US3728478A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electro-optical tracker
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1968-05-08
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Granted: 1973-04-17
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Expires: 1988-05-08
Abstract
Abstract A target adaptive television contrast tracker for missile application wherein the adaptive feature comprises a linearly weighed tracking gate, which keeps account of positive target edge information, and means for determining the width of the target to keep account of negative target edge information. The tracking gate is arranged to coincide with the positive target edge information, and the mean raster position between the positive and negative target information coincides with the center of the target.
Inventors
- 👤 D Turner
- 👤 D Quist
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01S3/7864
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
A television contrast system for tracking targets within the field of view of a television camera for homing missile application comprising: television camera means for producing a visual display of a field of view about its optical axis; means responsive to said visual display for generating and inserting a first tracking area or gate into said visual display, and means for positioning the first tracking area or gate about a first horizontal edge of a target within the field of view of said television camera comprising: a first horizontal variable width multivibrator having triggering means responsive to a first voltage spike and width determining means responsive to a constant voltage, a horizontal monostable multivibrator having triggering means responsive to said first horizontal variable width multivibrator, and a ''''window'''' or AND gate having enabling means responsive to said horizontal monostable multivibrator for defining a horizontal tracking area; means for determining the width of the target with respect to said first tracking area or gate; and means responsive to movement of said target within the tracking area or gate for maintaining the first horizontal edge of the target within said first tracking area or gate, and means responsive to said width of the target so that the optical axis of said television camera is always aligned with the centeroid of said target.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
A television contrast system for tracking targets within the field of view of a television camera for homing missile application comprising: television camera means for producing a visual display of a field of view about its optical axis; means responsive to said visual display for generating and inserting a first tracking area or gate into said visual display, and means for positioning the first tracking area or gate about a first horizontal edge of a target within the field of view of said television camera comprising: a first horizontal variable width multivibrator having triggering means responsive to a first voltage spike and width determining means responsive to a constant voltage, a horizontal monostable multivibrator having triggering means responsive to said first horizontal variable width multivibrator, and a ''''window'''' or AND gate having enabling means responsive to said horizontal monostable multivibrator for defining a horizontal tracking area; means for determining the width of the target with respect to said first tracking area or gate; and means responsive to movement of said target within the tracking area or gate for maintaining the first horizontal edge of the target within said first tracking area or gate, and means responsive to said width of the target so that the optical axis of said television camera is always aligned with the centeroid of said target.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the means for determing the width of the target with respect to said first tracking area or gate comprises: a flip-flop responsive to an ''''early'''' gate which ''''early'''' gate is responsive to said left horizontal variable width multivibrator and said ''''early'''' gate is also responsive to a vertical multivibrator; and said flip-flop is reset by a ''''late'''' gate responsive to a signal corresponding to the trailing edge of said target.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
153 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the means for generating said error signal for aligning the optical axis of said television camera with the centroid of the target comprises: a horizontal discriminator which produces a horizontal error signal proportional to the position of said first edge of the target within said first tracking area or gate; means for integrating the output of said horizontal discriminator; a second integrator for integrating the output of said flip-flop; means for detecting the peak output of said second horizontal integrator and holding the peak for one frame; means for resetting the second horizontal integrator and peak detector each frame; means for filtering the output of said peak detector to produce a dc signal; and means for summing the output of said first horizontal integrator and said filter to produce an error signal for aligning the optical axis of said television camera with the centroid of the target.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 3 and further including means for generating cross hairs which define the tracking area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
108 words
The system of claim 4 wherein the means for generating said cross hairs comprise: a first differentiator which operates on the signal produced by the first horizontal monostable multivibrator; means for combining the output of said first differentiator with the output of said television camera; a right horizontal cross hair variable width multivibrator which operates on the signals produced by the left horizontal variable width multivibrator and the signal produced by said filter; a second differentiator which operates on the signal produced by the right horizontal cross hair variable width mulTivibrator; and means for combining the output of said second differentiator with the output of said television camera.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-16 | 1976-10-16 | 1977-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-16 | 1980-10-16 | 1981-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-16 | 1984-10-16 | 1985-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |