US3890598A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical signal processor
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1970-10-26
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1990-10-26
Abstract
Abstract An optical signal processor operates upon the outputs of a plurality of transducers. The transducers may comprise a radar antenna array or an underwater sonar antenna array. The processor receives the signals from each transducer and combines them optically to derive the location of a target.
Inventors
- 👤 William B Hagen
- 👤 Morton Rudin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 00:59
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8902; G01S3/00; G01S3/80; G01S3/802; G01S3/805
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
An optical processor for processing the output signals of a hydrophone array comprising: a first source of monochromatic spatially coherent light; means for modulating the output of said first source of monochromatic spatially coherent light with the output signals of said hydrophone array; a photosensitive film strip; means for exposing said film with said modulated first source of monochromatic spatially coherent light including an optical encoder; said optical encoder causing the film to be exposed so that the output of each hydrophone in the array is recorded along a separate track on said film; means for developing said exposed film; means for illuminating said developed film with a second source of monochromatic spatially coherent light; means for projecting the image on said film illuminated by said second source of monochromatic spatially coherent light through a fourier transform lens to obtain the fourier transform of said images; means for optically detecting said fourier transform of said images; and means for commutating said detected image to separate the detected signals into a plurality of separate electrical signals, each signal corresponding to the output of a single hydrophone; whereby further processing of said separate electrical signals may be aCcomplished.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
An optical processor for processing the output signals of a hydrophone array comprising: a first source of monochromatic spatially coherent light; means for modulating the output of said first source of monochromatic spatially coherent light with the output signals of said hydrophone array; a photosensitive film strip; means for exposing said film with said modulated first source of monochromatic spatially coherent light including an optical encoder; said optical encoder causing the film to be exposed so that the output of each hydrophone in the array is recorded along a separate track on said film; means for developing said exposed film; means for illuminating said developed film with a second source of monochromatic spatially coherent light; means for projecting the image on said film illuminated by said second source of monochromatic spatially coherent light through a fourier transform lens to obtain the fourier transform of said images; means for optically detecting said fourier transform of said images; and means for commutating said detected image to separate the detected signals into a plurality of separate electrical signals, each signal corresponding to the output of a single hydrophone; whereby further processing of said separate electrical signals may be aCcomplished.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The optical processor claimed in claim 1 wherein said optical encoder includes: a multi-sided scanning mirror; said scanning mirror being rotated; so that as the mirror rotates the output of said modulating means exposes a separate track along the film, each separate track corresponding to the modulated output of a separate hydrophone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
162 words
The optical processor claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for optically detecting said fourier transform and the means for commutating said detected images comprises: a plurality of photoconductors in a circular array; a photomultiplier filling the center of said circular photoconductor array; a rotating circular reticle disposed between said transform lens and said photodetectors; said rotating circular reticle comprising; a plurality of rotating slits radially extending from the center of said reticle to a radius slightly smaller than the radius of said photoconductor array, and a plurality of commutation slits radially extending from a radius slightly smaller than the radius of said photoconductor array to the outer edge of said circular reticle; a translating reticle comprising a single slit laterally traversing a path contiguous to and substantially coextensive with said rotating reticle; means connecting the output of said photomultiplier to one end of each photoconductor in said array; and means connecting the other end of each photoconductor to an appropriate recoder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3409872A
Cited
US3612658A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |