US4030686A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Position determining systems
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1975-09-04
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Granted: 1977-06-21
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Expires: 1995-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A system for providing signals which are indicative of a target's position along at least one dimension across an electromagnetic energy beam. The system comprises a transmitter for transmitting energy which is encoded such that the polarization state of the energy varies across the beam, and a receiver which responds to the polarization of the received energy to provide signals indicative of the relative position of the target within the beam.
Inventors
- 👤 William W. Buchman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:12
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41G; F41G7/00; F41G7/20; F41G7/24; F41G7/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A system for providing position signals comprising: first means for transmitting a beam of electromagnetic energy which has encoded thereon, as a polarization state of the energy, angular position along at least one dimension across said beam with the transition of the polarization state being from elliptical polarization of a first sense at one edge of the beam, through linear polarization, to elliptical polarization of the opposite sense at the opposite edge of the beam; and second means for receiving a portion of said transmitted energy, decoding its polarization state and providing therefrom position signals indicative of the angular position of the received energy within said beam and along said dimension.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
111 words
A system for providing position signals comprising: first means for transmitting a beam of electromagnetic energy which has encoded thereon, as a polarization state of the energy, angular position along at least one dimension across said beam with the transition of the polarization state being from elliptical polarization of a first sense at one edge of the beam, through linear polarization, to elliptical polarization of the opposite sense at the opposite edge of the beam; and second means for receiving a portion of said transmitted energy, decoding its polarization state and providing therefrom position signals indicative of the angular position of the received energy within said beam and along said dimension.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said first means comprises a laser transmitter unit, and a wedge of birefringent material disposed such that energy from said laser passes through said wedge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said first means further comprises a beam diverger disposed such that the energy from said wedge passes through said beam diverger.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said second means includes a quarter wave plate, two detectors, and polarization separation means, disposed between said quarter wave plate and said detectors, for applying energy of one polarization to one of said detectors and energy of another polarization to the other of said detectors; whereby the output signals from said two detectors are indicative of the position along said one dimension across said beam.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
236 words
A system for providing position signals comprising: first means for transmitting a beam of electromagnetic energy which has encoded thereon, as a polarization state of the energy, angular position within said beam, said first means including means for sequentially transmitting beams of electromagnetic energy with the polarization state of the energy being encoded across said beams such that the transition of the polarization state is from elliptical polarization of a first sense at one edge of the beam, through linear polarization, to elliptical polarization of the opposite sense at the opposite edge of the beam, and with said polarization state being encoded along a first dimension for a first group of said transmitted beams and along a second nonparallel dimension for a second group of said transmitted beams; and second means for receiving a portion of said transmitted energy, decoding its polarization state and providing therefrom position signals indicative of the angular position of the received energy within said beam, said second means including means for providing as a function of the polarization state of the received energy from each beam of said first group of transmitted beams, signals indicative of the position within said beam along said first dimension and for providing as a function of the polarization state of the received energy from each beam of said second group of transmitted beams, signals indicative of the position within said beam along said second dimension.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
236 words
A system for providing position signals comprising: first means for transmitting a beam of electromagnetic energy which has encoded thereon, as a polarization state of the energy, angular position within said beam, said first means including means for sequentially transmitting beams of electromagnetic energy with the polarization state of the energy being encoded across said beams such that the transition of the polarization state is from elliptical polarization of a first sense at one edge of the beam, through linear polarization, to elliptical polarization of the opposite sense at the opposite edge of the beam, and with said polarization state being encoded along a first dimension for a first group of said transmitted beams and along a second nonparallel dimension for a second group of said transmitted beams; and second means for receiving a portion of said transmitted energy, decoding its polarization state and providing therefrom position signals indicative of the angular position of the received energy within said beam, said second means including means for providing as a function of the polarization state of the received energy from each beam of said first group of transmitted beams, signals indicative of the position within said beam along said first dimension and for providing as a function of the polarization state of the received energy from each beam of said second group of transmitted beams, signals indicative of the position within said beam along said second dimension.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said first means comprises a laser transmitter unit and a wedge of birefringent material disposed such that energy from said laser passes through said wedge.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
124 words
A system for providing position signals comprising: first means for transmitting a beam of electromagnetic energy which has encoded thereon, as a polarization state of the energy, angular position along first and second dimensions across said beam such that the polarization state of energy at a first wavelength is encoded along the first dimension and energy at a second wavelength is polarization encoded along the second nonparallel dimension; and second means for receiving a portion of said transmitted energy, decoding its polarization state and providing therefrom position signals indicative of the angular position of the received energy within said beam and along said first and second dimensions as a function of the polarization state of received energy at the first and second wavelengths, respectively.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
124 words
A system for providing position signals comprising: first means for transmitting a beam of electromagnetic energy which has encoded thereon, as a polarization state of the energy, angular position along first and second dimensions across said beam such that the polarization state of energy at a first wavelength is encoded along the first dimension and energy at a second wavelength is polarization encoded along the second nonparallel dimension; and second means for receiving a portion of said transmitted energy, decoding its polarization state and providing therefrom position signals indicative of the angular position of the received energy within said beam and along said first and second dimensions as a function of the polarization state of received energy at the first and second wavelengths, respectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said first means includes means for encoding said polarization states of the energy such that the transition of the polarization state is from elliptical polarization of a first sense at one edge of the beam, through linear polarization, to elliptical polarization of the opposite sense at the opposite edge of the beam.
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) | 1980-06-20 | 1980-12-20 | 1981-06-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-20 | 1984-12-20 | 1985-06-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-20 | 1988-12-20 | 1989-06-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |