Patent US3782824A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3782824A
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Apparatus and method for measuring extinction coefficient of an atmospheric scattering medium
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1972-06-01
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Granted: 1974-01-01
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Expires: 1992-06-01
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method of determining the extinction coefficient of an atmospheric scattering medium utilizing a transceiver having concentric transmitter and receiver fields, wherein backscattered energy from each of a series of transmitted optical pulses is sampled at two discrete intervals (corresponding to discrete ranges) between successively transmitted pulses and integrated as a function of the ratio of the ranges to provide compensation for differential range attenuation losses. The ratio of the integrator outputs is then obtained and the natural logarithm of the ratio calculated to obtain the extinction coefficient from which a determination of atmospheric visibility may be made.
Inventors
- 👤 A Stoliar
- 👤 R Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/47; G01N21/49; G01N21/53; G01N21/538
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
In a system for determining the extinction coefficient of an atmospheric scattering medium, apparatus comprising a transceiver including transmitter means for transmitting a series of pulses of radiation along a common propagational path in the scattering medium whose extinction coefficient is to be determined and receiver means proximate the transmitter means having a field of view aligned with the path of the transmitted pulses so as to overlap substantially the full length of the transmitter field for detecting pulse energy backscattered from the scattering medium, first integrator means connected to receive in the interval between successive transmitted pulses detected energy of the preceding transmitted pulse backscattered from the scattering medium at a first range from the transceiver, second integrator means connected to receive in the interval between successive transmitted pulses detected energy of the preceding transmitted pulse backscattered from the scattering medium at a second range from the transceiver, and the first and second integrator means being connected to receive respective numbers of detected energy pulses in proportion to the square of the first and second ranges.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
In a system for determining the extinction coefficient of an atmospheric scattering medium, apparatus comprising a transceiver including transmitter means for transmitting a series of pulses of radiation along a common propagational path in the scattering medium whose extinction coefficient is to be determined and receiver means proximate the transmitter means having a field of view aligned with the path of the transmitted pulses so as to overlap substantially the full length of the transmitter field for detecting pulse energy backscattered from the scattering medium, first integrator means connected to receive in the interval between successive transmitted pulses detected energy of the preceding transmitted pulse backscattered from the scattering medium at a first range from the transceiver, second integrator means connected to receive in the interval between successive transmitted pulses detected energy of the preceding transmitted pulse backscattered from the scattering medium at a second range from the transceiver, and the first and second integrator means being connected to receive respective numbers of detected energy pulses in proportion to the square of the first and second ranges.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including means for computing the ratio of the output signals of the first and second integrators and obtaining the natural logarithm of the ratio to determine the extinction coefficient.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including means for controlling the timing sequence of the transmitted pulses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 3 including means for receiving the output signals of the first and second integrator means to compute the extinction coefficient.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a system for determining the extinction coefficient of an atmospheric scattering medium, apparatus comprising transmitter means for irradiating the scattering medium whose extinction coefficient is to be determined with a series of pulses of radiation directed along a common propagational path, receiver means having a field of view concentric with the propagational path of the transmitted pulses and including a detector for detecting pulse energy backscattered from the scattering medium, first and second integrator means, means for coupling the detector output to the first integrator means between succeeding transmitted pulses at a first predetermined time after the preceding transmitted pulse and coupling the detector output to the second integrator means between succeeding transmitted pulses at a second predetermined time after the preceding transmitted pulse, and the detector output being coupled to the first and second integrator means individually distinct numbers of times in the course of a series of transmitted pulses in proportion to the square of the ranges associated with the respective integrator means to compensate the output signals of the integrator means for amplitude differences therebetween attributable to the differential range of the detected backscattered energy coupled thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a system for determining the extinction coefficient of an atmospheric scattering medium, apparatus comprising transmitter means for irradiating the scattering medium whose extinction coefficient is to be determined with a series of pulses of radiation directed along a common propagational path, receiver means having a field of view concentric with the propagational path of the transmitted pulses and including a detector for detecting pulse energy backscattered from the scattering medium, first and second integrator means, means for coupling the detector output to the first integrator means between succeeding transmitted pulses at a first predetermined time after the preceding transmitted pulse and coupling the detector output to the second integrator means between succeeding transmitted pulses at a second predetermined time after the preceding transmitted pulse, and the detector output being coupled to the first and second integrator means individually distinct numbers of times in the course of a series of transmitted pulses in proportion to the square of the ranges associated with the respective integrator means to compensate the output signals of the integrator means for amplitude differences therebetween attributable to the differential range of the detected backscattered energy coupled thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 5 including means for computing the ratio of the output signals of the first and second integrators and deriving the natural logarithm of the ratio to determine the extinction coefficient.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the coupling means includes means for controlling the timing sequence of the transmitted pulses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 7 including means for receiving the output signals of the first and second integrator means to compute the extinction cOefficient.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the means for computing the extinction coefficient includes means for computing the ratio of the output signals of the first and second integrator means and deriving the natural logarithm of the computed ratio from which the extinction coefficient may be determined.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a system for determining the extinction coefficient of an atmospheric scattering medium, apparatus comprising transmitter means for generating radiation to irradiate the scattering medium whose extinction coefficient is to be determined, receiver means proximate the transmitter means having a field of view overlapping substantially the full length of the transmitter field for receiving transmitted radiation backscattered from the scattering medium, means for sampling received radiation backscattered at first and second discrete ranges from the transmitter, and means for compensating the radiation samples for amplitude differences therebetween attributable to the differential range of the respective samples.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a system for determining the extinction coefficient of an atmospheric scattering medium, apparatus comprising transmitter means for generating radiation to irradiate the scattering medium whose extinction coefficient is to be determined, receiver means proximate the transmitter means having a field of view overlapping substantially the full length of the transmitter field for receiving transmitted radiation backscattered from the scattering medium, means for sampling received radiation backscattered at first and second discrete ranges from the transmitter, and means for compensating the radiation samples for amplitude differences therebetween attributable to the differential range of the respective samples.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The appartus of claim 10 including means for computing the ratio of the amplitude compensated samples and obtaining the natural logarithm of the ratio to determine the value of the extinction coefficient.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the receiver field of view is concentric with the propagational path of the transmitted pulse.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a system for determining the extinction coefficient of an atmospheric scattering medium, apparatus comprising transmitter means for irradiating the scattering medium whose extinction coefficient is to be determined with a series of pulses of radiation directed along a common propagational path, receiver means having a field of view concentric with the propagational path of the transmitted pulses for detecting pulse energy backscattered from the scattering medium, means for sampling the detected backscattered energy received from a plurality of pairs of discrete spaced ranges from the transmitter, means for compensating the sampled detected energy of each pair of ranges for amplitude differences attributable to the differential range associated with each pair of ranges, and means for computing the ratio of the compensated sampled detected energy of each pair of ranges and deriving the natural logarithm thereof from which the mean value of the extinction coefficient of the scattering medium over the full range of the range pairs may be calculated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a system for determining the extinction coefficient of an atmospheric scattering medium, apparatus comprising transmitter means for irradiating the scattering medium whose extinction coefficient is to be determined with a series of pulses of radiation directed along a common propagational path, receiver means having a field of view concentric with the propagational path of the transmitted pulses for detecting pulse energy backscattered from the scattering medium, means for sampling the detected backscattered energy received from a plurality of pairs of discrete spaced ranges from the transmitter, means for compensating the sampled detected energy of each pair of ranges for amplitude differences attributable to the differential range associated with each pair of ranges, and means for computing the ratio of the compensated sampled detected energy of each pair of ranges and deriving the natural logarithm thereof from which the mean value of the extinction coefficient of the scattering medium over the full range of the range pairs may be calculated.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for determining the extinction coefficient of an atmospheric scattering medium comprising the steps of providing a transmitter for generating radiation to irradiate the scattering medium whose extinction coefficient is to be determined, providing a receiver proximate the transmitter having a field of view overlapping substantially the full length of the transmitter field for receiving radiation backscattered from the scattering medium, sampling received radiation backscattered at first and second discrete ranges from the transmitter, and compensating the radiation samples for amplitude differences therebetween attributable to the differential range of the respective samples.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for determining the extinction coefficient of an atmospheric scattering medium comprising the steps of providing a transmitter for generating radiation to irradiate the scattering medium whose extinction coefficient is to be determined, providing a receiver proximate the transmitter having a field of view overlapping substantially the full length of the transmitter field for receiving radiation backscattered from the scattering medium, sampling received radiation backscattered at first and second discrete ranges from the transmitter, and compensating the radiation samples for amplitude differences therebetween attributable to the differential range of the respective samples.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
216 words
A method for determining the extinction coefficient of an atmospheric scattering medium comprising the steps of providing a transmitter for irradiating the scattering medium whose extinction coefficient is to be determined with a series of pulses of radiation directed along a common propagational path, providing a receiver having a field of view concentric with the propagational path of the transmitted pulses and including a detector for detecting pulse energy backscattered from the scattering medium, providing first and second integrator means, coupling to the input of the first integrator means in the interval between successive transmitted pulses detected energy of the preceding transmitted pulse backscattered from the scattering medium at a first range from the transmittEr, coupling to the input of the second integrator means in the interval between successive transmitted pulses detected energy of the preceding transmitted pulse backscattered from the scattering medium at a second range from the transmitter, and the detector output being coupled to the first and second integrator means individually distinct numbers of times in the course of a series of transmitted pulses in proportion to the square of the ranges associated with the respective integrator means to compensate the output signals of the integrator means for amplitude differences therebetween attributable to the differential range of the detected backscattered energy coupled thereto.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
216 words
A method for determining the extinction coefficient of an atmospheric scattering medium comprising the steps of providing a transmitter for irradiating the scattering medium whose extinction coefficient is to be determined with a series of pulses of radiation directed along a common propagational path, providing a receiver having a field of view concentric with the propagational path of the transmitted pulses and including a detector for detecting pulse energy backscattered from the scattering medium, providing first and second integrator means, coupling to the input of the first integrator means in the interval between successive transmitted pulses detected energy of the preceding transmitted pulse backscattered from the scattering medium at a first range from the transmittEr, coupling to the input of the second integrator means in the interval between successive transmitted pulses detected energy of the preceding transmitted pulse backscattered from the scattering medium at a second range from the transmitter, and the detector output being coupled to the first and second integrator means individually distinct numbers of times in the course of a series of transmitted pulses in proportion to the square of the ranges associated with the respective integrator means to compensate the output signals of the integrator means for amplitude differences therebetween attributable to the differential range of the detected backscattered energy coupled thereto.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3510225A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-31 | 1977-07-02 | 1978-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-31 | 1981-07-02 | 1982-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-31 | 1985-07-02 | 1986-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |