Position indicating system and method therefor

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 including the step of shaping each said radiation patterns to selectively configure the spatial zone.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 comprising the further steps of: a. generating third and fourth three dimensional patterns of radiation having a wavelength less than that of infrared energy, said patterns of radiation being directed to overlap and being formed to have decreasing intensities emanating into the overlapping areas, thereby defining a second spatial zone of substantially equal radiation from each pattern, said third and fourth patterns of radiation being directed to orientate the second spatial zone to intersect the first spatial zone, whereby a line in space is directed along the intersection of the intersecting spatial zones; and b. modulating the intensity of each of the third and fourth patterns of radiation at a characteristic modulated frequency, whereby a radiation detector associated with the object capable of sensing and comparing the relative intensity of each modulated radiation pattern indicates the position of the object relative to the spatial line.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 including the step of directing each said radiation pattern so that the spatial zones intersect one another to form a corridor having a quadrilateral cross-section.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3 including shaping each said pattern of radiation to form said spatial zones into zones which are substantially two dimensional planes.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5 including directing said patterns of radiation so as to orientate said spatial planes substantially at right angles to one another.

Claim 8

The method of claim 3 including shaping the spatial zone formed by said first and second radiation patterns to form substantially a two dimensional plane and shaping the spatial zone formed by said third and fourth radiation patterns to form substantially an inverted cone.

Claim 9

The method of claim 3 wherein the source of radiation is elongated and including the step of interrupting the radiation at a predetermined frequency.

Claim 12

The method of claim 9 including the step of comparing the relative amplitudes of the signals thereby indicating the position of the object relative to the spatial zone.

Claim 13

The method of claim 9 including the steps of: a. generating third and fourth three dimensional patterns of radiation having a wavelength less than that of infrared energy, said patterns of radiation being directed to overlap and being formed to have decreasing intensities emanating into the overlapping areas, thereby defining a second spatial zone of substantially equal radiation intensity, said third and fourth patterns of radiation being directed to orientate the second spatial zone to intersect the first spatial zone, whereby a line in space is described along the intersection of the intersecting spatial zones; b. modulating the intensity of each of the third and fourth patterns of radiation at a characteristic modulated frequency, whereby the signals representative of the relative magnitude of each detected radiation pattern may be compared to thereby indicate the position of the object with respect to a reference line in space.

Claim 14

The method of claim 11 including the step of comparing the relative intensities of the signals thereby indicating the position of the object with respect to the spatial line.

Claim 15

The method of claim 12 including shaping each of said radiation patterns to form said spatial zones which are substantially two dimensional planes.

Claim 16

The method of claim 11 including the step of shaping each said radiation patterns to selectively configure the spatial zone.

Claim 17

The method of claim 14 wherein the object carrying the radiation detector is an aircraft which may be guided to the end of a runway by flying along the detected spatial reference line.

Claim 18

The method of claim 11 including shaping the spatial zone formed by said first and second radiation patterns into substantially a two dimensional plane and shaping wherein the spatial zone formed by said third and fourth radiation patterns into substantially an inverted cone.

Claim 19

The method of claim 16 wherein the object carrying the radiation detector is an aircraft which may be guided to the end of a runway by flying along the detected spatial reference line.

Claim 20

The method of claim 11 wherein the radiation patterns consist of gamma radiation.

Claim 21

A receiver for determining the position of an object with respect to a zone of radiation of the type formed by overlapping first and second three dimensional patterns of radiation having a wavelength less than that of infrared energy each having decreasing intensities emanating transversely into the overlapping area and each radiation pattern being modulated at a characteristic frequency, the radiation zone being a plane of substantially equal radiation from each pattern, comprising: a. radiation detector means associated with the object for sensing the modulated radiation and for providing an electrical output signal representative thereof; and b. a pair of frequency detector circuit means each having the input thereof coupled to the output of said radiation detector means each for providing an output signal representative of the modulated radiation intensity associated with said modulated radiation patterns whereby the relative amplitudes of the signals may be compared to indicate the proximity of said radiation detector to the radiation zones.

Claim 22

A receiver for determining the position of an object with respect to a zone of radiation of the type formed by overlapping first and second three dimensional patterns of radiation having a wavelength less than that of infrared energy each having decreasing intensities emanating transversely into the overlapping area and each radiation pattern being modulated at a characteristic frequency, the radiation zone being a plane of substantially equal radiation from each pattern, comprising: a. radiation detector means associated with the object for sensing the modulated radiation and for providing an electrical output signal representative thereof; and b. a pair of frequency detector circuit means each having the input thereof coupled to the output of said radiation detector means each for providing an output signal representative of the modulated radiation intensity associated with said modulated radiation patterns whereby the relative amplitudes of the signals may be compared to indicate the proximity of said radiation detector to the radiation zones.

Claim 23

The receiver of claim 19 further comprising: an amplitude discriminator circuit coupled between said radiation detector means and said frequency detector circuit means for substantially rejecting the detection of undesired background radiation.

Claim 24

The receiver of claim 20 further comprising: a filter circuit means coupled between said amplitude discriminator circuit means and said pair of frequency detector circuit means for eliminating those signals which do not have a frequency corresponding to one of the characteristic modulated frequencies of the radiation patterns.

Claim 25

The receiver of claim 21 further comprising: a comparator circuit coupled to the output of each said frequency detector means for comparing the relative amplitudes of the frequency detector output signals and for communicAting the comparison to an operator whereby the comparison indicates the relative position of the object with respect to the zone of radiation.

Claim 26

The receiver of claim 22 further comprising: a. pulsing means coupled to each said frequency detector circuits for periodically exciting said frequency detector circuits at their tuned frequency; and b. a reference signal receiver coupled to said pulsing means for impressing a reference signal thereon whereby a remote transmitter may be provided for furnishing the reference signal to said reference signal receiver.

Claim 27

The receiver of claim 22 wherein said comparator circuit means includes: an operational amplifier coupled to the output of each of said pair of frequency detector circuit means for summing the signals therefrom; and an indicator coupled to the output of said amplifier and including means for displaying a representation of the summed signals.

Claim 28

The receiver of claim 19 further comprising: a second pair of frequency detector circuit means each having the input thereof coupled to the output of said radiation detector means each for providing an output signal representative of the radiation intensity associated with a radiation pattern having a known characteristic modulated frequency whereby the output signals of said second pair of frequency detector circuit means may be compared to indicate the position of said radiation detector means with respect to a second zone of radiation.