Electronic distance measuring method and apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for measuring the distance between two predetermined locations comprising: means for transmitting wave energy from one of the predetermined locations toward the other of the predetermined locations, means at said one of the predetermined locations for detecting the phase of the wave energy reflected from said other of the predetermined locations, means for selectively modifying the frequency-phase relationship between said transmitted and detected wave energy to obtain an integral number of one-half wavelengths of the transmitted and reflected wave energy between said two predetermined locations, means for establishing a time interval related to the propagation time of the wave energy and the distance between the two locations, means for utilizing the time interval thus established for determining a count of the exact integral number of such onehalf wavelengths of the transmitted and reflected wave energy between the two predetermined locations, and means for indicating such count, thus to represent the distance between the two predetermined locations responsively to the time interval established.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively modifying the frequency-phase relationship between said transmitted and detected wave energy includes means for varying the frequency of the transmitted wave energy.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for indicating the count includes: means for generating an electrical reference signal having a predetermined frequency, and, means for counting the number of cycles of said reference signal during the established time interval.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said transmitting means includes: means for generating a continuous wave carrier beam of wave energy; and, modulator means for amplitude modulating said continuous wave carrier beam of wave energy responsively to an applied modulating signal.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for detecting the wave energy comprises detector means for detecting the amplitude modulation of said continuous wave carrier beam.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said time interval establishing means includes: means for marking the transmitted wave energy; means for detecting the marking of the transmitted wave energy; and, means for establishing a time interval related to the detection of the marking of the transmitted wave energy and the detection of the mark in the reflected wave energy by said phase detecting means.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for modifying the phase relationship between said transmitted and detected wave energy includes: means for comparing the phase of the applied modulating signal with the phase of said detected amplitude modulation; and, means for modifying the frequency of the applied modulating signal responsively to the operation of said comparing means.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said time interval establishing means includes: means for marking the transmitted wave energy; means for detecting the marking of the transmitted wave energy; and, means for establishing a time interval related to the detection of the marking of the transmitted wave energy and the detection of the mark in the reflected wave energy by said phase detecting means.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for selectively modifying the phase relationship between said transmitted and detected wave energy includes means for varying the frequency of the transmitted wave energy.

Claim 11

Apparatus for measuring the distance between two predetermined locations comprising: means for transmitting wave energy from one of the predetermined locations toward the other of the predetermined locations; means at said one of the predetermined locations for detecting The wave energy reflected from said other of the predetermined locations; means for generating a first electrical signal related to the phase difference between the transmitted wave energy and the reflected wave energy; means for varying the frequency of the transmitted wave energy to thereby modify the phase relationship between the transmitted wave energy and the reflected wave energy to obtain an integral number of one-half wavelengths between said two locations; means for determining the number of one-half wavelengths of the wave energy between said two locations; and means for indicating the distance between said two predetermined locations responsively to the frequency of the transmitted wave energy and the number of one-half wavelengths counted.

Claim 12

Apparatus for measuring the distance between two predetermined locations comprising: means for transmitting wave energy from one of the predetermined locations toward the other of the predetermined locations; means at said one of the predetermined locations for detecting The wave energy reflected from said other of the predetermined locations; means for generating a first electrical signal related to the phase difference between the transmitted wave energy and the reflected wave energy; means for varying the frequency of the transmitted wave energy to thereby modify the phase relationship between the transmitted wave energy and the reflected wave energy to obtain an integral number of one-half wavelengths between said two locations; means for determining the number of one-half wavelengths of the wave energy between said two locations; and means for indicating the distance between said two predetermined locations responsively to the frequency of the transmitted wave energy and the number of one-half wavelengths counted.

Claim 15

The method of claim 11 wherein the time interval is established by: interrupting the transmission of wave energy; detecting the interruption of the transmitted wave energy in reflected wave energy; establishing a digital count related to the frequency of the transmitted wave energy and the interval between the interrupted transmitted wave energy and the detection thereof in the reflected wave energy; and, generating a gating signal related in duration to the frequency of the transmitted wave energy and the digital count.

Claim 16

The method of claim 12 including the steps of: generating a reference signal having a predetermined fixed frequency; counting the number of cycles of the reference signal for the duration of the gating signal; and, displaying the number of cycles counted.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13 wherein the step of varying the frequency of the transmitted wave energy includes the steps of: comparing the phase of the transmitted wave energy with the phase of the detected wave energy; and, varying the frequency of the transmitted wave energy responsively to the phase comparison.

Claim 18

The method of claim 11 wherein the step of varying the frequency of the transmitted wave energy includes the steps of: comparing the phase of the transmitted wave energy with the phase of the detected wave energy; and, varying the frequency of the transmitted wave energy responsively to the phase comparison.

Claim 21

Apparatus for measuring the distance between two geographically separated locations comprising: means for transmitting wave energy from a first of the locations toward a second of the locations, means for detecting the wave energy reflected back from the second location to the first location, means at the first location for determining the phase of such wave energy reflected back from the second location relative to the phase of the transmitted wave energy, means for selectively modifying the frequency-phase relationship between the transmitted and the reflected wave energy to obtain an integral number of one-half wavelengths of the transmitted and reflected wave energy between the two locations, means for determining the frequency of the transmitted wave energy, means for establishing a time interval related to the propagation time of the wave energy between the two locations, and means for utilizing the time interval and the frequency of the transmitted wave energy thus established, for determining the number of half wavelengths between the two locations, such number of half wavelengths being directly proportional to the distance between the two locations.

Claim 22

Apparatus for measuring the distance between two geographically separated locations comprising: means for transmitting wave energy from a first of the locations toward a second of the locations, means for detecting the wave energy reflected back from the second location to the first location, means at the first location for determining the phase of such wave energy reflected back from the second location relative to the phase of the transmitted wave energy, means for selectively modifying the frequency-phase relationship between the transmitted and the reflected wave energy to obtain an integral number of one-half wavelengths of the transmitted and reflected wave energy between the two locations, means for determining the frequency of the transmitted wave energy, means for establishing a time interval related to the propagation time of the wave energy between the two locations, and means for utilizing the time interval and the frequency of the transmitted wave energy thus established, for determining the number of half wavelengths between the two locations, such number of half wavelengths being directly proportional to the distance between the two locations.

Claim 23

The apparatus as defined in claim 17 in which said means for establishing a time interval involves means for interrupting the transmitted wave energy, and thereafter determining the time delay of the manifestation of such interruption in the reflected wave energy.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein means for indicating a distance readout is utilized, said means including: means for generating an electrical reference signal having a predetermined frequency, and, means for counting the number of cycles of said reference signal during the established time interval.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said transmitting means includes: means for generating a continuous wave carrier beam of wave energy, and, modulator means for amplitude modulating said continuous wave carrier beam of wave energy responsively to an applied modulating signal.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said means for detecting the wave energy comprises detector means for detecting the amplitude modulation of said continuous wave carrier beam.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said time interval establishing means includes: means for marking the transmitted wave energy, means for detecting the marking of the transmitted wave energy, and, means for establishing a time interval related to the detection of the marking of the transmitted wave energy and the detection of the mark in the reflected wave energy by said phase detecting means.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said means for modifying the frequency-phase relationship between said transmitted and reflected wave energy includes: means for comparing the phase of the applied modulating signal with the phase of said detected amplitude modulation, and, means for modifying the frequency of the applied modulating signal responsively to the operation of said comparing means.

Claim 29

Apparatus for measuring the distance between two geographically separated locations comprising: means for transmitting wave energy from one of the locations towards the other of the locations, means at the one location for detecting relative to the transmitted wave energy, the phase of the wave energy reflected back from the other location, means for selectively modifying the frequency-phase relatiomship between the transmitted and the reflected wave energy to obtain an integral number of one-half wavelengths of the transmitted and reflected wave energy between the two locations, means for establishing a time interval related to the propagation time of the wave energy between the two locations, means utilizing the time interval thus established for determining the number of half wavelengths between the two locations, where such number of half wavelengths is directly pRoportional to the distance between the two locations, means for establishing a second time interval proportional to the distance between locations, latter means including means for dividing and counting the transmitted frequency until a count equal to the number of half wavelengths is obtained, means for applying the second time interval to a stable oscillator and for counting the number of stable oscillator cycles in such time interval, and means for displaying such count of stable oscillator cycles, to serve as an accurate readout of distance.

Claim 30

Apparatus for measuring the distance between two geographically separated locations comprising: means for transmitting wave energy from one of the locations towards the other of the locations, means at the one location for detecting relative to the transmitted wave energy, the phase of the wave energy reflected back from the other location, means for selectively modifying the frequency-phase relatiomship between the transmitted and the reflected wave energy to obtain an integral number of one-half wavelengths of the transmitted and reflected wave energy between the two locations, means for establishing a time interval related to the propagation time of the wave energy between the two locations, means utilizing the time interval thus established for determining the number of half wavelengths between the two locations, where such number of half wavelengths is directly pRoportional to the distance between the two locations, means for establishing a second time interval proportional to the distance between locations, latter means including means for dividing and counting the transmitted frequency until a count equal to the number of half wavelengths is obtained, means for applying the second time interval to a stable oscillator and for counting the number of stable oscillator cycles in such time interval, and means for displaying such count of stable oscillator cycles, to serve as an accurate readout of distance.

Claim 31

Apparatus for measuring the distance between two geographically spaced locations comprising: means for transmitting wave energy from one of the locations toward the other of the locations, means at the one location for detecting the phase of the wave energy reflected from the other location, means for selectively modifying the frequency-phase relationship between the transmitted and detected wave energy to obtain an integral number of half wavelengths of the transmitted and reflected wave energy between the two locations, means for counting the integral number of half wavelengths, involving a selective interruption of the transmitted signal, means for establishing a time gate whose duration is proportional to distance by comparing a count of the transmitted frequency after division by a predetermined integral number, with the count of the number of half wavelengths, means for applying the time gate to a stable oscillator having a predetermined frequency, thus to obtain a count representative of the distance between the two aforementioned locations, and means for directly displaying the distance count in the desired dimensions.

Claim 32

Apparatus for measuring the distance between two geographically spaced locations comprising: means for transmitting wave energy from one of the locations toward the other of the locations, means at the one location for detecting the phase of the wave energy reflected from the other location, means for selectively modifying the frequency-phase relationship between the transmitted and detected wave energy to obtain an integral number of half wavelengths of the transmitted and reflected wave energy between the two locations, means for counting the integral number of half wavelengths, involving a selective interruption of the transmitted signal, means for establishing a time gate whose duration is proportional to distance by comparing a count of the transmitted frequency after division by a predetermined integral number, with the count of the number of half wavelengths, means for applying the time gate to a stable oscillator having a predetermined frequency, thus to obtain a count representative of the distance between the two aforementioned locations, and means for directly displaying the distance count in the desired dimensions.