Direction-sensing virtual aperture radiation detector

• US 3,951,550 A
• Filed: 08/12/1974
• Issued: 04/20/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Magnavox Electronic Systems Company
• Original Assignee: Magnavox (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Slick, E. Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilbur, Maynard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Buczinski, S. C.
• Application Number:
  US05/496,680
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 356/155, 356/152, 356/141, 356/172, 250/203 R, 250/342, 250/211 K, 250/239, 338/15, 338/18
• US Class Current: 356/141.5
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/225 Helmet sighting systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/272 using photoelectric detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/784 using a mosaic of detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/163 Determination of attitude using inertial means G01C9/00; control of attitude G05D1/49

Abstract

A radiation sensor for determining a direction, relative to the sensor, in which a radiation source is located. A plurality of elongated radiation detectors are located in a base plane of the sensor. In a plane, disposed before the base plane of the sensor, slits, associated with each radiation detector, are positioned at an angle with respect to direction of elongation of the associated radiation detector. The slits provide planes of radiation which intersect each elongated radiation detector. A coordinate of the intersection of the radiation with the detector is provided by output signals from the detector. The coordinates of the intersection of the radiation with the elongated detectors can determine the location of the radiation source when more than two radiation detectors (of which two are non-parallel) are utilized, or a direction of the radiation source when two non-parallel radiation detectors are utilized.

A plurality of sensors can determine the location of the radiation source through the intersection of the directions determined by the respective sensors. In addition, a plurality of detected radiation sources, coupled to an object, can locate a direction of a radiation source relative to the object.

Claims

1. A radiation sensing device, comprising:

a base unit;

a housing unit adapted to be coupled to said base unit, said housing unit and said base unit providing an interior chamber, said housing including a slit for admitting radiation to said chamber;

an elongated radiation detector coupled to said base unit, said detector positioned at an angle with respect to said slit; and

plural means electrically coupled to a first and a second end of said detector and separately measuring currents at the first and second end and whereby currents from said first end and said second end determine an intersection point of said admitted radiation with said detector.

2. The radiation sensing device of claim 1 further including first means for measuring current from said first detector end and second means for measuring current from said second detector end.

3. The radiation sensing device of claim 1 wherein said elongated detector includes a silicon material operated in a reverse bias mode.

4. A method of determining a plane containing a radiation source comprising the steps of:

establishing a line located in said plane by means of an elongated aperture through which radiation from said radiation source is transmitted; and

establishing a point in said plane by locating the intersection of said transmitted radiation on location of impact on a strip radiation detector, whereby said point is established by separately indicating currents at both a first and second end of said detector, said line and said point determining said plane containing said radiation source.

5. Apparatus for determining a direction of a radiation source relative to said apparatus comprising:

a housing unit for enclosing an interior chamber and having an imaging plane;

at least two elongated radiation detectors coupled to said housing in said chamber, said detectors responsive to radiation from said source, said detectors being positioned at an angle substantially perpendicular to each other;

at least two slits in said imaging plane in said housing unit, wherein each slit is associated with a radiation detector, said each slit is disposed in a non-parallel position relative to said associated detector;

at least one partition for isolating radiation entering said chamber by one slit from non-associated detectors; and

means for determining a point of intersection with said each detector by radiation transmitted by the slit associated with said each radiation detector.

6. A device for determining a plane relative to said device containing a radiation source, comprising:

a detector responsive to radiation from said source, said detector being substantially smaller in a width dimension as compared to a length dimension;

a housing for enclosing said detector, said housing containing a slit-like aperture, wherein radiation entering said housing by said slit interacts with said detector; and

plural means separately indicating currents at a first and second end of said detector thereby establishing a point of intersection with said detector of said entering radiation.

7. Apparatus for determining an orientation of a first object relative to a second object comprising:

at least one of a plurality of radiation sources coupled to said first object, radiation from each radiation source being provided with an identifying property;

a plurality of slit-like apertures coupled to said second object for transmitting radiation from said plurality of radiation sources;

a plurality of elongated radiation detectors, each of said detectors for detecting radiation transmitted by an associated one of said apertures, wherein positions of said detector and said associated slit-like aperture are maintained in a preestablished spatial relationship; and

plural means associated with each of said detectors and separately indicating currents at a first and second end of each detector for determining a point of intersection of radiation transmitted by said associated aperture with said detector, each point of intersection and said associated slit-like apertures defining a plane containing said at least one radiation source.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further including apparatus for determining an intersection of a plurality of planes by said plurality of detectors and associated slit-like apertures.

9. A radiation sensor for determining a plane in which a radiation source is located, comprising:

a radiation detector responsive to radiation from said radiation source, wherein said detector is generally planar and has one long and one narrow dimension;

a housing generally disposed between said radiation detector and said radiation source, said housing including a slit, wherein said slit is non-parallel to said radiation detector; and

plural means separately indicating currents from said radiation detector, said currents related to a point of detected radiation on the radiation detector.