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:
Dec. 28, 1993
Filed:
Dec. 02, 1992
John R Wootton, St. Louis, MO (US);
Gary Waldman, St. Louis, MO (US);
Gregory L Hobson, St. Peters, MO (US);
Electronics & Space Corp., St. Louis, MO (US);
Abstract
Apparatus (10) is provided for designating a plurality of objects (E1-E3) within a field of view (FOV) and for thereafter simultaneously tracking each of the objects. A field of view is first defined in which one or more objects may be located. A laser beam generator (12) generates a laser beam (B) and directs it into the field of view. A beam steering mechanism (14) steers the laser beam throughout the field of view for it to strike each of the objects appearing therein. A coder unit (22) generates a code uniquely designating each object. A multiple target tracker (20) thereafter simultaneously tracks each separate object. The tracker controls the steering mechanism to sequentially steer the laser beam to each designated object. The laser, via the steering mechanism, illuminates all, or one or more, of the desginated, tracked targets within the field of view.