Radiant energy detection system for the angular location of a light-radiating object
US4112294A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 22, 1977 |
| Grant date | Sep 5, 1978 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 22, 1997 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S3/786
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A radiant energy detection system which allows angular location in bearing and elevation by using a simple detector element and a static mask preferably formed by a PLZT strip between two intersecting polarizers. A control circuit operates the mask to provide a configuration having a transparent zone equal to n measurement quadrants (n being a whole number equal to 1, 2 or 3) and an opaque zone equal to the remaining 4-n quadrants, and to bring about four successive operating states which are distinguished one from the next by an angular displacement of .pi./2 radians around the optical axis. The control circuit operates further a switching circuit synchronously with the mask to connect the output of the detector successively to four reception channels each of which includes a high speed memory. A measuring circuit calculates the angular location from the four detected signal values stored in the memory.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.