US3733434A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Time discriminator circuit for edge tracking target contours
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Tactical Systems Inc
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Filing: 1970-06-01
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Granted: 1973-05-15
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Expires: 1990-06-01
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a circuit utilizing a television signal to track the edges of an object, (hereinafter called the target) to provide position and guidance information. The object may be standing still or moving and the television camera with tracking circuitry may be standing still or moving. The unique feature is in the ability to track a contour to one or both sides of the target so as to enable tracking to cover irregular targets with better resolution, and without tracking loss. The absolute position of the target edge is tracked and is updated on each line of TV video that crosses the target edge.
Inventors
- 👤 M Weinstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01S3/7864
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A target edge tracking system which comprises means to generate a television video target signal representing at least one edge of the target for each raster, means to generate a variable repeditive target voltage waveform in synchronism with the video target signal, sample and hold discriminator means to receive the waveforms in synchronism, and the video target signal and detect the level of the waveform at the time of the video target signal, and produce a position voltage signal, means to compare the position voltage signal and the same repeditive target voltage waveform which was used to yield the position voltage to provide a tracking gate which follows the target edge position, means to update the output of the discriminator means for each raster producing a new video target signal which provides an instantaneous change of tracking gate position to follow the contour of target edge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A target edge tracking system which comprises means to generate a television video target signal representing at least one edge of the target for each raster, means to generate a variable repeditive target voltage waveform in synchronism with the video target signal, sample and hold discriminator means to receive the waveforms in synchronism, and the video target signal and detect the level of the waveform at the time of the video target signal, and produce a position voltage signal, means to compare the position voltage signal and the same repeditive target voltage waveform which was used to yield the position voltage to provide a tracking gate which follows the target edge position, means to update the output of the discriminator means for each raster producing a new video target signal which provides an instantaneous change of tracking gate position to follow the contour of target edge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 1 which includes a duplicate system of the same elements to separately gate the other edge of the target.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
A system according to claim 1 where the discriminator means includes a left edge time discriminator to generate a left edge discriminator level, and a right edge time discriminator to generate a right edge discriminator level, which system includes means to generate a yaw error signal by determining the average voltage between the left edge discriminator level and right edge discriminator level, and means to scale the signal and produce a yaw error correction signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
124 words
A circuit according to claim 1 which includes a video amplifier and differentiator to provide voltage pulse levels indicative of left and right edges of the target, where the means to generate a target position variable repeditive voltage generates a waveform in the form of a sawtooth, a display generator to produce a composite video signal, means to gate the voltage pulses in accordance with the time discriminated comparison of the sawtooth waveform and the video pulse to drive the display generator and produce a gated composite video signal, And a means to average the left edge discriminator level with the right edge discriminator level to provide a yaw error signal based upon the position of both left and right edges of the target.
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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) | 1976-05-14 | 1976-11-13 | 1977-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-14 | 1980-11-13 | 1981-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-14 | 1984-11-13 | 1985-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |