US3853405A — Heat or light source tracking device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 208 words

A radiant energy device for indicating when a predetermined axis is in line with a source of radiant energy and comprising in combination, a rotatable optical system having an axis of rotation and an optical axis for focusing an image of said source upon a plane disposed substantially perpendicular thereto, said optical system being disposed with said axis of rotation passing through a predetermined point in said plane perpendicular thereto and with said optical axis nonparallel to said axis of rotation and passing through said plane, means for rotation of said optical system coupled thereto for causing said image to traverse a circular path, a reticle disposed substantially in said plane and having a center point coincident with said axis of rotation, said reticle including means for amplitude modulating the radiant energy passing therethrough as said image traverses said circular path, the amplitude of modulation being in proportion to the displacement of the center of said circular path from the center point of said reticle, and a radiant energy detector axially aligned with said reticle and being responsive to the amplitude modulated radiant energy passing through said reticle to develop an output signal indicative of the concentricity of said circular path with respect to said axis of rotation.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 208 words

A radiant energy device for indicating when a predetermined axis is in line with a source of radiant energy and comprising in combination, a rotatable optical system having an axis of rotation and an optical axis for focusing an image of said source upon a plane disposed substantially perpendicular thereto, said optical system being disposed with said axis of rotation passing through a predetermined point in said plane perpendicular thereto and with said optical axis nonparallel to said axis of rotation and passing through said plane, means for rotation of said optical system coupled thereto for causing said image to traverse a circular path, a reticle disposed substantially in said plane and having a center point coincident with said axis of rotation, said reticle including means for amplitude modulating the radiant energy passing therethrough as said image traverses said circular path, the amplitude of modulation being in proportion to the displacement of the center of said circular path from the center point of said reticle, and a radiant energy detector axially aligned with said reticle and being responsive to the amplitude modulated radiant energy passing through said reticle to develop an output signal indicative of the concentricity of said circular path with respect to said axis of rotation.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 166 words

In a radiant energy guidance unit for maintaining a predetermined axis at a fixed angle with respect to a source of radiant energy, the combination comprising a movable optical system for focusing an image of said source in a predetermined plane, means coupled to said optical system for nutating said optical system about an axis to cause said image to traverse a circular path, a reticle disposed substantially in said plane and about said axis, the radiant energy transmissivity of each area of said reticle being a function of the distance of said area from said axis, said reticle having a plurality of opaque areas disposed such that the radiant energy passing through said reticle is interrupted at a substantially constant rate as said image traverses said circular path, and a detector disposed about said axis and in the path of the radiant energy passing through said reticle for developing an output signal indicative of the concentricity of said circular path with respect to said axis.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 166 words

In a radiant energy guidance unit for maintaining a predetermined axis at a fixed angle with respect to a source of radiant energy, the combination comprising a movable optical system for focusing an image of said source in a predetermined plane, means coupled to said optical system for nutating said optical system about an axis to cause said image to traverse a circular path, a reticle disposed substantially in said plane and about said axis, the radiant energy transmissivity of each area of said reticle being a function of the distance of said area from said axis, said reticle having a plurality of opaque areas disposed such that the radiant energy passing through said reticle is interrupted at a substantially constant rate as said image traverses said circular path, and a detector disposed about said axis and in the path of the radiant energy passing through said reticle for developing an output signal indicative of the concentricity of said circular path with respect to said axis.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 151 words

A radiant energy device comprising in combination, a movable optical system for focusing radiant energy upon a predetermined plane, means coupled to said optical system for rotation thereof about a predetermined axis perpendicular to said plane to cause said focused energy to traverse a circular path of radius r that is concentric with said axis only when the source of said energy lies on said axis, a reticle of radius 2r disposed substantially in said plane and symmetrically about said axis, said reticle having a radially gradated variation in radiant energy transmissivity that varies linearly from unity to zero along the radius thereof, said reticle further including means for periodically interrupting the radiant energy passing through said reticle as said focused energy traverses said circular path, and a radiant energy sensitive detector disposed about said axis and responsive to the radiant energY passing through said reticle for providing an output signal.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 151 words

A radiant energy device comprising in combination, a movable optical system for focusing radiant energy upon a predetermined plane, means coupled to said optical system for rotation thereof about a predetermined axis perpendicular to said plane to cause said focused energy to traverse a circular path of radius r that is concentric with said axis only when the source of said energy lies on said axis, a reticle of radius 2r disposed substantially in said plane and symmetrically about said axis, said reticle having a radially gradated variation in radiant energy transmissivity that varies linearly from unity to zero along the radius thereof, said reticle further including means for periodically interrupting the radiant energy passing through said reticle as said focused energy traverses said circular path, and a radiant energy sensitive detector disposed about said axis and responsive to the radiant energY passing through said reticle for providing an output signal.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 129 words

In a device for tracking a source of radiant energy, the combination comprising a movable optical system for focusing an image of said source upon a predetermined plane, means coupled to said optical system for rotation thereof about a predetermined axis disposed perpendicular to said plane to cause said image to traverse a circular path lying in said plane, a reticle disposed substantially in said plane and intercepting said axis, said reticle providing a radiant energy transmissivity that varies as a function of the radial distance from said axis, said reticle further including opaque radial portions for periodically interrupting transmission of radiant energy as said image traverses said circular path, and a radiant energy detector responsive to the radiant energy passing through said reticle for providing an output signal.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 129 words

In a device for tracking a source of radiant energy, the combination comprising a movable optical system for focusing an image of said source upon a predetermined plane, means coupled to said optical system for rotation thereof about a predetermined axis disposed perpendicular to said plane to cause said image to traverse a circular path lying in said plane, a reticle disposed substantially in said plane and intercepting said axis, said reticle providing a radiant energy transmissivity that varies as a function of the radial distance from said axis, said reticle further including opaque radial portions for periodically interrupting transmission of radiant energy as said image traverses said circular path, and a radiant energy detector responsive to the radiant energy passing through said reticle for providing an output signal.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 219 words

In a device for determining the position of a source of radiant energy and having a movable optical system for focusing a portion of said radiant energy upon a radiant energy intensity-sensitive detector and means coupled to said optical system for nutating said optical system to cause said focused radiant energy to traverse a circular path, the combination comprising a reticle disposed between said optical system and said detector and having first means providing a radially gradated variation in radiant energy transmissivity and having second means providing periodic interruption of transmission of radiant energy as said focused radiant energy traverses said circular path, said first means including a plurality of concentric circular rings of material having a radiant energy transmissivity of unity and a plurality of concentric circular rings of material having a radiant energy transmissivity of zero alternately disposed between said rings having a transmissivity of unity, said second means comprising a plurality of radiant energy transmissive areas on the surface of said reticle and a plurality of radiant energy opaque areas on the surface of said reticle alternately arranged in a checkerboard pattern such that the periodicity of interruption of passage of radiant energy through said reticle is substantially constant for all positions of a nutation path of radiant energy focused thereon by a rotating optical system.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 219 words

In a device for determining the position of a source of radiant energy and having a movable optical system for focusing a portion of said radiant energy upon a radiant energy intensity-sensitive detector and means coupled to said optical system for nutating said optical system to cause said focused radiant energy to traverse a circular path, the combination comprising a reticle disposed between said optical system and said detector and having first means providing a radially gradated variation in radiant energy transmissivity and having second means providing periodic interruption of transmission of radiant energy as said focused radiant energy traverses said circular path, said first means including a plurality of concentric circular rings of material having a radiant energy transmissivity of unity and a plurality of concentric circular rings of material having a radiant energy transmissivity of zero alternately disposed between said rings having a transmissivity of unity, said second means comprising a plurality of radiant energy transmissive areas on the surface of said reticle and a plurality of radiant energy opaque areas on the surface of said reticle alternately arranged in a checkerboard pattern such that the periodicity of interruption of passage of radiant energy through said reticle is substantially constant for all positions of a nutation path of radiant energy focused thereon by a rotating optical system.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 130 words

In a radiant energy source tracking device having means for focusing a portion of the radiant energy emitted by said source in a circular path upon a detector having output signals responsive to the intensity of radiant energy impinging thereon, a reticle disposed between said means and said detector and comprising a first plurality of radial portions having a radially gradated variation in radiant energy transmissivity, the transmissivity being proportional to the distance from the center of said reticle, and a second plurality of radial portions having zero transmissivity alternating with said first plurality of radial portions and so arranged that the frequency of interruption of the passage of radiant energy through said reticle is substantially constant for all positions of said circular path of focused radiant energy described thereon.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 130 words

In a radiant energy source tracking device having means for focusing a portion of the radiant energy emitted by said source in a circular path upon a detector having output signals responsive to the intensity of radiant energy impinging thereon, a reticle disposed between said means and said detector and comprising a first plurality of radial portions having a radially gradated variation in radiant energy transmissivity, the transmissivity being proportional to the distance from the center of said reticle, and a second plurality of radial portions having zero transmissivity alternating with said first plurality of radial portions and so arranged that the frequency of interruption of the passage of radiant energy through said reticle is substantially constant for all positions of said circular path of focused radiant energy described thereon.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 116 words

In a device for continuously tracking a source of radiant energy and comprising in combination: an optical system including a primary mirror for receiving energy from the source, a secondary mirror positioned to receive reflected energy from said primary mirror and a corrector lens disposed in the optical path between said mirrors; a radiant energy detector positioned to receive energy from said secondary mirror; a reticle disposed in the optical path between said detector and said secondary mirror; and means coupled to said optical system for providing motion of said optical system with respect to said reticle; said reticle having a radially gradated variation in transmissivity and having means for periodically interrupting transmission of radiant energy.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 116 words

In a device for continuously tracking a source of radiant energy and comprising in combination: an optical system including a primary mirror for receiving energy from the source, a secondary mirror positioned to receive reflected energy from said primary mirror and a corrector lens disposed in the optical path between said mirrors; a radiant energy detector positioned to receive energy from said secondary mirror; a reticle disposed in the optical path between said detector and said secondary mirror; and means coupled to said optical system for providing motion of said optical system with respect to said reticle; said reticle having a radially gradated variation in transmissivity and having means for periodically interrupting transmission of radiant energy.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-12-09	1978-06-10	1978-12-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-12-09	1982-06-10	1982-12-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-12-09	1986-06-10	1986-12-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Heat or light source tracking device

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