Patent US3906189A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3906189A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Passive range computer
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1965-07-15
•
Granted: 1975-09-16
•
Expires: 1985-07-15
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus whereby an interceptor pilot can compute the range of an object when the ranging, but not the detecting and tracking, capability of the interceptor''s radar is destroyed by countermeasures. The computer of the invention determines target range from the speed of the interceptor, the rate of turning while on a line of sight heading and the angle between the line of sight and lead collision courses.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Schmookler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 06:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S11/00; G01S11/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A method whereby a pilot of a vehicle determines the range of an object comprising the steps of: Maneuvering said vehicle into a line of sight course with said object and obtaining the rate of turning w while in said line of sight course; Turning said vehicle through an angle lambda to be in a lead collision course with said object and obtaining the velocity I while in said lead collision course and Computing the range of said object from the quantities w, lambda and I obtained while maneuvering said vehicle in said line of sight and lead collision courses.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A method whereby a pilot of a vehicle determines the range of an object comprising the steps of: Maneuvering said vehicle into a line of sight course with said object and obtaining the rate of turning w while in said line of sight course; Turning said vehicle through an angle lambda to be in a lead collision course with said object and obtaining the velocity I while in said lead collision course and Computing the range of said object from the quantities w, lambda and I obtained while maneuvering said vehicle in said line of sight and lead collision courses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said computing of range is by the formula
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
142 words
A computing device comprising: A double pole, double throw switch having two blades and a pair of contacts operatively associated with each of said two blades; A common reference point; A linear potentiometer having a wiper and being connected between one of said two blades and said common reference point; A voltmeter connected between the other of said two blades and said common reference point; A sinusoidal potentiometer having a wiper and being connected at one end to said common reference point and Circuit means connecting the other end of said sinusoidal potentiometer to said wiper of said linear potentiometer and to one of said pair of contacts operatively associated with the other of said two blades and connecting said wiper of said sinusoidal potentiometer with the other of said pair of contacts operatively associated with the other of said two blades.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
142 words
A computing device comprising: A double pole, double throw switch having two blades and a pair of contacts operatively associated with each of said two blades; A common reference point; A linear potentiometer having a wiper and being connected between one of said two blades and said common reference point; A voltmeter connected between the other of said two blades and said common reference point; A sinusoidal potentiometer having a wiper and being connected at one end to said common reference point and Circuit means connecting the other end of said sinusoidal potentiometer to said wiper of said linear potentiometer and to one of said pair of contacts operatively associated with the other of said two blades and connecting said wiper of said sinusoidal potentiometer with the other of said pair of contacts operatively associated with the other of said two blades.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
135 words
A device for computing the range of a moving distant object relative to an interceptor aircraft comprising: Voltage producing means for producing a voltage I proportional to said aircraft''s velocity when upon a lead collision course with said object; Voltage dividing means connected to receive said voltage I for dividing said voltage I by a factor w, proportional to said aircraft''s rate of turning when upon a line of sight heading with said object, said voltage dividing means thereby producing an output voltage I/w and Voltage multiplying means connected to receive said I/w voltage for multiplying said voltage I/w by a factor sin lambda where lambda is the angle between said lead collision course and said line of sight heading, said voltage multiplying means thereby producing an output proportional to the range of said object.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
135 words
A device for computing the range of a moving distant object relative to an interceptor aircraft comprising: Voltage producing means for producing a voltage I proportional to said aircraft''s velocity when upon a lead collision course with said object; Voltage dividing means connected to receive said voltage I for dividing said voltage I by a factor w, proportional to said aircraft''s rate of turning when upon a line of sight heading with said object, said voltage dividing means thereby producing an output voltage I/w and Voltage multiplying means connected to receive said I/w voltage for multiplying said voltage I/w by a factor sin lambda where lambda is the angle between said lead collision course and said line of sight heading, said voltage multiplying means thereby producing an output proportional to the range of said object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as set forth in claim 4 and further including indicator means connected to receive the output voltage of said voltage multiplying means and to indicate the range of said object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said voltage dividing means includes a linear potentiometer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said voltage multiplying means includes a sinusoidal potentiometer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said linear and sinusoidal potentiometers each include adjustable wipers which respectively produce the output voltages of said voltage dividing and said voltage multiplying means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
247 words
A computing device for determining the range of a moving distant object relative to an interceptor aircraft comprising: A double pole, double throw switch having two blades and a pair of contacts operatively associated with each of said two blades; w voltage producing means connected to one of said pair of contacts operatively associated with the first of said two blades for producing a voltage w proportional to the rate of turning of said aircraft when upon a line of sight heading with said object; I voltage producing means connected to the other of said pair of contacts operatively associated with the first of said two blades for producing a voltage I proportional to the velocity of said aircraft when upon a lead collision course with said object; A common reference point; A linear potentiometer having an adjustable wiper and being connected between the first of said two blades and said common reference point; A voltmeter connected between the other of said two blades and said common reference point; A sinusoidal potentiometer having an adjustable wiper and being connected at one end to said common reference point and Circuit means connecting the other end of said sinusoidal potentiometer to said wiper of said linear potentiometer and to one of said pair of contacts operatively associated with the other of said two blades and connecting said wiper of said sinusoidal potentiometer with the other of said pair of contacts operatively assocIated with the other of said two blades.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
247 words
A computing device for determining the range of a moving distant object relative to an interceptor aircraft comprising: A double pole, double throw switch having two blades and a pair of contacts operatively associated with each of said two blades; w voltage producing means connected to one of said pair of contacts operatively associated with the first of said two blades for producing a voltage w proportional to the rate of turning of said aircraft when upon a line of sight heading with said object; I voltage producing means connected to the other of said pair of contacts operatively associated with the first of said two blades for producing a voltage I proportional to the velocity of said aircraft when upon a lead collision course with said object; A common reference point; A linear potentiometer having an adjustable wiper and being connected between the first of said two blades and said common reference point; A voltmeter connected between the other of said two blades and said common reference point; A sinusoidal potentiometer having an adjustable wiper and being connected at one end to said common reference point and Circuit means connecting the other end of said sinusoidal potentiometer to said wiper of said linear potentiometer and to one of said pair of contacts operatively associated with the other of said two blades and connecting said wiper of said sinusoidal potentiometer with the other of said pair of contacts operatively assocIated with the other of said two blades.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-15 | 1979-03-17 | 1979-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-15 | 1983-03-17 | 1983-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-15 | 1987-03-17 | 1987-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |