US4717822A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rosette scanning surveillance sensor
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1986-08-04
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Granted: 1988-01-05
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Expires: 2006-08-04
Abstract
Abstract A pair of rotating gimbals (12, 14) independently nutate and precess the line-of-sight (24) of a sensor (22) to generate a rosette pattern (26).
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W. Byren
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:54
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41G; F41G7/00; F41G7/20; F41G7/22; F41G7/2273; F41G7/2293; F41G7/2213; F41G7/2246; F41G7/2253; F42; F42B; F42B15/00; F42B15/01; G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
In an aircraft having a roll axis and including a window, a rosette scan surveillance and tracking apparatus providing a hyper-hemispherical field-of-regard, comprising: first means rotatable about a precession axis which is coaxial with the roll axis; second means rotatable about a nutation axis which is angled from the precession axis at a first angle; a sensor having a field-of-view rotatable with said second means and having a line-of-sight on a line-of-sight axis which intersects with the nutation axis at an intersection and is angled therefrom by an angle equal to the first angle; and means positioning the intersection of the line-of-sight axis and the nutation axis with respect to the window for minimizing the size thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
In an aircraft having a roll axis and including a window, a rosette scan surveillance and tracking apparatus providing a hyper-hemispherical field-of-regard, comprising: first means rotatable about a precession axis which is coaxial with the roll axis; second means rotatable about a nutation axis which is angled from the precession axis at a first angle; a sensor having a field-of-view rotatable with said second means and having a line-of-sight on a line-of-sight axis which intersects with the nutation axis at an intersection and is angled therefrom by an angle equal to the first angle; and means positioning the intersection of the line-of-sight axis and the nutation axis with respect to the window for minimizing the size thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for rotating said first and second means at respective frequencies which are correlated to provide specified rates and accuracies of scan.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said second means is mounted on said first means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said sensor is mounted on said second means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said second means is mounted on said first means and said sensor is mounted on said second means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said sensor is mounted on said first means, and further including relay optics and derotation optics mounted on said second means to relay the line-of-sight to said sensor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said second means is mounted on said first means and further including relay optics and derotation optics mounted on said second means to relay the line-of-sight to said sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said first means comprises a nose section secured to and journalled on said aircraft and rotatable about the precession/roll axis and supporting said window for enabling electromagnetic energy to be communicated between the interior and the exterior of said nose section, said second means and said sensor being housed within said nose section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising means for rotating said first and second means at respective frequencies which are correlated to provide specified rates and accuracies of scan.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 in which said second means is mounted on said first means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 in which said sensor is mounted on said second means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 in which said second means is mounted on said first means and said sensor is mounted on said second means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 in which said second means comprises a gimbal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising electro-optical apparatus additional to and functionally independent from said first and second means and said sensor contained within said nose section for providing additional electro-optical functions accessible through said window.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 14 in which said additional electro-optical apparatus comprises a laser range finder or an imaging sensor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the line-of-sight of said sensor is directed at a substantially non-perpendicular angle to said window, such that the electromagnetic energy defines a non-circular pattern on said window, and wherein said sensor includes an objective lens having a curvature which conforms the electromagnetic energy thereon to the pattern on said window.
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) | 1991-01-04 | 1991-07-06 | 1992-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-01-04 | 1995-07-06 | 1996-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-01-04 | 1999-07-06 | 2000-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |