US4041307A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Positioning a platform with respect to rays of a light source
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1976-06-07
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Granted: 1977-08-09
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Expires: 1996-06-07
Abstract
Abstract An opaque open-ended cylindrical tube, with a flange on one end, has its other end connected to a surface of a platform with the axis of the cylinder normal to the surface. When rays of the sun are substantially normal to the surface, a lens causes a concentrted illumination of a group of tracking photocells carried on the surface within the cylinder. In response to the concentrated illumination, the tracking photocells provide signals that cause the platform to rotate in a direction that maintains the surface substantially normal to the rays of the sun. Additionally, outside of the cylinder and adjacent thereto, a group of acquisition photocells are shielded by the flange from the sun when the rays thereof are substantially normal to the surface. When there is a large angle between a normal to the surface and the rays of the sun, the acquisition photocells provide signals that cause the platform to rotate in a direction that reduces the angle.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis Sebastian Napoli
- 👤 Richard Everet Marx
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 03:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01S3/7861; F; F24; F24S; F24S50/00; F24S50/20; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/26; G01B11/27; G01B11/272; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/47
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
Apparatus for maintaining a platform in a desired attitude with respect to rays from a source of light energy, comprising: an opaque, open-ended, tubular member having a bottom disposed upon a surface of said platform to enclose a tracking area thereon where a first imaginary line is a projection of an axis of rotation of said platform and a second imaginary line is substantially orthogonal to said first line; a lens mounted within said member to concentrate upon said tracking area rays of the light energy substantially normal to said surface; a pair of first tracking sensors carried by said tracking area on opposite sides of said first line and along said second line, each first tracking sensor providing a first tracking signal having an amplitude in direct relation to the quantity of received light; a pair of first acquisition sensors, carried by said surface outside of said tubular member along said second line on opposite sides of said first line, each first acquisition sensor providing a first acquisition signal having an amplitude in direct relation to the quantity of received light; and a transducer coupled to said first sensors for rotating said platform about said axis in response to a difference between said first tracking signals and in response to a difference between said first acquisition signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
Apparatus for maintaining a platform in a desired attitude with respect to rays from a source of light energy, comprising: an opaque, open-ended, tubular member having a bottom disposed upon a surface of said platform to enclose a tracking area thereon where a first imaginary line is a projection of an axis of rotation of said platform and a second imaginary line is substantially orthogonal to said first line; a lens mounted within said member to concentrate upon said tracking area rays of the light energy substantially normal to said surface; a pair of first tracking sensors carried by said tracking area on opposite sides of said first line and along said second line, each first tracking sensor providing a first tracking signal having an amplitude in direct relation to the quantity of received light; a pair of first acquisition sensors, carried by said surface outside of said tubular member along said second line on opposite sides of said first line, each first acquisition sensor providing a first acquisition signal having an amplitude in direct relation to the quantity of received light; and a transducer coupled to said first sensors for rotating said platform about said axis in response to a difference between said first tracking signals and in response to a difference between said first acquisition signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said tubular member is a hollow cylinder with its axis normal to said surface, said cylinder having a flanged top that shields said acquisition sensors from said source when rays thereof are parallel to the axis of said cylinder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, and in addition: a pair of second tracking sensors carried by said tracking area on opposite sides of said second line and along said first line, each second tracking sensor providing a second tracking signal in direct relation to the quantity of received light; a pair of second acquisition sensors carried by said surface outside of said tubular member along said first line on opposite sides of said second line, each second acquisition sensor providing a second acquisition signal having an amplitude in direct relation to the quantity of received light; and a transducer coupled to said second sensors for rotating said platform about an axis parallel to said second line in response to a difference between said second tracking signals and in response to a difference between said second acquisition signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said transducer comprises: a differential amplifier having inverting and non-inverting input terminals connected to sensors on one side of said first line and the other side of said first line, respectively; and a motor operable to rotate said platform about said first axis, the input of said motor being connected to the output of said amplifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said sensors are diode photocells.
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) | 1980-08-08 | 1981-02-07 | 1981-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-08 | 1985-02-07 | 1985-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-08 | 1989-02-07 | 1989-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |