High resolution mapping system

Claim 1

A mapping system comprising coherent radar means for developing doppler signals representative of position of an object to be mapped, recording means coupled to said radar means for storing said doppler signals, reading means coupled to said recording means to develop information signals, mixing means coupled to said reading means, oscillator means coupled to said mixing means for developing a frequency varying signal, said mixing means developing a difference frequency signal, filter means coupled to said mixing means to pass said difference frequency signal at a selected frequency, signal forming means coupled to said filter means for developing a signal in response to said difference frequency signal being past through said filter means, and map forming means coupled to said signal forming means for developing an indication of said object to be mapped.

Claim 7

A system operable from a craft moving past point objects for developing indications of the objects over a selected range interval from the craft comprising radar means mounted on said craft for developing doppler signals of varying frequency in response to energy intercepted from each object while being illuminated by said radar means, storage means coupled to said radar means for recording the doppler signals in range elements as the craft moves, reading means coupled to said storage means, programming means coupled to said reading means for sequentially sampling the doppler signals in each range element to develop sampled signals indicative of the frequency variation of the doppler signals, comparison means coupled to said reading means, reference means coupled to said programming means and to said comparison means for applying a reference signal of varying frequency to be compared with said sampled signals to develop difference signals at said comparison means, filter means coupled to said comparison means for comparing the frequency of said difference signals with a predetermined frequency to develop a signal indicative of the presence of objects at a fixed angle relative to the flight path of said craft, detecting means coupled to said filter means for developing a detected signal, and display means coupled to said programming means, to said reading means and to said detecting means for developing an indication of the point objects over said range intervals as said craft moves along said flight path.

Claim 8

A system operable from a craft moving past point objects for developing indications of the objects over a selected range interval from the craft comprising radar means mounted on said craft for developing doppler signals of varying frequency in response to energy intercepted from each object while being illuminated by said radar means, storage means coupled to said radar means for recording the doppler signals in range elements as the craft moves, reading means coupled to said storage means, programming means coupled to said reading means for sequentially sampling the doppler signals in each range element to develop sampled signals indicative of the frequency variation of the doppler signals, comparison means coupled to said reading means, reference means coupled to said programming means and to said comparison means for applying a reference signal of varying frequency to be compared with said sampled signals to develop difference signals at said comparison means, filter means coupled to said comparison means for comparing the frequency of said difference signals with a predetermined frequency to develop a signal indicative of the presence of objects at a fixed angle relative to the flight path of said craft, detecting means coupled to said filter means for developing a detected signal, and display means coupled to said programming means, to said reading means and to said detecting means for developing an indication of the point objects over said range intervals as said craft moves along said flight path.

Claim 15

A system for sequentially processing stored doppler information signals having a frequency variation indicative of the position of objects in a first dimension and a time of occurrence indicative of the position of objects in a second dimension, said doppler information being stored on a storage means in said first and second dimensions comprising reading means coupled to said storage means, programming means coupled to said reading means for controlling said reading means to read a portion of said stored frequency in said first dimension sequentially over a predetermined number of elements in said second dimension to sequentially develop a plurality of signals at frequencies representative of the stored frequencies of each of said elements, mixing means coupled to said reading means, oscillator means coupled to said mixing means and to said programming means for developing a repetitive reference signal of varying frequency in synchronism with the reading in said first dimension, said mixing means developing signals having a frequency equal to the frequency difference between said signals developed by said reading means and said reference signal, filter means coupled to said mixing means having a pass band centered to pass the signals developed by said mixer at a predetermined difference frequency, detecting means coupled to said filter means for developing an envelope signal from the signals passed through said filter means, and map forming means coupled to said programming means, to said reading means and to said detecting means to provide a representation of the objects in said first and second dimensions.

Claim 16

A system for sequentially processing stored doppler information signals having a frequency variation indicative of the position of objects in a first dimension and a time of occurrence indicative of the position of objects in a second dimension, said doppler information being stored on a storage means in said first and second dimensions comprising reading means coupled to said storage means, programming means coupled to said reading means for controlling said reading means to read a portion of said stored frequency in said first dimension sequentially over a predetermined number of elements in said second dimension to sequentially develop a plurality of signals at frequencies representative of the stored frequencies of each of said elements, mixing means coupled to said reading means, oscillator means coupled to said mixing means and to said programming means for developing a repetitive reference signal of varying frequency in synchronism with the reading in said first dimension, said mixing means developing signals having a frequency equal to the frequency difference between said signals developed by said reading means and said reference signal, filter means coupled to said mixing means having a pass band centered to pass the signals developed by said mixer at a predetermined difference frequency, detecting means coupled to said filter means for developing an envelope signal from the signals passed through said filter means, and map forming means coupled to said programming means, to said reading means and to said detecting means to provide a representation of the objects in said first and second dimensions.

Claim 17

A system for continually mapping an area in a selected range interval from a moving craft comprising a source of doppler signals having time and frequency characteristics indicative of the position of objects in the area, recording means coupled to said source of doppler signals for sequentially recording the doppler frequency of said doppler signals over the range interval, reading means coupled to said recording means, programming means coupled to said reading means for controlling said reading means to form continuous reading frames each sequentially reading a portion of the doppler information of the doppler signals at each of a plurality of predetermined range positions so as to sequentially form information signals from each doppler signal representative of the frequency variation thereof, a mixer coupled to said reading means, a swept oscillator coupled to said mixer and to said programming means for developing a comparison signal varying over a predetermined frequency range and in synchronism with the reading of each portion of the doppler information, said mixer developing correlation signals having frequencies equal to the difference of the recorded doppler signal and the comparison signal, a filter coupled to said mixer having a pass band centered at a predetermined frequency of said correlation signals detecting means coupled to said filter means for developing a control signal, and recording means coupled to said detecting means, to said reading means and to said programming means for responding to the time of reading said doppler information and to signals passed through said filter means to provide an indication of the position of the objects being mapped.

Claim 18

A system for continually mapping an area in a selected range interval from a moving craft comprising a source of doppler signals having time and frequency characteristics indicative of the position of objects in the area, recording means coupled to said source of doppler signals for sequentially recording the doppler frequency of said doppler signals over the range interval, reading means coupled to said recording means, programming means coupled to said reading means for controlling said reading means to form continuous reading frames each sequentially reading a portion of the doppler information of the doppler signals at each of a plurality of predetermined range positions so as to sequentially form information signals from each doppler signal representative of the frequency variation thereof, a mixer coupled to said reading means, a swept oscillator coupled to said mixer and to said programming means for developing a comparison signal varying over a predetermined frequency range and in synchronism with the reading of each portion of the doppler information, said mixer developing correlation signals having frequencies equal to the difference of the recorded doppler signal and the comparison signal, a filter coupled to said mixer having a pass band centered at a predetermined frequency of said correlation signals detecting means coupled to said filter means for developing a control signal, and recording means coupled to said detecting means, to said reading means and to said programming means for responding to the time of reading said doppler information and to signals passed through said filter means to provide an indication of the position of the objects being mapped.

Claim 21

A system operable to map a range interval from a craft moving in azimuth relative to objects being mapped comprising radar means for developing a plurality of doppler signals having frequency and time of occurrence characteristics representative of the position of the objects relative to the position of the moving craft, recording means coupled to said receiver for sequentially recording in parallel said doppler signals over the range interval so that the information from each range forms a range element, reading means coupled to said recording means for scanning the recorded information, programming means coupled to said reading means for developing a first sweep signal having a duration so said scanning means scans a portion of a range element and for developing a second sweep signal so said scanning means sequentially and continually scans a portion of each of said range elements for developing informational signals having frequencies proportional to the recorded doppler signals, mixing means coupled to said reading means, swept oscillator means coupled to said mixing means, oscillator control means coupled between said swept oscillator means and said programming means to respond to said first and second sweep signals to continually develop a reference signal having a frequency variation over a selected frequency range, said mixer developing correlation signals having a difference frequency representative of a predetermined azimuth position of said objects, filter means coupled to said mixing means for passing said correlation signals at a predetermined difference frequency, and recording means coupled to said filter means, to said programming means and to said reading means for developing indications of said objects in azimuth and range.

Claim 22

A system operable to map a range interval from a craft moving in azimuth relative to objects being mapped comprising radar means for developing a plurality of doppler signals having frequency and time of occurrence characteristics representative of the position of the objects relative to the position of the moving craft, recording means coupled to said receiver for sequentially recording in parallel said doppler signals over the range interval so that the information from each range forms a range element, reading means coupled to said recording means for scanning the recorded information, programming means coupled to said reading means for developing a first sweep signal having a duration so said scanning means scans a portion of a range element and for developing a second sweep signal so said scanning means sequentially and continually scans a portion of each of said range elements for developing informational signals having frequencies proportional to the recorded doppler signals, mixing means coupled to said reading means, swept oscillator means coupled to said mixing means, oscillator control means coupled between said swept oscillator means and said programming means to respond to said first and second sweep signals to continually develop a reference signal having a frequency variation over a selected frequency range, said mixer developing correlation signals having a difference frequency representative of a predetermined azimuth position of said objects, filter means coupled to said mixing means for passing said correlation signals at a predetermined difference frequency, and recording means coupled to said filter means, to said programming means and to said reading means for developing indications of said objects in azimuth and range.

Claim 23

A system for providing focused mapping of objects in a range interval opposite a moving craft comprising pulsed coherent radar means having an antenna mounted on the side of said craft for illuminating said object being mapped and for obtaining doppler history signals of said objects being illuminated, said doppler history signals varying in frequency and having a zero frequency when said object is opposite said craft, offset oscillator means coupled to said radar means for shifting the frequency of said doppler history signals so that said zero frequency is at a selected frequency, an intermediate storage film moving with a predetermined velocity, a first scanning tube coupled to said offset oscillator means for applying an electron beam to the screen thereof for providing light spots thereon, control means coupled to said first scanning tube and to said radar means for sweeping said electron beam in synchronism with the range represented by said doppler history signals, said first tube being biased to respond to the amplitudes of said doppler history signals to said doppler history signals as sinusoidal variations of intensity on said storage film in parallel range elements, a second scanning tube mounted adjacent to said storage film to apply an electron beam to the screen thereof for providing light spots which are imaged on said storage film, a programmer coupled to said second scanning tube for developing a first sweep signal so said light spots sweep a portion of the recorded doppler history of a range element and for developing a second sweep signal so that said second scanning tube sequentially sweeps through said portions of each of said plurality of range elements in continuous scanning frames, photo sensing means mounted adjacent to said intermediate storage film for developing signals during each frame having frequencies proportional to said scanned portion of said doppler history signals, a mixer coupled to said photo sensing means, a swept oscillator coupled to said mixer, a variable gain amplifier coupled to said swept oscillator and to said programmer to control said swept oscillator to develop repetitive reference signals of varying frequency during each interval of time equal to said first sweep signal, said reference signals changing in rate of frequency variation as said second scanning tube scans different range elements, said mixer developing correlation signals having frequencies equal to the difference between the signals developed by said photo sensing means and said reference signals, filter means coupled to said mixer and having a selected frequency band to pass said correlation signals at a predetermined frequency as integrated signals, directing means coupled to said filter means for developing an envelope signal in response to said integrated signals, a third scanning tube coupled to said detecting means and to said programmer to apply an electron beam to the screen thereof and develop light spots thereon in response to said second voltage sweep, said light spots having an intensity controlled by said integrated signal, and a map film mounted adjacent to said third tube and coupled to said intermediate film to move at a proportional velocity thereto, said map film responding to the light spots of said third tube to provide focused indications of said objects being mapped.

Claim 24

A system for providing focused mapping of objects in a range interval opposite a moving craft comprising pulsed coherent radar means having an antenna mounted on the side of said craft for illuminating said object being mapped and for obtaining doppler history signals of said objects being illuminated, said doppler history signals varying in frequency and having a zero frequency when said object is opposite said craft, offset oscillator means coupled to said radar means for shifting the frequency of said doppler history signals so that said zero frequency is at a selected frequency, an intermediate storage film moving with a predetermined velocity, a first scanning tube coupled to said offset oscillator means for applying an electron beam to the screen thereof for providing light spots thereon, control means coupled to said first scanning tube and to said radar means for sweeping said electron beam in synchronism with the range represented by said doppler history signals, said first tube being biased to respond to the amplitudes of said doppler history signals to said doppler history signals as sinusoidal variations of intensity on said storage film in parallel range elements, a second scanning tube mounted adjacent to said storage film to apply an electron beam to the screen thereof for providing light spots which are imaged on said storage film, a programmer coupled to said second scanning tube for developing a first sweep signal so said light spots sweep a portion of the recorded doppler history of a range element and for developing a second sweep signal so that said second scanning tube sequentially sweeps through said portions of each of said plurality of range elements in continuous scanning frames, photo sensing means mounted adjacent to said intermediate storage film for developing signals during each frame having frequencies proportional to said scanned portion of said doppler history signals, a mixer coupled to said photo sensing means, a swept oscillator coupled to said mixer, a variable gain amplifier coupled to said swept oscillator and to said programmer to control said swept oscillator to develop repetitive reference signals of varying frequency during each interval of time equal to said first sweep signal, said reference signals changing in rate of frequency variation as said second scanning tube scans different range elements, said mixer developing correlation signals having frequencies equal to the difference between the signals developed by said photo sensing means and said reference signals, filter means coupled to said mixer and having a selected frequency band to pass said correlation signals at a predetermined frequency as integrated signals, directing means coupled to said filter means for developing an envelope signal in response to said integrated signals, a third scanning tube coupled to said detecting means and to said programmer to apply an electron beam to the screen thereof and develop light spots thereon in response to said second voltage sweep, said light spots having an intensity controlled by said integrated signal, and a map film mounted adjacent to said third tube and coupled to said intermediate film to move at a proportional velocity thereto, said map film responding to the light spots of said third tube to provide focused indications of said objects being mapped.

Claim 25

A system for mapping objects in a range interval opposite a moving craft comprising pulsed coherent radar means having an antenna mounted on the side of said craft for illuminating said objects being mapped and for obtaining doppler history signals of said objects being illuminated, said doppler history signals varying in frequency and having a zero frequency when said objects is opposite said craft, offset oscillator means coupled to said radar means for shifting the frequency of said doppler history signals so that said zero frequency is shifted to a selected frequency, an intermediate storage film moving with a predetermined velocity, a first scanning tube coupled to said offset oscillator means for developing an electron beam to provide light spots on the screen thereof, control means coupled to said first scanning means and to said radar means for sweeping said electron beam in synchronism with the range represented by said doppler history signals, said first tube being biased to respond to the amplitudes of said doppler history signals to record doppler history signals as sinusoidal variations of intensity on said storage film in parallel range elements, a second scanning tube mounted adjacent to said storage film to apply an electron beam thereto to provide light spots on the screen thereof, a programmer coupled to said second scanning tube for developing a first sweep signal so said light spots provided by said electron beam sweep a portion of the recorded doppler history of said range elements and for developing a second sweep signal so that said second scanning tube sequentially sweeps through portions of each of said plurality of range elements in continuous frames, photo sensing means mounted adjacent to said intermediate storage film for developing frequency varying signals during each frame having frequencies proportional to the frequencies of said scanned portion of said doppler history signals, a mixer coupled to said photo sensing means, a swept oscillator coupled to said mixer and to said programmer for developing reference signals during intervals of time equal to said first sweep signals and varying in frequency over a range, said mixer developing correlation signals having frequencies equal to the frequency difference between the signals developed by said photo sensing means and said reference signals, filter means coupled to said mixer and having a selected frequency band to pass said correlation signals at a predetermined frequency as integrated signals, detEcting means coupled to said filter means for developing an envelope signal in response to said integrated signals developed by said filter means, a third scanning tube coupled to said detecting means and to said programmer for sweeping an electron beam in response to said second sweep signal to develop light spots on the screen thereof, said beam and said light spots having an intensity controlled by said envelope signal, and a map film mounted adjacent to said third tube and coupled to said intermediate film to move at a velocity proportional thereto, said map film responding to the light spots of said third tube to provide indications of said objects being mapped.

Claim 26

A system for mapping objects in a range interval opposite a moving craft comprising pulsed coherent radar means having an antenna mounted on the side of said craft for illuminating said objects being mapped and for obtaining doppler history signals of said objects being illuminated, said doppler history signals varying in frequency and having a zero frequency when said objects is opposite said craft, offset oscillator means coupled to said radar means for shifting the frequency of said doppler history signals so that said zero frequency is shifted to a selected frequency, an intermediate storage film moving with a predetermined velocity, a first scanning tube coupled to said offset oscillator means for developing an electron beam to provide light spots on the screen thereof, control means coupled to said first scanning means and to said radar means for sweeping said electron beam in synchronism with the range represented by said doppler history signals, said first tube being biased to respond to the amplitudes of said doppler history signals to record doppler history signals as sinusoidal variations of intensity on said storage film in parallel range elements, a second scanning tube mounted adjacent to said storage film to apply an electron beam thereto to provide light spots on the screen thereof, a programmer coupled to said second scanning tube for developing a first sweep signal so said light spots provided by said electron beam sweep a portion of the recorded doppler history of said range elements and for developing a second sweep signal so that said second scanning tube sequentially sweeps through portions of each of said plurality of range elements in continuous frames, photo sensing means mounted adjacent to said intermediate storage film for developing frequency varying signals during each frame having frequencies proportional to the frequencies of said scanned portion of said doppler history signals, a mixer coupled to said photo sensing means, a swept oscillator coupled to said mixer and to said programmer for developing reference signals during intervals of time equal to said first sweep signals and varying in frequency over a range, said mixer developing correlation signals having frequencies equal to the frequency difference between the signals developed by said photo sensing means and said reference signals, filter means coupled to said mixer and having a selected frequency band to pass said correlation signals at a predetermined frequency as integrated signals, detEcting means coupled to said filter means for developing an envelope signal in response to said integrated signals developed by said filter means, a third scanning tube coupled to said detecting means and to said programmer for sweeping an electron beam in response to said second sweep signal to develop light spots on the screen thereof, said beam and said light spots having an intensity controlled by said envelope signal, and a map film mounted adjacent to said third tube and coupled to said intermediate film to move at a velocity proportional thereto, said map film responding to the light spots of said third tube to provide indications of said objects being mapped.

Claim 31

A system for providing focused mapping of objects in a fixed range interval opposite a moving craft in response to doppler history signals recorded on an intermediate storage film and having frequency and time of occurrence characteristics representative of position of a plurality of objects, said doppler history signals being recorded as intensity variations in a plurality of range elements comprising a first scanning tube mounted adjacent to said storage film to apply an electron beam to the screen thereof for developing light spots which are imaged to said storage film, a programmer coupled to said first scanning tube for developing a first sweep signal so said light spots resulting from said electron beam sweep a portion of the recorded doppler history at each of the plurality of range elements and for developing a second sweep signal so that said first scanning tube sequentially sweeps through said plurality of range elements in repetitive frames, photo sensing means mounted adjacent to said intermediate storage film for developing informational signals during each frame having frequencies proportional to said scanned portions of said doppler history signals, a mixer coupled to said photo sensing means, a swept oscillator coupled to said mixer, oscillator control means coupled between said programmer and said swept oscillator for responding to said first and second sweep signals to control said swept oscillator to develop reference signals during times equal to said first sweep signals and varying over a predetermined frequency range at a rate of frequency change indicative to the rate of frequency change of said informational signals at each range interval, said mixer developing correlation signals having a frequency equal to the frequency difference between said informational signals and said reference signals, filter means coupled to said mixer and having a selected frequency band to pass said correlation signals at a fixed frequency, detecting means coupled to said filter means for developing an envelope signal in response to signals passed through said filter means, a second scanning tube coupled to said detecting means and to said programmer for sweeping an electron beam across the screen thereof to develop light spots thereon in response to said second sweep signal having an intensity controlled by said envelope signal, and a map film mounted adjacent to said second tube and coupled to said intermediate film to move at a proportional velocity thereto, said map film responding to said light spots of said second tube to provide indications of said objects being mapped.

Claim 32

A system for providing focused mapping of objects in a fixed range interval opposite a moving craft in response to doppler history signals recorded on an intermediate storage film and having frequency and time of occurrence characteristics representative of position of a plurality of objects, said doppler history signals being recorded as intensity variations in a plurality of range elements comprising a first scanning tube mounted adjacent to said storage film to apply an electron beam to the screen thereof for developing light spots which are imaged to said storage film, a programmer coupled to said first scanning tube for developing a first sweep signal so said light spots resulting from said electron beam sweep a portion of the recorded doppler history at each of the plurality of range elements and for developing a second sweep signal so that said first scanning tube sequentially sweeps through said plurality of range elements in repetitive frames, photo sensing means mounted adjacent to said intermediate storage film for developing informational signals during each frame having frequencies proportional to said scanned portions of said doppler history signals, a mixer coupled to said photo sensing means, a swept oscillator coupled to said mixer, oscillator control means coupled between said programmer and said swept oscillator for responding to said first and second sweep signals to control said swept oscillator to develop reference signals during times equal to said first sweep signals and varying over a predetermined frequency range at a rate of frequency change indicative to the rate of frequency change of said informational signals at each range interval, said mixer developing correlation signals having a frequency equal to the frequency difference between said informational signals and said reference signals, filter means coupled to said mixer and having a selected frequency band to pass said correlation signals at a fixed frequency, detecting means coupled to said filter means for developing an envelope signal in response to signals passed through said filter means, a second scanning tube coupled to said detecting means and to said programmer for sweeping an electron beam across the screen thereof to develop light spots thereon in response to said second sweep signal having an intensity controlled by said envelope signal, and a map film mounted adjacent to said second tube and coupled to said intermediate film to move at a proportional velocity thereto, said map film responding to said light spots of said second tube to provide indications of said objects being mapped.