US3737233A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vector velocimeter
Assignee: Singer Co
•
Filing: 1971-02-22
•
Granted: 1973-06-05
•
Expires: 1991-02-22
Abstract
Abstract A velocimeter having: a source of coherent radiation directed to irradiate a surface from which the relative velocity is to be measured; a receiver for the resulting reflection of coherent radiation from said surface, the receiver including a receiving aperture and a photodetector responsive to the reflected radiation passing through the aperture; a drive to translate the aperture, and; circuitry to indicate the frequencies of the signals generated by the photodetector when the aperture is stationary in relation to the photodetector and when the aperture is translated in relation to said photodetector. The velocimeter determines the magnitude and the direction of the velocity vector it measures. A navigation velocimeter, using the described velocimeter, is disclosed for use in an aircraft to determine the direction and magnitude of the velocity vector of the aircraft with respect to the ground. The aperature hereinabove mentioned is preferably a plurality of slits, alternately transparent and opaque, such as in a transmission type optical diffraction grating.
Inventors
- 👤 D Blau
- 👤 J Kaufman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:58
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P13/00; G01P13/02; G01P13/04; G01P13/045; G01P3/00; G01P3/36; G01P3/366; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/02; G01S17/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
In velocimeter comprising a source of coherent radiation directed to illuminate a surface which may move relative to the velocimeter, radiation receiving means to receive thE resulting reflection of coherent radiation from said surface including at least one receiving aperture slit oriented perpendicular to the direction in which relative motion is to be measured, and detecting means responsive to the intensity of the received radiation passing through said aperture to develop a first signal having a frequency proportional to the magnitude of the relative velocity between said velocimeter and said surface in a direction perpendicular to said slit, apparatus to provide an indication of the direction of said relative velocity comprising: a. means to develop a second signal which will have a frequency greater than that of said first signal when relative motion is in one direction and a frequency less than said first signal when relative motion is in the opposite direction; and b. means having as inputs said first and second signals to difference said first and second signals whereby an output of one polarity will represent relative motion in one direction and of the opposite polarity for relative motion in the opposite direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
In velocimeter comprising a source of coherent radiation directed to illuminate a surface which may move relative to the velocimeter, radiation receiving means to receive thE resulting reflection of coherent radiation from said surface including at least one receiving aperture slit oriented perpendicular to the direction in which relative motion is to be measured, and detecting means responsive to the intensity of the received radiation passing through said aperture to develop a first signal having a frequency proportional to the magnitude of the relative velocity between said velocimeter and said surface in a direction perpendicular to said slit, apparatus to provide an indication of the direction of said relative velocity comprising: a. means to develop a second signal which will have a frequency greater than that of said first signal when relative motion is in one direction and a frequency less than said first signal when relative motion is in the opposite direction; and b. means having as inputs said first and second signals to difference said first and second signals whereby an output of one polarity will represent relative motion in one direction and of the opposite polarity for relative motion in the opposite direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said at least one aperture slit comprises a first optical grating consisting of alternately transparent and opaque bars.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
139 words
The invention according to claim 2 wherein said means to develop said second signal comprises means to periodically move said first grating in a first direction parallel to the direction in which relative motion is to be measured whereby the signal developed at the output of said detecting means when the velocimeter is not moving will be said first signal and the signal developed while moving will be said second signal, whereby when the relative motion of said velocitometer and the motion of said slit are both in first direction the frequency of said second signal will be lower than at the frequency of said first signal and when the relative motion of said velocimeter is in a direction opposite to said first direction the frequency of said second signal will be greater than that of said first signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention according to claim 3 wherein said first grating is in the form of an endless belt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The invention according to claim 2 wherein said means to develop said second signal comprise: a. a second grating with its bars oriented in the same direction as those of said first grating; b. means to move said second grating in a direction parallel to the direction in which relative motion is to be measured; and c. second detecting means responsive to the received radiation passing through said second slit to develop said second signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention according to claim 5 wherein said second grating is in the form of an endless belt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
The invention according to claim 2 wherein said means to develop said second signal comprises: a. a second grating with its bars oriented in the same direction as those of said first grating; b. means to move said second grating in a direction parallel to the direction in which relative motion is to be measured; c. means to image the radiation passing through said second grating on the detecting means of said first grating; and d. means to cause said reflected radiation to be alternately provided to said first and second gratings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention according to claim 7 wherein said second grating is in the form of an endless belt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
167 words
Vehicle navigation velocimeter apparatus to provide an indication of velocity magnitude along aircraft heading and drift velocity magnitude and direction perpendicular to heading comprising: a. a source of coherent radiation directed to irradiate the surface over which the vehicle is moving; b. first velocimeter receiving means to receive the reflected radiation to develop a first signal having an output frequency proportional to the magnitude of the velocity component along heading; c. second velocimeter receiving means to receive the reflected radiation to develop a second signal having a frequency proportionAl to the magnitude of the velocity component perpendicular to heading; d. third velocimeter receiving means to develop a third signal having a frequency proportional to said velocity component perpendicular to heading plus a difference frequency when said velocity is in one direction and minus said difference frequency when said velocity is in the other direction; and e. means to difference said second and third signals to provide an indication of the direction of the velocity perpendicular to heading.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
167 words
Vehicle navigation velocimeter apparatus to provide an indication of velocity magnitude along aircraft heading and drift velocity magnitude and direction perpendicular to heading comprising: a. a source of coherent radiation directed to irradiate the surface over which the vehicle is moving; b. first velocimeter receiving means to receive the reflected radiation to develop a first signal having an output frequency proportional to the magnitude of the velocity component along heading; c. second velocimeter receiving means to receive the reflected radiation to develop a second signal having a frequency proportionAl to the magnitude of the velocity component perpendicular to heading; d. third velocimeter receiving means to develop a third signal having a frequency proportional to said velocity component perpendicular to heading plus a difference frequency when said velocity is in one direction and minus said difference frequency when said velocity is in the other direction; and e. means to difference said second and third signals to provide an indication of the direction of the velocity perpendicular to heading.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
127 words
The invention according to claim 9 wherein said first velocimeter receiving means comprises: a. a first optical grating with its bars oriented perpendicular to the direction of heading; b. first detecting means responsive to the received radiation passing through said grating to develop said first signal; and wherin said second and third velocitometer receiving means comprise: c. a second optical grating with its bars parallel to the heading direction; d. second detecting means responsive to the received radiation passing through said gratings; e. means to periodically move said second grating in a direction perpendicular to heading; and f. means to provide the output of said second detecting means as said second signal when said grating is stationary and as said third signal when said grating is moving.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
120 words
The invention according to claim 9 wherein said first and second velocimeter receiving means comprise respective first and second stationary optical gratings said first grating oriented with its bars perpendicular to the heading direction and said second grating oriented with its bars parallel to said heading direction and respective first and second detecting means responsive to the received radiation passing through said gratings to develop said first and second signals and said third velocimeter receiving means comprises a third grating oriented in the same direction as said second grating, means to move said third grating in a direction perpendicular to heading and third detecting means responsive to the received radiation passing through said third grating to develop said third signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
The invention according to claim 11 and further including analog computing means to develop from said first and second signals the magnitude of ground speed, from said ground speed magnitude and said second signal the magnitude of the drift angle, and from the output of said differencing means the direction of drift angle relative to heading.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
The invention according to claim 12 wherein there is available in the aircraft an output representing aircraft heading with respect to North and further including means to add said drift angle magnitude and direction to said heading to thereby develop an output representing the actual ground track with respect to North.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-04 | 1976-12-04 | 1977-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-04 | 1980-12-04 | 1981-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-04 | 1984-12-04 | 1985-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |