Patent US4019060A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4019060A
Expired / Lapsed
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Fluorescence locating system and method
Assignee: General Dynamics Government Systems Corp
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Filing: 1975-10-03
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Granted: 1977-04-19
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Expires: 1995-10-03
Abstract
Abstract A system for identifying and locating objects of known chemical composition and discriminating against a background having a different chemical composition comprises a source of radiation for illuminating the object and the background and a receiver responsive solely to the fluorescent radiation from the object. The receiver comprises a filter which passes radiation from the object and a photodetector array which receives the filter output and produces an output containing the coordinates of the location of the received signal or signals on the array. This location information is applied to utilization apparatus which may comprise a marking mechanism which marks the location of the object on the background or automatic tracking apparatus which tracks the object of interest or counter apparatus which identifies the quantity of such objects that are illuminated. The invention also comprehends the method of deriving position data by causing a known substance to fluoresce at wavelengths (centered at λ 0 ) different from that of the source which illuminates the substance, filtering out all light but that at the λ 0 wavelength, directing said λ 0 light against an array of transducer cells and producing an output having coordinates of the cell receiving the λ 0 energy, and feeding the output of the array to utilization apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas P. Woodman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:22
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/645; G01N21/6452; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
An automatic tracking system for an object having a trackable surface composed of first and second substances at different locations on the object comprising optical transmitter means having an output beam with a first wavelength directed toward said object whereby to illuminate all of said trackable surface with said light and cause said first and second substances to emit light at second and third wavelengths, respectively, a receiver responsive to light at said second wavelength and unresponsive to light at said third wavelength, said receiver having an optical transducer array capable of producing an electrical output signal corresponding to the position of incidence of said second wavelength light on said array, logic circuit means receiving the output of said array and deriving an error signal proportional to the deviation of said position of incidence of said first wavelength light from a reference position on said array, a laser adapted to produce an output beam and a steering mechanism for said laser beam, said beam steering mechanism being connected to said logic circuit means and being responsive to said error signal for steering said laser beam for incidence on said first substance on said object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
An automatic tracking system for an object having a trackable surface composed of first and second substances at different locations on the object comprising optical transmitter means having an output beam with a first wavelength directed toward said object whereby to illuminate all of said trackable surface with said light and cause said first and second substances to emit light at second and third wavelengths, respectively, a receiver responsive to light at said second wavelength and unresponsive to light at said third wavelength, said receiver having an optical transducer array capable of producing an electrical output signal corresponding to the position of incidence of said second wavelength light on said array, logic circuit means receiving the output of said array and deriving an error signal proportional to the deviation of said position of incidence of said first wavelength light from a reference position on said array, a laser adapted to produce an output beam and a steering mechanism for said laser beam, said beam steering mechanism being connected to said logic circuit means and being responsive to said error signal for steering said laser beam for incidence on said first substance on said object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
208 words
Apparatus for detecting and locating a substance having a predetermined composition comprising optical transmitter means having an output beam with a wavelength λ 1 directed to illuminate a wide area containing said substance whereby to cause said substance to produce fluoroescent emission at a wavelength λ O different from λ 1 and characteristic of the composition of said substance, optical receiver means comprising a filter disposed to receive emissions from said area and to pass emissions at wavelength λ O and to block emissions at other wavelengths, means to focus the output of said filter into a narrow beam, a plurality of photoelectric transducer cells arranged in adjacent rows and columns and disposed so that the output beam of said filter is incident on substantially less than all of the cells and thereby producing an electrical output corresponding to the relative position of incidence of said beam on said array, and means for utilizing the output of said array to identify the location of said substances comprising a laser adapted to produce an output beam, means to steer said output beam into intercept alignment with said substance including motor means and optical means coupled thereto, and means to connect the output of said array to said motor means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
208 words
