Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A procedure for detecting and counting objects having velocities and that are in a certain area, wherein background radiation caused by each object is divided into a succession of flashes which hit a surface, said procedure comprising the steps of: detecting background radiation which impinges upon said surface with at least one passive detector and outputting a first electrical signal having a frequency that is characteristic of the velocity of each object and that changes in proportion to a change in the velocity of each object, amplifying said first signal obtained from said detector to produce a second signal which is independent of both the size of each object and the distance of each object from said detector, analyzing the frequency content of said second signal to detect and chart the movements of said objects, and producing a third signal having a frequency content indicative of the movement of each object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A procedure for detecting and counting objects having velocities and that are in a certain area, wherein background radiation caused by each object is divided into a succession of flashes which hit a surface, said procedure comprising the steps of: detecting background radiation which impinges upon said surface with at least one passive detector and outputting a first electrical signal having a frequency that is characteristic of the velocity of each object and that changes in proportion to a change in the velocity of each object, amplifying said first signal obtained from said detector to produce a second signal which is independent of both the size of each object and the distance of each object from said detector, analyzing the frequency content of said second signal to detect and chart the movements of said objects, and producing a third signal having a frequency content indicative of the movement of each object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A procedure according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: producing flashes of background radiation using radiation directing means having surficial discontinuity zones, said radiation detecting means being integral with or in front of said detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for implementing the procedure of claim 1, comprising: at least one detector for passively detecting background radiation and outputting a detector signal, an automatic gain control unit, a plurality of narrow-band filters for identifying changes in the frequency of the detector signal, and counting logic means for interpreting the detector signal, wherein the detector is provided with background radiation receiving means, said means being placed directly on or in front of said detector and provided with equispaced surficial discontinuity zones and differing from each other in respect of their penetrability by said background radiation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said background radiation receiving means further comprises a radiation directing means having equispaced zones which neither reflect nor admit the radiation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said background radiation receiving means comprises one or more lenses provided with a plurality of equispaced vertical strips capable of inhibiting the passage of radiation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said background radiation receiving means comprises radiation directing means provided with a plurality of equispaced holes capable of inhibiting the passage of light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said background radiation receiving means comprises a polarizing optical device having alternate areas permeable and impermeable to said radiation and capable of being electrically controlled.