US3837733A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shiftable scanner aperture
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1970-11-27
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Granted: 1974-09-24
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Expires: 1990-11-27
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a shiftable aperture arrangement for an optical area correlator, which device functions effectively to accomplish a switching between fields of view during range closure of a missile with respect to its target. It is desirable to launch a missile while viewing with small field of view optics, a comparatively small target area on the ground, and then at about 15 percent range closure, to switch so as to view with large field of view optics the same area. Rather than accomplishing field of view switching by using separate optical elements and a combining glass and shutter arrangement, this invention provides the equivalent field of view switching by a simple mechanical repositioning of the area correlator scanning slit at the image plane so as on occasion to scan a larger area. The repositioning of the slit is accomplished in a very precise manner even though the speed of slit rotation may be high.
Inventors
- 👤 C Shoch
- 👤 G Harmon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 01:20
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41G; F41G7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
In a shiftable aperture arrangement for an optical area correlation system in which means are utilized for driving a plurality of adjacent members in rotation about a common axis at a desired number of revolutions per second, said arrangement comprising said plurality of adjacent members disposed adjacent the image plane of said correlation system, a first of said members containing a scanning slit rotatable at substantial speed and a second of said members being rotatable at substantial speed, but being selectively rotatable with respect to said first member for a few degress, said second member containing an aperture essentially aligned with said slit, said aperture having a pre-established configuration, with the arrangement being such that relative rotation movement of said members to cause relative movement of said aperture and slit accomplishes a radial repositioning of the effective area of said slit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a shiftable aperture arrangement for an optical area correlation system in which means are utilized for driving a plurality of adjacent members in rotation about a common axis at a desired number of revolutions per second, said arrangement comprising said plurality of adjacent members disposed adjacent the image plane of said correlation system, a first of said members containing a scanning slit rotatable at substantial speed and a second of said members being rotatable at substantial speed, but being selectively rotatable with respect to said first member for a few degress, said second member containing an aperture essentially aligned with said slit, said aperture having a pre-established configuration, with the arrangement being such that relative rotation movement of said members to cause relative movement of said aperture and slit accomplishes a radial repositioning of the effective area of said slit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The shiftable aperatUre arrangement as defined in claim 1 in which the effective area of said slit is movable between pre-established radially inner and radially outer positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The shiftable aperture arrangement as defined in claim 1 in which the effective area of said slit is movable between more than two different radial positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The shiftable aperture arrangement as defined in claim 1 in which the effective area of said slit is movable between an infinite number of positions disposed between an extreme inner position and an extreme outer position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The shiftable aperature arrangement as defined in claim 4 in which the effective area of said slit remains essentially constant as it moves radially.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The shiftable aperture arrangement as defined in claim 4 in which the effective area of said slit gets progressively larger as it moves radially outwardly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a shiftable aperture arrangement for an optical area correlation system in which a plurality of adjacent members are driven in rotation about a common axis by driving means serving to rotate the members at a desired number of revolutions per second, said arrangement comprising a plurality of said adjacent members rotatable about a common axis, and disposed adjacent the image plane of said correlation system, a first of said members containing slit means for generating during rapid rotation, a contrast pattern of the area within the field of view of the optical area correlation system at a given time, and a second member rotatable with said first member but additionally being selectively rotatable with respect to said first member for a few degrees, containing aperture means essentially aligned with said slit means, said aperture means having a pre-established configuration, with the arrangement being such that relative rotative movement of said members to cause relative movement of said aperture and slit means accomplishes a radial respositioning of the effective area of said slit means and hence a field of view change.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a shiftable aperture arrangement for an optical area correlation system in which a plurality of adjacent members are driven in rotation about a common axis by driving means serving to rotate the members at a desired number of revolutions per second, said arrangement comprising a plurality of said adjacent members rotatable about a common axis, and disposed adjacent the image plane of said correlation system, a first of said members containing slit means for generating during rapid rotation, a contrast pattern of the area within the field of view of the optical area correlation system at a given time, and a second member rotatable with said first member but additionally being selectively rotatable with respect to said first member for a few degrees, containing aperture means essentially aligned with said slit means, said aperture means having a pre-established configuration, with the arrangement being such that relative rotative movement of said members to cause relative movement of said aperture and slit means accomplishes a radial respositioning of the effective area of said slit means and hence a field of view change.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The shiftable aperture arrangement as defined in claim 7 wherein the first and second members contain only a single slit and a single aperture, respectively, with the effective area of the slit being movable between pre-established radially inner and radially outer position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The shiftable aperture arrangement as defined in claim 7 wherein the first and second members contain only a pair of slits and a pair of apertures, respectively, with the effective slit area being movable between pre-established radially inner and radially outer positions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
The shiftable aperture arrangement as defined in claim 7 in which spring bias means is used to control the relation between said first and second members, which spring bias means serves to normally bias the members such that the effective area of the slit is positioned to correspond with a large field of view.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The shiftable aperture arrangement as defined in claim 7 in which spring bias means is used to control the relation between said first and second members, which spring bias means serves to normally bias the members such that the effective area of the slit is positioned to correspond with a small field of view.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The shiftable aperture arrangement as defined in claim 7 in which electric drag brake means is used to act selectively upon said second member, to control its positioning relative to the first member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1977-09-23 | 1978-03-25 | 1978-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-23 | 1982-03-25 | 1982-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-23 | 1986-03-25 | 1986-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |