← Back to Patent Explorer
US4174885A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Filter rotator for coherent optical correlation system

Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
•
Filing: 1978-01-16
•
Granted: 1979-11-20
•
Expires: 1998-01-16
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract In a coherent optical correlation system for detection of object images at unknown angular orientations, a holographic spatial filter in the transform plane of the system is rotated until a correlation beam is produced. The spatial filter is mounted on a rotating cylinder which carries a first mirror placed in the path of the correlation beam emitted from the filter and disposed to direct the beam toward the axis of rotation of the cylinder and a second mirror on the axis and intercepting the beam for directing the correlation beam substantially along the axis. A motor drives the cylinder about its axis and an optical encoding device associated with the rotating cylinder provides an electronic indication of the cylinder orientation at any given instant.

Inventors

  • 👤 Bernard W. Joseph
  • 👤 Aaron D. Gara

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 08:26
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06E; G06E3/00; G06E3/001; G06E3/003; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/42; G02B27/46

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 180 words
In a coherent optical correlation system having means to produce an input image in a plane intersecting an optical axis, means to produce a spatial transform of the image, and a hologram filter to be angularly oriented about said axis in relation to the spatial transform of the image wherein the hologram filter when properly oriented and exposed to the spatial transform of the image emits a correlation beam at a predetermined angle to the hologram filter and at an angle to the optical axis of the system, a filter rotator for angularly moving the filter about said axis comprising a housing rotatable about the optical axis and carrying the hologram filter for rotation therewith, a first mirror carried by the housing at an off-axis location for intercepting the correlation beam projected from the filter, the mirror being oriented to direct the correlation beam along a path intersecting the optical axis, and a second mirror carried by the housing at the location where the correlation beam intersects the axis and positioned to direct the correlation beam substantially along the axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 180 words
In a coherent optical correlation system having means to produce an input image in a plane intersecting an optical axis, means to produce a spatial transform of the image, and a hologram filter to be angularly oriented about said axis in relation to the spatial transform of the image wherein the hologram filter when properly oriented and exposed to the spatial transform of the image emits a correlation beam at a predetermined angle to the hologram filter and at an angle to the optical axis of the system, a filter rotator for angularly moving the filter about said axis comprising a housing rotatable about the optical axis and carrying the hologram filter for rotation therewith, a first mirror carried by the housing at an off-axis location for intercepting the correlation beam projected from the filter, the mirror being oriented to direct the correlation beam along a path intersecting the optical axis, and a second mirror carried by the housing at the location where the correlation beam intersects the axis and positioned to direct the correlation beam substantially along the axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 228 words
In a coherent optical correlation system having means to produce an input image in a plane intersecting an optical axis, means to produce a spatial transform of the image, and a hologram filter to be angularly oriented about said axis in relation to the spatial transform of the image wherein the hologram filter when properly oriented and exposed to the spatial transform of the image emits a correlation beam at a predetermined angle to the hologram filter and at an angle to the optical axis of the system, a filter rotator for angularly moving the filter about said axis comprising a housing rotatable about the optical axis and carrying the hologram filter for rotation therewith, motor means drivingly engaging the housing for effecting rotation thereof, angle encoder means comprising a code wheel mounted on said housing for rotation therewith and a stationary sensor means for detecting the angular position of the code wheel and producing a signal indicative of the spatial filter orientation, a first mirror carried by the housing at an off-axis location for intercepting the correlation beam projected from the filter, the mirror being oriented to direct the correlation beam along a path intersecting the optical axis, and a second mirror carried by the housing at the location where the correlation beam intersects the axis and positioned to direct the correlation beam substantially along the axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 228 words
In a coherent optical correlation system having means to produce an input image in a plane intersecting an optical axis, means to produce a spatial transform of the image, and a hologram filter to be angularly oriented about said axis in relation to the spatial transform of the image wherein the hologram filter when properly oriented and exposed to the spatial transform of the image emits a correlation beam at a predetermined angle to the hologram filter and at an angle to the optical axis of the system, a filter rotator for angularly moving the filter about said axis comprising a housing rotatable about the optical axis and carrying the hologram filter for rotation therewith, motor means drivingly engaging the housing for effecting rotation thereof, angle encoder means comprising a code wheel mounted on said housing for rotation therewith and a stationary sensor means for detecting the angular position of the code wheel and producing a signal indicative of the spatial filter orientation, a first mirror carried by the housing at an off-axis location for intercepting the correlation beam projected from the filter, the mirror being oriented to direct the correlation beam along a path intersecting the optical axis, and a second mirror carried by the housing at the location where the correlation beam intersects the axis and positioned to direct the correlation beam substantially along the axis.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3511571A Cited
US3666359A Cited
US3822087A Cited
US3762819A Cited
US4111526A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1982-11-19 1983-05-21 1983-11-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1986-11-19 1987-05-21 1987-11-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1990-11-19 1991-05-21 1991-11-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag