Positive automatic target locator indentification system (ATLIS), for ATR system testing

Claim 1

A method to record the identity and position of a plurality of moving targets, as a function of real time as well as corresponding identities and positions obtained by an ATR system undergoing test; comprising of the following steps: A. Mounting and arranging a source of visible radiation on each target, the source being limited to a narrow band of wavelengths unique for each target; B. Scanning the targets with a TV-type camera so as to obtain a standard video signal defining a series of fields divided into scan lines and the latter divisible into pixels with different analog values; C. Introducing a filter, having the same bandwidth as one of the above sources, between the camera and the targets for a sampling period equal to at least two consecutive field scans; D. Sampling the intensity and x-y position of each pixel within said sampling period; E. Permanently storing the x-y position and intensity of at least the most intense pixel in each line, during the sampling period; F. Reading and storing a digital bar code identification of the filter associated with the sampling period and all target data generated by at least one ATR being tested during the same period.

Claim 2

A method to record the identity and position of a plurality of moving targets, as a function of real time as well as corresponding identities and positions obtained by an ATR system undergoing test; comprising of the following steps: A. Mounting and arranging a source of visible radiation on each target, the source being limited to a narrow band of wavelengths unique for each target; B. Scanning the targets with a TV-type camera so as to obtain a standard video signal defining a series of fields divided into scan lines and the latter divisible into pixels with different analog values; C. Introducing a filter, having the same bandwidth as one of the above sources, between the camera and the targets for a sampling period equal to at least two consecutive field scans; D. Sampling the intensity and x-y position of each pixel within said sampling period; E. Permanently storing the x-y position and intensity of at least the most intense pixel in each line, during the sampling period; F. Reading and storing a digital bar code identification of the filter associated with the sampling period and all target data generated by at least one ATR being tested during the same period.

Claim 5

A system for recording the position and identity of a group of moving targets, during an ATR test, comprising: a narrow-band light source mounted on each of said targets, with bandwidth of each source being different; a multi-aperture rotating shutter mounted in the optical path of said camera, said shutter having a set of apertures each covered by a matched band-pass filter for one of said targets; motor means coupled between said camera and said shutter and synchronized with said camera to rotate a different one of said filters sequentially into said optical path for an integral number of fields; a computer to normalize digital x-y position and intensity data for each target; an analog to digital converter means coupled between said camera and said computer to sample said synchronization and video signals for each pixel to digitally define its x-y position and intensity; and a recorder to record said normalized data as well as data from any ATR, as a function of the angular position of said shutter means.

Claim 6

A system for recording the position and identity of a group of moving targets, during an ATR test, comprising: a narrow-band light source mounted on each of said targets, with bandwidth of each source being different; a multi-aperture rotating shutter mounted in the optical path of said camera, said shutter having a set of apertures each covered by a matched band-pass filter for one of said targets; motor means coupled between said camera and said shutter and synchronized with said camera to rotate a different one of said filters sequentially into said optical path for an integral number of fields; a computer to normalize digital x-y position and intensity data for each target; an analog to digital converter means coupled between said camera and said computer to sample said synchronization and video signals for each pixel to digitally define its x-y position and intensity; and a recorder to record said normalized data as well as data from any ATR, as a function of the angular position of said shutter means.