Method and apparatus for determining the distance to an object emitting an IR signature
US8586929B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 10, 2009 |
| Grant date | Nov 19, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 1, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S11/12
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In a method for determining the distance of an object flying through the atmosphere and emitting radiation energy, the spectral intensity distribution of the radiation emitted by the object in a predefined wavelength range is detected. An intensity distribution spectrum of the object is measured in the region of an absorption structure of the atmosphere, and a point having an extremal gradient on a flank of an intensity rise or fall, caused by the atmospheric absorption structure, in the measured intensity distribution spectrum is determined. The path length traveled by the radiation through the atmosphere, and therefore also the distance between the detector and the object, are determined by comparison with known transmission data for the atmosphere.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.