Patent · US Expired

Carrier tracking system

US4666103A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
4References
13Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 4, 1980
Grant dateMay 19, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 4, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF41G7/30
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An infrared tracker for tracking a carrier in clutter comprises a pyrotechnically heated emitter, a beam concentrator, and a blanking means all of which are mounted on the carrier, and a command link, a thermal detector, a display signal storage means, a display, and a comparator all of which are located remotely to the carrier, said command link operative to provide an emitter start-up signal and a blanking command signal, said emitter and blanking means operative in response to the command signals sent to the carrier when there is clutter present that might be confused with the carrier, respectively, to actuate the emitter and blanking means, said display storage means operative to store a first video frame of the carrier while the emitter is blanked out, and said comparator for comparing the first video frame without the emitter to a subsequent video frame including the emitter to distinguish between the clutter and the carrier.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.