Range responsive apparatus
AssigneeThe Marconi Company Limited
InventorsThomas Hair, Ivor R. Baxter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides a range responsive apparatus primarily intended for operation at infra-red. A detector is arranged to receive electro-magnetic energy simultaneously from different spaced portions of a field of view which is caused to rotate so as to sweep across a target. The electrical output of the detector includes a frequency component which is dependent upon the range of the target. Two detectors are normally provided each receiving energy from alternate portions of the field of view, the outputs of the two detectors being combined in anti-phase. Use may be made of frequency filters to create one or more range windows and frequency responsive means provided either simply to give an indication of target presence within a range window or the actual range of the target.
Claims22
A range responsive apparatus comprising energy sensitive means arranged to receive electro-magnetic energy from a target simultaneously from different spaced portions of a field of view and being capable of producing an electrical output, and means for rotating said field of view about an axis of rotation to cause said field of view to sweep across a target, lines bounding the different portions of the field converging toward a point located remote from said target, and said axis of rotation being between said target and said point whereby, in operation, the electrical output of said energy sensitive means includes a frequency component which is dependent upon the range of said target.
A range responsive apparatus comprising energy sensitive means arranged to receive electro-magnetic energy from a target simultaneously from different portions of a field of view and being capable of producing an electrical output, and means for rotating said field of view about an axis of rotation to cause said field of view to sweep across a target and wherein lines bounding the different portions of the field of view are arranged to be divergent in the direction of the target with said lines converging at a point nearer than infinity, and said axis of rotation being between said target and said point, whereby, in operation, the electrical output of said energy sensitive means includes a frequency component which is dependent upon the range of said target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.