Detection of modulating elements
AssigneeBAE SYSTEMS plc
InventorsMark Edgar Bray, Jason John Lepley
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for detecting a modulating element of an object are described in which signal values are obtained from one or more optical detectors. A determination is made if there is a time dependent variation in the obtained signal values at the one or more optical detector and a modulating element is detected based on the determination.
Claims20
A method for detecting a modulating element of an object, the method comprising:
- obtaining signal values from one or more optical detectors, wherein the one or more optical detectors comprise four non-imaging optical detectors arranged as a quadrant detector;
- determining if there is a time dependent variation in the obtained signal values at the one or more optical detectors;
- and
- detecting a modulating element based on the determination.
Apparatus for detecting a modulating element of an object, comprising:
- means for obtaining signal values from one or more optical detectors;
- means for determining if there is a time dependent variation in the obtained signal values at the one or more optical detectors;
- means for detecting a modulating element based on the determination;
- means for using the determination to track the position of the modulating element;
- and
- means for providing a control signal based on the tracking of the modulating element for guiding an apparatus towards the detected element.
A computer program product including one or more non-transitory machine-readable mediums encoding instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause a process to be carried out for detecting a modulating element of an object, the process comprising:
- obtaining signal values from one or more optical detectors;
- determining if there is a time dependent variation in the obtained signal values at the one or more optical detectors;
- detecting a modulating element based on the determination;
- using the determination to track the position of the modulating element;
- and
- providing a control signal based on the tracking of the modulating element for guiding an apparatus towards the detected element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.