Orientation sensing means comprising photodetectors and projected fans of light

• US 3,375,375 A
• Filed: 01/08/1965
• Issued: 03/26/1968
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1965
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David S. Lane, Robert Abbey
• Original Assignee: David S. Lane, Robert Abbey
• Inventors: ROBERT ABBEY, Lane, David S.
• Application Number:
  US04/424,252
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• US Class Current: 250/216
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/225 Helmet sighting systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/163 Determination of attitude using inertial means G01C9/00; control of attitude G05D1/49
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 3/12 using feedback

Claims

6. APPARATUS TO DETERMINE THE DIRECTION OF A MAN'"'"''"'"'S LINE OF SIGHT RELATIVE TO A VEHICLE IN WHICH HE IS MOVING COMPRISING IN COMBINATION:

FIRST LIGHT DETECTING MEANS;

SECOND LIGHT DETECTING MEANS;

MEANS MOUNTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND DETECTING MEANS ON A MAN'"'"''"'"'S HEAD SO THAT THEY MOVE THEREWITH;

MEANS ROTATING A FIRST PLANAR FAN OF LIGHT ABOUT A FIRST AXIS WHICH IS FIXED TO THE VEHICLE;

MEANS ROTATING A SECOND PLANAR FAN OF LIGHT ABOUT A SECOND AXIS FIXED TO THE VEHICLE, SAID SECOND AXIS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST AXIS;

REFERENCE MEANS;

MEANS MOUNTING SAID REFERENCES MEANS TO SAID VEHICLE;

MEANS MEASURING THE TIME OF INCIDENCE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND FANS OF LIGHT ON SAID DETECTING MEANS RELATIVE TO THE TIME WHEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND FANS OF LIGHT ARE IN A PREDETERMINED POSITION RELATIVE TO THE VEHICLE AS INDICATED BY SAID REFERENCE MEANS, SAID MEASURING MEANS INDICATING THE POSITION OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND DETECTING MEANS RELATIVE TO THE VEHICLE.