Apparatus for detecting and locating a substance having a predetermined composition comprising optical transmitter means having an output beam with a wavelength λ 1 directed to illuminate a wide area containing said substance whereby to cause said substance to produce fluoroescent emission at a wavelength λ O different from λ 1 and characteristic of the composition of said substance, optical receiver means comprising a filter disposed to receive emissions from said area and to pass emissions at wavelength λ O and to block emissions at other wavelengths, means to focus the output of said filter into a narrow beam, a plurality of photoelectric transducer cells arranged in adjacent rows and columns and disposed so that the output beam of said filter is incident on substantially less than all of the cells and thereby producing an electrical output corresponding to the relative position of incidence of said beam on said array, and means for utilizing the output of said array to identify the location of said substances comprising a laser adapted to produce an output beam, means to steer said output beam into intercept alignment with said substance including motor means and optical means coupled thereto, and means to connect the output of said array to said motor means.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of searching for, identifying and marking the location of an object having a composition characterized by a fluorescence emission wavelength λ 2 when illuminated by light having a wavelength λ 1 comprising the steps of illuminating the search area with light having a wavelength λ 1 , directing a receiver toward the illuminated search area and blocking all inputs to the receiver other than emissions having a wavelength λ 2 , focusing said λ 2 input emissions to the receiver into a point of relatively small area incident on an array of photodetector cells and producing an electrical output from said array corresponding to the coordinates of said point of incidence and thereby the coordinates of said object in the search area relative to said receiver, and applying said array output to beam transmitter means and causing the transmitter beam to be directed toward said object.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of searching for, identifying and marking the location of an object having a composition characterized by a fluorescence emission wavelength λ 2 when illuminated by light having a wavelength λ 1 comprising the steps of illuminating the search area with light having a wavelength λ 1 , directing a receiver toward the illuminated search area and blocking all inputs to the receiver other than emissions having a wavelength λ 2 , focusing said λ 2 input emissions to the receiver into a point of relatively small area incident on an array of photodetector cells and producing an electrical output from said array corresponding to the coordinates of said point of incidence and thereby the coordinates of said object in the search area relative to said receiver, and applying said array output to beam transmitter means and causing the transmitter beam to be directed toward said object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
219 words
An automatic tracking system for an object having a trackable surface composed of first and second substances at different locations on the object comprising a source of ultraviolet light directed toward said object whereby to illuminate substantially all of said trackable surface with said light and cause said first and second substances to emit light at first and second wavelengths, respectively, a receiver responsive to light at said first wavelength and unresponsive to light at said second wavelength, said receiver having an optical transducer array comprising a plurality of photodetector cells arranged in adjacent columns and rows, and a lens positioned relative to said array to focus light at the first wavelength to a point incident on said array whereby to produce an electrical output signal corresponding to the coordinates of said point of incidence, logic circuit means receiving the electrical signal output of said array and deriving an error signal proportional to the deviation of said position of incidence of said point from a reference position on said array, a laser adapted to produce a narrow output beam, and a steering mechanism for said laser beam, said beam steering mechanism being connected to said logic circuit means and being responsive to said error signal for steering said laser beam into incidence with said first substance on said object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
219 words
An automatic tracking system for an object having a trackable surface composed of first and second substances at different locations on the object comprising a source of ultraviolet light directed toward said object whereby to illuminate substantially all of said trackable surface with said light and cause said first and second substances to emit light at first and second wavelengths, respectively, a receiver responsive to light at said first wavelength and unresponsive to light at said second wavelength, said receiver having an optical transducer array comprising a plurality of photodetector cells arranged in adjacent columns and rows, and a lens positioned relative to said array to focus light at the first wavelength to a point incident on said array whereby to produce an electrical output signal corresponding to the coordinates of said point of incidence, logic circuit means receiving the electrical signal output of said array and deriving an error signal proportional to the deviation of said position of incidence of said point from a reference position on said array, a laser adapted to produce a narrow output beam, and a steering mechanism for said laser beam, said beam steering mechanism being connected to said logic circuit means and being responsive to said error signal for steering said laser beam into incidence with said first substance on said object.
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) | 1980-04-18 | 1980-10-18 | 1981-04-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-18 | 1984-10-18 | 1985-04-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-18 | 1988-10-18 | 1989-04-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |