horizontal and vertical circuits for generating an output signal proportional to changes in contrast of its raster; horizontal tracking circuit means having an output proportional to the horizontal position of a target in the raster of said camera means, vertical trace synchronizer circuit coupled to said horizontal sweep circuit and to said horizontal tracking circuiT for generating an output pulse when the output voltage of said horizontal sweep circuit falls to equal the output voltage of said horizontal tracking circuit; horizontal clamping circuit means coupled to said vertical trace synchronizer circuit for initiating clamping of said horizontal sweep circuit upon the occurrence of an output pulse from the vertical trace synchronizer, vertical clamping circuit means coupled to said vertical trace synchronizer for unclamping said vertical sweep circuit, vertical tracking circuit means having an output voltage proportional to the vertical position of a target in the raster of said camera means, horizontal trace synchronizer means coupled to said vertical sweep circuit and said vertical tracking circuit means for generating an output pulse when the output voltage of said vertical sweep circuit drops to a value equal to the output voltage of said vertical tracking circuit means, said horizontal clamping circuit being responsive to the output pulse of said horizontal trace synchronizer for unclamping said horizontal sweep circuit and said vertical clamping circuit being responsive to the output pulse of said horizontal trace synchronizer for clamping said vertical sweep circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
269 words
In a television type target tracking system a vertical retrace system comprising: raster generating means including a horizontal sweep circuit and a vertical sweep circuit; television camera means coupled to said horizontal and vertical circuits for generating an output signal proportional to changes in contrast of its raster; horizontal tracking circuit means having an output proportional to the horizontal position of a target in the raster of said camera means, vertical trace synchronizer circuit coupled to said horizontal sweep circuit and to said horizontal tracking circuiT for generating an output pulse when the output voltage of said horizontal sweep circuit falls to equal the output voltage of said horizontal tracking circuit; horizontal clamping circuit means coupled to said vertical trace synchronizer circuit for initiating clamping of said horizontal sweep circuit upon the occurrence of an output pulse from the vertical trace synchronizer, vertical clamping circuit means coupled to said vertical trace synchronizer for unclamping said vertical sweep circuit, vertical tracking circuit means having an output voltage proportional to the vertical position of a target in the raster of said camera means, horizontal trace synchronizer means coupled to said vertical sweep circuit and said vertical tracking circuit means for generating an output pulse when the output voltage of said vertical sweep circuit drops to a value equal to the output voltage of said vertical tracking circuit means, said horizontal clamping circuit being responsive to the output pulse of said horizontal trace synchronizer for unclamping said horizontal sweep circuit and said vertical clamping circuit being responsive to the output pulse of said horizontal trace synchronizer for clamping said vertical sweep circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
223 words
the circuit of claim 3 wherein said tracking coincidence circuits comprises: an up tracking coincidence circuit having a first input coupled to the output of said television camera means, a second input coupled through a delay network to the output of said vertical gate generator and an output coupled as a first input to a vertical coincidence comparator; a down tracking coincidence circuit having a first input coupled to the output of said television camera means, a second input coupled directly to the output of said horizontal gate generator and an output coupled as a second input to said horizontal coincidence comparator; a vertical memory circuit having an input coupled to the output of said vertical coincidence comparator and an output coupled as a first input to a summing amplifier and as a first input to a differential amplifier; a horizontal memory circuit having an input coupled to the output of said horizontal coincidence comparator and having an output coupled as a second input to said summing amplifier and as a second input to said differential amplifier; said summing amplifier having an output coupled as a first corrective input to said television camera means for providing horizontal and vertical correction; and said differential amplifier having an output coupled as a second corrective input to said television camera means for providing an orthogonal correction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2838602A
Cited
US2939909A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-16 | 1976-07-17 | 1977-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-16 | 1980-07-17 | 1981-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-16 | 1984-07-17 | 1985-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |