US4910410A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article orientation by sensing beam arrival times at plural detectors
Assignee: BAE Systems PLC
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Filing: 1988-10-06
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Granted: 1990-03-20
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Expires: 2008-10-06
Abstract
Abstract A technique for providing roll orientation information for a course corrected projectile in which the projectile is provided with three off-axis detectors subjected to a scanning laser beam. The time which elapses between the laser beam travelling from one detector to another is all that is required to calculate the roll orientation of the projectile.
Inventors
- 👤 John Workman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:10
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41G; F41G7/00; F41G7/20; F41G7/24; F41G7/26; F41G7/266; F41G7/30; F41G7/301; F41G7/305
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
A device for determining orientation of an article comprising: means for sweeping a beam of electromagnetic radiation across said article; at least three spaced apart detectors on said article for detecting said beam of electromagnetic radiation swept; and means for calculation of the orientation of the article solely from beam arrival times at each of the detectors.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
57 words
A device for determining orientation of an article comprising: means for sweeping a beam of electromagnetic radiation across said article; at least three spaced apart detectors on said article for detecting said beam of electromagnetic radiation swept; and means for calculation of the orientation of the article solely from beam arrival times at each of the detectors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said means for sweeping comprises a horizontal scan and a vertical scan and said detectors are offset from a central axis of the article.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the detectors are all positioned at the same radial distance from the central axis of the article.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the detectors are equiangularly spaced around the central axis of the article.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device according to claim 1 or 2 comprising means for sensing the order in which the beam impinges on the detectors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 1 or 2 comprising filter means for filtering out background radiation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 1 or 2 which rolls during flight comprising means for calculating its roll orientation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 7 further including a gyroscope for providing roll orientation information at relatively long range from the source of the beam.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for determining the orientation of an article comprising the steps of: providing at least three spaced apart detectors on said article; sweeping a beam of electromagnetic radiation across each of said detectors on the article; and calculating the orientation of the article solely from beam arrival times at the detectors.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for determining the orientation of an article comprising the steps of: providing at least three spaced apart detectors on said article; sweeping a beam of electromagnetic radiation across each of said detectors on the article; and calculating the orientation of the article solely from beam arrival times at the detectors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said calculating step includes the step of evaluating the order in which the beam impinges on the detectors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein said scanning step comprises scanning a beam of electromagnetic radiation so as to define an information field.
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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) | 1993-03-19 | 1993-09-18 | 1994-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-03-19 | 1997-09-18 | 1998-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-03-19 | 2001-09-18 | 2002-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |