Automatic guidance apparatus

Claim 1

Apparatus suitable for automatically guiding a moving object relative to a predetermined path defined by a stripe of material capable of emitting, upon X-ray irradiation thereof, secondary X-ray waves characteristic of said material comprising: radiation means mountable on the object for irradiating the path with electromagnetic waves of a wavelength chosen within the X-ray spectrum to cause excitation and emission of secondary X-ray waves of a predetermined wavelength from the stripe defining the path; two detectors located in a spaced-apart relationship on the object, the detectors being selectively responsive to the intensity of the characteristic secondary X-ray waves emitted from said stripe; comparison means connected to the detectors for comparing the detector outputs and providing an output signal related to the intensities of the detected characteristic secondary X-ray waves; and servo means connected to the comparison means for adjusting the direction of movement of the object relative to the path in accordance with the output signal received from the comparison means.

Claim 9

A method for automatically guiding a moving object relative to a path defined by a stripe of material capable of emitting, upon X-ray irradiation thereof, secondary X-ray waves characteristic of said material, comprising the steps of: irradiating a path from a source on the object with electromagnetic waves of a wavelength chosen within the X-ray spectrum for causing excitation and emission of characteristic secondary X-ray waves of predetermined wavelength from the stripe defining the path; detecting the intensities of the characteristic secondary X-ray waves, emitted along the path, from spaced apart positions on the object; comparing the detected characteristic secondary X-ray wave intensities to obtain an electric signal related to the relative inequality between the detected intensities; and adjusting the position of the object to a predetermined position relative to the path in response to said electric signal.

Claim 10

A method for automatically guiding a moving object relative to a path defined by a stripe of material capable of emitting, upon X-ray irradiation thereof, secondary X-ray waves characteristic of said material, comprising the steps of: irradiating a path from a source on the object with electromagnetic waves of a wavelength chosen within the X-ray spectrum for causing excitation and emission of characteristic secondary X-ray waves of predetermined wavelength from the stripe defining the path; detecting the intensities of the characteristic secondary X-ray waves, emitted along the path, from spaced apart positions on the object; comparing the detected characteristic secondary X-ray wave intensities to obtain an electric signal related to the relative inequality between the detected intensities; and adjusting the position of the object to a predetermined position relative to the path in response to said electric signal.