The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 25, 1987
Filed:
Mar. 20, 1986
Otto Hofmann, Kirchstockach, DE;
Abstract
A device for use on aircraft or spacecraft provides data corresponding to the course and orientation of the craft, and a digital display of the terrain over which the craft is travelling. The device includes at least first, second and third sensor lines consisting of parallel rows of photosensitive semiconductor elements arranged transversely of the flight path of the craft. The sensor lines provide line images corresponding to terrain images directed onto the lines, and the lines are spaced apart from each other so that a first terrain image sensed by the lines during a first scanning period partially overlaps a second terrain image sensed by the lines during a second, successive scanning period. The device also includes a lens system for continuously directing the terrain images onto the lines, and systems for reading out and storing the line images from the sensor lines during each scanning period and for correlating certain picture reference points in the second terrain image with the same picture reference points in the first terrain image. A computer then operates to determine the orientation of the second terrain image in accordance with intersections, at each of the picture reference points on the terrain, of homologous image rays produced during the first and second scanning periods.