Patent US4330705A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4330705A
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Optical tracking device using interlaced images
Assignee: BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems Inc
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Filing: 1980-01-15
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Granted: 1982-05-18
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Expires: 2000-01-15
Abstract
Abstract A stellar tracking device for providing increased interpolation accuracy for locating the centroid of a stellar image on a charge transfer device (CTD) array. A beam splitter splits the beam from a star being tracked into two separate and distinct beams which are focused by a lens as separate images on the surface of the CTD array. The beam splitter and lens are configured so that the two beams are spatially phase shifted (interlaced) in each axis of the array by one half of a cycle of the transfer function of a group of pixels made up of individual CTD elements. By combining the signals derived from separate subsets of pixels associated with the two separate images, a more linear transfer function for interpolation of the centroid of the beam is achieved than can be obtained by using only a single image.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerome C. Kollodge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:37
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01S3/7864
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for defining the position of a light-emitting object comprising the steps of: splitting the beam of light from the light emitting object to form at least two beams of light; focusing the two beams of light onto an array of light sensitive elements each light sensitive element generating an electrical signal related the amount of light focused thereon; generating a first beam signal from a first subset of the light sensitive elements; generating a second beam signal from a second subset of the light sensitive elements; and combining the first and second beam signals to form a composite signal representing the position of the light-emitting object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for defining the position of a light-emitting object comprising the steps of: splitting the beam of light from the light emitting object to form at least two beams of light; focusing the two beams of light onto an array of light sensitive elements each light sensitive element generating an electrical signal related the amount of light focused thereon; generating a first beam signal from a first subset of the light sensitive elements; generating a second beam signal from a second subset of the light sensitive elements; and combining the first and second beam signals to form a composite signal representing the position of the light-emitting object.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for defining the position of a light-emitting object comprising the steps of: splitting the beam of light from the light emitting object to form at least first and second beams of light; focusing said first beam of light onto a first subset of elements of an array of light sensitive elements, each light sensitive element generating an electrical signal related to the amount of light focused thereon; focusing said second beam of light onto a second subset of elements of an array of light sensitive elements, each light sensitive element generating an electrical signal related to the amount of light focused thereon; generating a first beam signal from said first subset of the light sensitive elements by subtracting a signal developed from at least one element of said first subset from a signal from at least one other element of said second subset; generating a second beam signal from said second subset of the light sensitive elements by subtracting a signal developed from at least one element of said second subset from a signal developed from at least one other element of said second subset; and combining the first and second beam signals to form a composite signal representing the position of the light-emitting object.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for defining the position of a light-emitting object comprising the steps of: splitting the beam of light from the light emitting object to form at least first and second beams of light; focusing said first beam of light onto a first subset of elements of an array of light sensitive elements, each light sensitive element generating an electrical signal related to the amount of light focused thereon; focusing said second beam of light onto a second subset of elements of an array of light sensitive elements, each light sensitive element generating an electrical signal related to the amount of light focused thereon; generating a first beam signal from said first subset of the light sensitive elements by subtracting a signal developed from at least one element of said first subset from a signal from at least one other element of said second subset; generating a second beam signal from said second subset of the light sensitive elements by subtracting a signal developed from at least one element of said second subset from a signal developed from at least one other element of said second subset; and combining the first and second beam signals to form a composite signal representing the position of the light-emitting object.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for defining the position of a light-emitting object comprising the steps of: providing an array of discrete light sensitive elements, each such element for generating an electrical signal related to the amount of light impinging thereon; splitting the beam of light from the light emitting object to form at least two beams of light impinging on the array in an optically interlaced manner; generating a first beam signal from a first subset of the light sensitive elements; generating a second beam signal from a second subset of the light sensitive elements; and combining the first and second beam signals to form a composite signal representing the position of the light-emitting object.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for defining the position of a light-emitting object comprising the steps of: providing an array of discrete light sensitive elements, each such element for generating an electrical signal related to the amount of light impinging thereon; splitting the beam of light from the light emitting object to form at least two beams of light impinging on the array in an optically interlaced manner; generating a first beam signal from a first subset of the light sensitive elements; generating a second beam signal from a second subset of the light sensitive elements; and combining the first and second beam signals to form a composite signal representing the position of the light-emitting object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
121 words
Apparatus for defining the position of a light-emitting object comprising: an array of light sensitive elements; means for splitting the beam of light from the light emitting object to form at least two beams of light; means for focusing the two beams of light onto said array of light sensitive elements, each light sensitive element generating an electrical signal related to the amount of light focused thereon; means for generating a first beam signal from a first subset of the light sensitive elements; means for generating a second beam signal from a second subset of the light sensitive elements; and means for combining the first and second beam signals to form a composite signal representing the position of the light-emitting object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
121 words
Apparatus for defining the position of a light-emitting object comprising: an array of light sensitive elements; means for splitting the beam of light from the light emitting object to form at least two beams of light; means for focusing the two beams of light onto said array of light sensitive elements, each light sensitive element generating an electrical signal related to the amount of light focused thereon; means for generating a first beam signal from a first subset of the light sensitive elements; means for generating a second beam signal from a second subset of the light sensitive elements; and means for combining the first and second beam signals to form a composite signal representing the position of the light-emitting object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said light sensitive elements are charge-transfer devices (CTDs).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said CTDs are charge-coupled devices (CCDs) or charge injection devices (CIDs).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said CTDs are charge injection devices (CIDs).
Claim 12
Independent Claim
63 words
An apparatus according to either of claims 4 or 5 wherein said means for generating a first beam signal comprises: means for generating a third signal from a first element within said first subset; means for generating a fourth signal from a second element within said first subset; and means for combining said third and fourth signals to form said first beam signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
63 words
An apparatus according to either of claims 4 or 5 wherein said means for generating a second beam signal comprises: means for generating a fifth signal from a first element within said second subset; means for generating a sixth signal from a second element within said second subset; and means for combining said fifth and sixth signals to form said second beam signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for defining the position of a light-emitting object comprising: an array of discrete light sensitive elements; means for providing optically interlaced beams of light from the light emitting object irradiating said array; means for generating first and second beam signals from first and second subsets of the light sensitive elements of said array, the optically interlaced beams falling on each of said first and second subsets of elements; means for combining the first and second beam signals to form a composite signal representing the position of the light-emitting object.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for defining the position of a light-emitting object comprising: an array of discrete light sensitive elements; means for providing optically interlaced beams of light from the light emitting object irradiating said array; means for generating first and second beam signals from first and second subsets of the light sensitive elements of said array, the optically interlaced beams falling on each of said first and second subsets of elements; means for combining the first and second beam signals to form a composite signal representing the position of the light-emitting object.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said means for providing optically interlaced beams includes a beam splitter.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to either of claims 10 or 11 wherein said array of light sensitive elements is an array of charge transfer devices.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
142 words
In an optical tracking system for determining the position of a light-emitting object, the system of the type including an array of light sensitive elements each producing a signal related to the amount of light impinging thereon and means for focusing a light beam from the light emitting object whose position is to be determined and means for interpreting the signals generated by the light sensitive elements, the improvement comprising: means for splitting the beam of light from the light-emitting object into first and second beams; means for focusing the first and second beams onto separate and distinct first and second subsets of elements of the array of light sensitive elements; means for generating first and second beam signals; and means for combining the first and second beam signals to form a composite signal indicative of the position of the light-emitting object.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
142 words
In an optical tracking system for determining the position of a light-emitting object, the system of the type including an array of light sensitive elements each producing a signal related to the amount of light impinging thereon and means for focusing a light beam from the light emitting object whose position is to be determined and means for interpreting the signals generated by the light sensitive elements, the improvement comprising: means for splitting the beam of light from the light-emitting object into first and second beams; means for focusing the first and second beams onto separate and distinct first and second subsets of elements of the array of light sensitive elements; means for generating first and second beam signals; and means for combining the first and second beam signals to form a composite signal indicative of the position of the light-emitting object.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
The improvement according to claim 13 wherein said means for generating a first beam signal comprises: means for generating a third signal from a first element within said second subset; means for generating a fourth signal from a second element within said second subset; and means for combining said third and fourth signals to form said first beam signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
The improvement according to claim 13 wherein said means for generating a second beam signal comprises: means for generating a fifth signal from a first element within said second subset; means for generating a sixth signal from a second element within said second subset; and means for combining said fifth and sixth signals to form said second beam signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
122 words
In an optical tracking system for determining the position of a light-emitting object, the system of the type including an array of light sensitive elements each producing a signal related to the amount of light impinging thereon and means for focusing a light beam from the light emitting object whose position is to be determined and means for interpreting the signals generated by the light sensitive elements, the improvement comprising: means for providing a pair of optically interlaced images of said light-emitting object impinging upon the array of light sensitive elements; means for generating separate signals related to the optically interlaced images; and means for combining the separate signals to generate a position signal related to the position of the light-emitting object.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
122 words
In an optical tracking system for determining the position of a light-emitting object, the system of the type including an array of light sensitive elements each producing a signal related to the amount of light impinging thereon and means for focusing a light beam from the light emitting object whose position is to be determined and means for interpreting the signals generated by the light sensitive elements, the improvement comprising: means for providing a pair of optically interlaced images of said light-emitting object impinging upon the array of light sensitive elements; means for generating separate signals related to the optically interlaced images; and means for combining the separate signals to generate a position signal related to the position of the light-emitting object.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
129 words
In a stellar tracker system of the type including an array of charge transfer devices (CTDs), each providing a signal related to the amount of light impinging thereon and including means for focusing a light beam from a star to be tracked and means for interpreting the signals generated by these CTDs, the improvement comprising: means for splitting the beam of light from a star to be tracked into first and second beams; means for focusing the first and second beams onto separate and distinct first and second subsets of CTD elements of the array so as to generate first and second beam signals; and means for combining the first and second beam signals to form a composite signal indicative of the position of the star to be tracked.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
129 words
In a stellar tracker system of the type including an array of charge transfer devices (CTDs), each providing a signal related to the amount of light impinging thereon and including means for focusing a light beam from a star to be tracked and means for interpreting the signals generated by these CTDs, the improvement comprising: means for splitting the beam of light from a star to be tracked into first and second beams; means for focusing the first and second beams onto separate and distinct first and second subsets of CTD elements of the array so as to generate first and second beam signals; and means for combining the first and second beam signals to form a composite signal indicative of the position of the star to be tracked.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
171 words
In an optical tracking system for determining the position of a light emitting object of the type including an aray of light sensitive elements, each producing a signal related to the amount of light impinging thereon and means for focusing a light beam from the light emitting object whose position is to be determined and means for interpreting the signals generated by the light sensitive elements, and an improved method comprising steps of: splitting the beam of light from the light emitting object to form at least two separate distinct beams of light; focusing the two beams of light onto the array of light sensitive elements, each light sensitive element generating an electrical signal relating to the amount of light focused thereon; generating a first beam signal from a first subset of the light sensitive elements; generating a second beam signal from a second subset of the light sensitive elements; and summing the first and second beam signals to form a composite signal representing the position of the light emitting object.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
171 words
In an optical tracking system for determining the position of a light emitting object of the type including an aray of light sensitive elements, each producing a signal related to the amount of light impinging thereon and means for focusing a light beam from the light emitting object whose position is to be determined and means for interpreting the signals generated by the light sensitive elements, and an improved method comprising steps of: splitting the beam of light from the light emitting object to form at least two separate distinct beams of light; focusing the two beams of light onto the array of light sensitive elements, each light sensitive element generating an electrical signal relating to the amount of light focused thereon; generating a first beam signal from a first subset of the light sensitive elements; generating a second beam signal from a second subset of the light sensitive elements; and summing the first and second beam signals to form a composite signal representing the position of the light emitting object.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
142 words
In a stellar tracker system for determining the position of a star of the type including an array of charge coupled devices each producing a signal related to the amount of light impinging thereon and means for focusing a light beam from the star being tracked whose position is to be determined and means for interrupting the signals generated from the charge transfer devices, and improved method for processing image signal comprising the steps of: splitting the beam of light from a star into first and second beams; chopping the resulting beams in a time dependent fashion to form at least two image signals; exposing the image signals on the array of charge transfer devices to produce an electrical signal corresponding thereto; storing each of the image signals; and subtracting the image signals from one another on a pixel by pixel basis.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
142 words
In a stellar tracker system for determining the position of a star of the type including an array of charge coupled devices each producing a signal related to the amount of light impinging thereon and means for focusing a light beam from the star being tracked whose position is to be determined and means for interrupting the signals generated from the charge transfer devices, and improved method for processing image signal comprising the steps of: splitting the beam of light from a star into first and second beams; chopping the resulting beams in a time dependent fashion to form at least two image signals; exposing the image signals on the array of charge transfer devices to produce an electrical signal corresponding thereto; storing each of the image signals; and subtracting the image signals from one another on a pixel by pixel basis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-05-17 | 1985-11-16 | 1986-05-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-05-17 | 1989-11-16 | 1990-05-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-05-17 | 1993-11-16 | 1994-05-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |