Coordinate position detector

USH412H · kind H · statutory invention registration

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army · US

Inventors

• Walter E. Miller, Jr. · Huntsville, US
• Robert R. Mitchell · Huntsville, US
• Michael Jones · Pleasant Grove, US

Key dates

• Grant date: Jan 5, 1988

Classification

• Technology area (CPC —): General

Abstract

A linear detector array is positioned a fixed distance behind a narrow slot n an opaque mask. The array is oriented perpendicular to the slot as viewed from the "front", or direction of laser energy arrival. Light from the laser source, limited by the mask and slot, falls on only a few adjacent elements of the detector array, depending on the direction of arrival of the light. Further, since such crossed linear elements (slots and array) provide this measure of angle of arrival in the single direction perpendicular to the slot, two such systems of mask, detector linear array, and processing electronics may be employed (one rotated 90 degrees with respect to the other) to provide `vertical` and `horizontal` measurements of direction to the laser source.