US4403148A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electro-optical scanning and display system
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1981-05-07
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Granted: 1983-09-06
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Expires: 2001-05-07
Abstract
Abstract An electro-optical system including a scanning mirror for scanning an image across an array of radiation detectors. An analog signal generated by the scanning mechanism is utilized to provide a sweep signal in a first axis. A second sweep signal in another axis is operated independently of the first sweep signal. The outputs of the detector array are electronically multiplexed through a plurality of channels and integrated between successive samplings of each detector. A provision for equalizing the outputs of each detector in the array is included. The output of the electronic multiplexer may be utilized to provide a video display in conjunction with the sweep signals, or may be applied to a conventional optical display.
Inventors
- 👤 Bryan H. Coon
- 👤 Wallace A. Kluck
- 👤 Billy W. Radke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:48
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N3/00; H04N3/02; H04N3/08; H04N3/09; H04N23/00; H04N23/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
An electro-optical system comprising: an array of radiation detecting elements; a rotatable scanning means arranged to scan radiation across said array, including means for generating an analog signal indicative of the rotation thereof; an electronic multiplexer for sequentially sampling the outputs of the detecting elements in said array; and a visual display system including a scanned raster device having a spot intensity modulator coupled to the output of said multiplexer and at least one sweep circuit driven by said analog signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
An electro-optical system comprising: an array of radiation detecting elements; a rotatable scanning means arranged to scan radiation across said array, including means for generating an analog signal indicative of the rotation thereof; an electronic multiplexer for sequentially sampling the outputs of the detecting elements in said array; and a visual display system including a scanned raster device having a spot intensity modulator coupled to the output of said multiplexer and at least one sweep circuit driven by said analog signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electro-optical system according to claim 1, wherein the rotation of said rotatable scanning means is reciprocal in nature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electro-optical system according to claim 2, wherein said analog signal comprises a tri-angular waveform.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electro-optical system according to claim 3, wherein said means for generating said analog signal includes a Hall-effect transducer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electro-optical system according to claim 1, wherein said visual display system further includes a plurality of radiation emitters coupled to the output of said detecting elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electro-optical system according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of radiation emitters comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electro-optical system according to claim 1, wherein said array of radiation detecting elements comprises a plurality of infrared radiation detecting elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
An electro-optical system comprising: an array of radiation detecting elements; a rotatable scanning means arranged to scan radiation across said array; an electronic multiplexer for sequentially sampling the outputs of the detecting elements in said array; and a visual display system including a scanned raster device having a spot intensity modulator coupled to the output of said multiplexer, a horizontal sweep generator and a vertical sweep generator, said vertical sweep generator operating at a constant rate and said horizontal sweep generator operating independently of said vertical sweep generator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
An electro-optical system comprising: an array of radiation detecting elements; a rotatable scanning means arranged to scan radiation across said array; an electronic multiplexer for sequentially sampling the outputs of the detecting elements in said array; and a visual display system including a scanned raster device having a spot intensity modulator coupled to the output of said multiplexer, a horizontal sweep generator and a vertical sweep generator, said vertical sweep generator operating at a constant rate and said horizontal sweep generator operating independently of said vertical sweep generator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electro-optical system according to claim 8, wherein said visual display system further includes a plurality of radiation emitters coupled to the output of said detecting elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electro-optical system according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of radiation emitters comprise a plurality of light emitting diodes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electro-optical system according to claim 8, wherein said array of radiation detecting elements comprise a plurality of infrared radiation detecting elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electro-optical system according to claim 8, wherein the output of said horizontal sweep generator is an analog signal corresponding to the instantaneous angular position of said rotatable scanning means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The electro-optical system according to claim 8, wherein the output of said vertical sweep generator comprises a periodic signal, the period of which corresponds to the amount of time required by said electronic multiplexer for sequentially sampling the output of each of said detecting elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
An electro-optical system comprising: an array of radiation detecting elements; a rotatable scanning means arranged to scan radiation entering the system across said array; an electronic multiplexer for sequentially sampling the outputs of the detecting elements in said array including means for integrating the output of each detecting element between successive samplings of said detecting element; and a visual display system including a scanned raster device having a spot intensity modulator coupled to the output of said multiplexer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
78 words
An electro-optical system comprising: an array of radiation detecting elements; a rotatable scanning means arranged to scan radiation entering the system across said array; an electronic multiplexer for sequentially sampling the outputs of the detecting elements in said array including means for integrating the output of each detecting element between successive samplings of said detecting element; and a visual display system including a scanned raster device having a spot intensity modulator coupled to the output of said multiplexer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electro-optical system according to claim 14, wherein said array of radiation detecting elements comprise a plurality of infrared radiation detecting elements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electro-optical system according to claim 14, wherein said visual display system further includes a plurality of radiation emitters coupled to the output of said detecting elements.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electro-optical system according to claim 16, wherein said plurality of radiation emitters comprise a plurality of light emitting diodes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electro-optical system according to claim 14, wherein said integrating means includes a capacitor, and means for rapidly discharging said capacitor after each successive sampling of said detecting element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
123 words
In an electro-optical system having an array of radiation detecting elements, a rotatable scanning means arranged to scan radiation across said array, an electronic multiplexer for sequentially sampling the outputs of the detecting elements in said array and a scanned raster display device, a method for visually displaying the output comprising the steps of: generating an analog signal indicative of the rotation of said rotatable scanning means; utilizing said analog signal as a first sweep signal in a first axis of said scanned raster display device; providing a second sweep signal in a second axis of said scanned raster display device; and modulating the intensity of the display of said scanned raster display device in accordance with the output of said electronic multiplexer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
123 words
In an electro-optical system having an array of radiation detecting elements, a rotatable scanning means arranged to scan radiation across said array, an electronic multiplexer for sequentially sampling the outputs of the detecting elements in said array and a scanned raster display device, a method for visually displaying the output comprising the steps of: generating an analog signal indicative of the rotation of said rotatable scanning means; utilizing said analog signal as a first sweep signal in a first axis of said scanned raster display device; providing a second sweep signal in a second axis of said scanned raster display device; and modulating the intensity of the display of said scanned raster display device in accordance with the output of said electronic multiplexer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 19 wherein said second sweep signal is independent of said first sweep signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 19 wherein said analog signal comprises a triangular waveform.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
107 words
In an electro-optical system having an array of radiation detecting elements, a rotatable scanning means arranged to scan radiation across said array, an electronic multiplexer for sequentially sampling the outputs of the detecting elements in said array and a scanned raster display device, a method for visually displaying the output comprising the steps of: generating horizontal and vertical sweep signals and applying said sweep signals to said scanned raster display device; integrating the output of each detecting element in said array between successive samplings of said detecting element; and modulating the intensity of the display of said scanned raster display device in accordance with said integrated outputs.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
107 words
In an electro-optical system having an array of radiation detecting elements, a rotatable scanning means arranged to scan radiation across said array, an electronic multiplexer for sequentially sampling the outputs of the detecting elements in said array and a scanned raster display device, a method for visually displaying the output comprising the steps of: generating horizontal and vertical sweep signals and applying said sweep signals to said scanned raster display device; integrating the output of each detecting element in said array between successive samplings of said detecting element; and modulating the intensity of the display of said scanned raster display device in accordance with said integrated outputs.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 22 wherein said horizontal sweep signal is independent of said vertical sweep signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
102 words
In an electro-optical system having an array of radiation detecting elements, a rotatable scanning means arranged to scan radiation across said array, an electronic multiplexer for sequentially sampling the outputs of the detecting elements in said array and a scanned raster display device, a method of effectively equalizing the outputs of each of said detecting elements comprising the steps of: providing an equal intensity test signal to each of said detecting elements; integrating the output of each of said detecting elements across a resistive/capacitive network; and adjusting said resistive/capacitive network to provide an equal intensity output from each of said detecting elements.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
102 words
In an electro-optical system having an array of radiation detecting elements, a rotatable scanning means arranged to scan radiation across said array, an electronic multiplexer for sequentially sampling the outputs of the detecting elements in said array and a scanned raster display device, a method of effectively equalizing the outputs of each of said detecting elements comprising the steps of: providing an equal intensity test signal to each of said detecting elements; integrating the output of each of said detecting elements across a resistive/capacitive network; and adjusting said resistive/capacitive network to provide an equal intensity output from each of said detecting elements.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 24 wherein said adjusting step comprises the step of trimming the resistive element in said resistive/capacitive network.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 24 wherein said adjusting step comprises the step of trimming the capacitive element in said resistive/capacitive network.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
88 words
In an electro-optical system having an array of radiation detecting elements, a rotatable scanning means arranged to scan radiation across said array, an electronic multiplexer for sampling the outputs of the detecting elements in said array and a display device, a method of decreasing effective buss capacitance at the output buss of said electronic multiplexer comprising the steps of: sequentially sampling the outputs of each of said detecting elements; selectively coupling said sequentially sampled outputs of each of said detecting elements to said output buss through a diode.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
88 words
In an electro-optical system having an array of radiation detecting elements, a rotatable scanning means arranged to scan radiation across said array, an electronic multiplexer for sampling the outputs of the detecting elements in said array and a display device, a method of decreasing effective buss capacitance at the output buss of said electronic multiplexer comprising the steps of: sequentially sampling the outputs of each of said detecting elements; selectively coupling said sequentially sampled outputs of each of said detecting elements to said output buss through a diode.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 27 wherein said selective coupling step comprises the step of controlling a switching transistor interposed between said detecting element and said diode.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
124 words
In an electro-optical system having an array of radiation detecting elements, a rotatable scanning means arranged to scan radiation across said array, an electronic multiplexer for sequentially sampling the outputs of the detecting elements in said array and a scanned raster display device, a method for visually displaying the output comprising the steps of: generating an external analog signal synchronized to the rotation of said rotatable scanning means; utilizing said analog signal as a first sweep signal in a first axis of said scanned raster display device; providing a second sweep signal in a second axis of said scanned raster display device; and modulating the intensity of the display of said scanned raster display device in accordance with the output of said electronic multiplexer.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
124 words
In an electro-optical system having an array of radiation detecting elements, a rotatable scanning means arranged to scan radiation across said array, an electronic multiplexer for sequentially sampling the outputs of the detecting elements in said array and a scanned raster display device, a method for visually displaying the output comprising the steps of: generating an external analog signal synchronized to the rotation of said rotatable scanning means; utilizing said analog signal as a first sweep signal in a first axis of said scanned raster display device; providing a second sweep signal in a second axis of said scanned raster display device; and modulating the intensity of the display of said scanned raster display device in accordance with the output of said electronic multiplexer.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 29 wherein said second sweep signal is independent of said first sweep signal.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 29 wherein said analog signal comprises a triangular waveform.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-09-05 | 1987-03-07 | 1987-09-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-09-05 | 1991-03-07 | 1991-09-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-09-05 | 1995-03-07 | 1995-09-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |