Sept. 25, 1956 A. R. KNIGHT V

Sept. 25, 1956 A. R. KNIGHT 2, 764,698 CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Nov. 23', 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1

77,15 Sept. 25, 1956 A. R. KNIGHT 2,764,698 CONTROL SYSTEM Filed NOV. 25, 1942 5 Sheets—Sheet 2

United States Patent '0 2,764,698 Patented Sept- 25, 1956 2 Figure 21is a sirnilar‘view of 'a reference image on an other iconoscope for purposes that will appear later. 2,764,698 Figure "3 illustrates the ‘relationship of'lig'ht- intensity with‘respect to time ‘fortheiicon'oscope mosaic of Fig CONTROL SYSTEM ure '1. 1 Arthur¢R.‘=Kniglit, Dayton,‘ Ohio Figure 4"il1u'stra-tes the relationship ‘of the'light' intensity with respect 'toltime ‘for‘th‘e iconoscope‘mosaic .of Fig Application November 23, 1942, Serial ~No.-.466,972 ure 2. ~ . ‘Figure 5 illustrates the differential light intensity with 8‘Cla'ims. (Cl; 250-214) I 10 ‘respect to‘ time (of the two iconoscope mosaics represented (Granted under Title 35, U.:S. Code ‘(1952), sec. .266) in Figures 1'and'2. Figure 6 illustrates‘the circuit diagram of one form of my invention. Figure 7 illustrates the. time relationshiprof the square The invention described herein may be-manufactured vwave voltage of the circuit, the sweep voltages of the and .usedby or ‘for vthe Government for governmental iconoscope, and the differential output voltages ‘of the purposes, without .the payment to='me of any royalty two iconoscopes. .thereon. ‘Figure ‘8 illustrates a bomb’having the invention there This invention relates to systems-of indication'and/or on. ‘ ' controland more particularly to indication or controlzof Figure 9.-.is a block diagram of-mytinventioncwhen used direction wherebyan object may be guided .to a‘ pre-v with an indicator. 1 determined location. ‘Figure 10 is -a "block diagramwof. my inventionwhen One-object of this invention is toprovide improved used to operate the direction control means of~an»‘air .means‘ of' indication and/or- control. Another object is to craft. .provide .means for guiding an ‘object into a ‘source of Referring now to Figure this apparent vthat-the target electromagnetic radiation. Another-object'is .to provide is square and'located-directly at the center-of the mosaic. means ofv direction control-in which the device controlled This is donev for purposes of illustration-only. ‘As’the is guided in "several ~ directions. beam sweeps from points a.to vbitis assumed-thatadark The inventionmay' be utilized in;-conjunction with background is swept. From .points :12 to -»c ‘the target various typesof movi g bodies incorporating direction emanates radiations which causes-an increase-in-~voltage - control means. The.principal application 'of=the1inven at the iconoscope. Fromt- to.-~d there iisiandark- back tion is forzguiding axbom‘b which ' has been. releasedifrom ground. The voltage vvariation (rnoththe sactual voltage) .-an aircraft =into. a-~source~of-radiations suchvas af-battle is illustrated inEigureJ'. Figure >4villustrates-the varia ship, ;.searchlight, powersiplant ‘or the Flike. Anotherzap tion inllightr-with. respectcto time :on the second iconoscope fplication isi‘forguidingza vwater-born'e; torpedo .boat into of. Figure. 2. This iconoscope is-exposedionl-y-:toiamef 12116116113]; warship. Still‘ another:applicationeresides Iin erencefimageeentered on the mosaic. , ' .theégui‘danee and landingaof aircraft. The . dilferential .light intensity ofthe two \iconoscopes The principle underlying :my invention willbefdescribed is .illustratedIin-Figure 5 which shows =two

other be guided :are intercepted:hyz-anaiconoscopeiof wellknown the vanes-t of the I bomb‘ are operated to'change \the "course .vform. The?image impressed on‘ th‘ezicon‘oscope is‘sWep't of the bomb. ‘by ~.the tbeam'zandwthe :image ‘resulting ‘on one half" of the vApparatus for-carrying out therinvention' as just de mosaiccisicompared ‘in; intensity with that on vthe other scribed -is illustrated .in vFigure -6. In ithis-t?gurerthe (half; -Assuming .: as would 'be the‘lcase You a dark night iconoscope 20 .hastwo‘horizontal-plates 21 ‘and 22*Iand "or on‘ a- day in which; confusing rre?ections' ' were ‘absent vertica-laplates 123 and..24. ‘By horizontal and vertical that~ the :radiating ‘targetxto (be destroyed ‘by the ‘bomb ,p1ates,-~I..do not mean they have rsuch‘relation's'liip' with emits large. quantities.‘ of :infra-"redlight, it '~.Will -set up 50 respect to the :earthrbecauseto‘sot-view vthem ‘would. be a:voltage inrthericonoscopemir'cuit If the ‘image of ‘the misleading. lhcall them horizontab and 'vertical‘lsiinply ‘.o'ojectto be destroyed appears on :one side 10f the center ' because custom permits .understanding‘iof 1-the operation “of the-mosaic thewoltage-will be increased while that-side when . the plates- .are thus described. A :sweep :generator ris'bein-g‘swept. A comparisonvof the voltage intensities »2’5;energizes the. horizontal and verticali'platesof icono »on the respective halves .of 'thev'mosaic indicates which 55 scope 20. -A second iconoscop'e?tla has plates-26,27,215 side of :thettrue :line (of l 'direction'the ‘bomb is traveling. and'29 I'thataretrespectivelyelectrically in parallel With This ‘invention provides automatic means, hereinafter de- ' plates 21, 22, W23 and2tii A¥pulse generator 30-"is' pro scribed, for making this~comparison ‘and controlling the vided-to supply pulses to the rsweep:g'enera'tor 25 and asyn ‘bomb to'cause it'to'travel-on'the vtrue line. chronously -to {square wave _-_generator 61. v‘It ‘is noted "When the bomb‘is dropped from aircraft it must be 60 that as shown in Figure 7 the sweep circuit and the square controlledin two directions'whereas when the bomb is Wave \voltage are so vrelated'that {the square 'wave voltage in the. form of a water-borne boat only control in-vone A changes polarity precisely at the instant‘ the iconoscope plane .of'direction is necessary. For e?ectuating control beam sweeps past the-‘center 'line'of the ‘mosaic; of direction ‘in .two. ‘planes, the horizontal and vertical Theesignal-tplate circuits 'of iconoscopes 120 and‘ 20a sweep .circuits- of the iconoscope are. reversed intermit 65 ‘are connectedin opposition at :points llltlaand 1101. The tently-‘and the-output of the’ comparison :means is likewise di?erential output of the lic‘onos'eopes is 'then ampli?ed synchronously alternated betweenthe ‘vanes thati'respec andsfed 'intorthe control-circuit. ‘Before ‘discussing "the .tivelyicontrol the bomb inldi?erent-direction's. controls circuits, a-disclosure‘of'the-ifunctions of icono . iln ‘the ‘drawings: scopes \ZO‘and 20”" will -'be made. Iconoscope 20 corre . Figure lzisa yiewfo'f" the :mosaic-of ‘the iconoscope with 70 sponds to‘the iconoscope ‘of Figure 1. That'is, the image of the target 'its surroundings ‘is impressed on this theiirnage, r=infthis Lease (the target, shown thereon. iconoscope. ionico'noscope 20a only ‘the reference image 2,764,698 I 3 Iconoscope 20'I is inclosed 44 and 45 are operative and when the beam is sweeping .of Figure 2 is impressed. the image north and south the coils 4t) and .41 are op ' and is subject, to illumination only through a‘ slitted‘mern erative. The principle‘ underlying the above mode of ber 60 from a light source. The light falling on mosaic . application, justrdescribed, is onev of the inventive fea ‘61 of vthis iconoscope therefore has the ‘shape shown in tures of this patent. Stated brie?y, there are two sets Figure 2. ' - - ‘ of controls for two vanes thatrespectively control the The control circuit for comparing the surges x-y and North-South'dire'ction and the East—West direction. The z-——wv of Figure 5 will now be described by reference response of iconoscope v20is shifted from a North-South particularlylto Figure 6. The control circuit includes a sweep to an ‘East-West sweep intermittently and simul dual triode tube 102 having a common cathode 90, two 1O taneously with the shift from the coils controlling the . grids 34 and 35 respectively controlling current to two North-South direction to the ‘coils controlling the East anodes 38 and 39, and two sets of two relaycoils 40, West direction. ' ' 41'and 44, 45. When the switch 58' isyin itsup closed , 'The frequency at which switching mechanism 59 op» position, the coils 44 and 45 are inoperative and this crates the reversing switches 57 and'58 may be either conditionwill beassumed for the time being solely for greater or less than the frequency at which the complete purposes of’ description. The square wave generator 31 target is scanned but preferably the period ofoperation alternately blocks grids 34 and 35 ,thusforming a gating > , of switching member '59 should be several times longer . ‘circuit means. During the ?rst half‘of the time required required for the beam vto sweep one line . to'sweep each line of mosaic 61, the grid 34 is blocked, than the period of the mosaic. . ‘but current can‘ freely ?ow from cathode 9t} toplate v39 One of the features of ' this invention resides in ‘an in a degree depending onthe magnitudeof the surge increase‘ in sensitivity of the iconoscope 20 to any light x'—y of Figure 5.. 7 During the second ‘half of the time ‘emitted by the target. The sensitivity is increased, in required to sweep eachline of, mosaic 61, the grid 35 several Ways any of which‘ may be‘ used alone or in current from cathode 90 to plate v39 >, will block ?ow of ‘ combination. “A radio frequency voltage generated by but gridv34, not being blocked,'will permit flow of cur radio frequency oscillator 99 may be impressed ontwo rent to plate 38 to a degree depending on the magnitude vof the plates. This will cause the beam to oscillate‘ back of the surge z‘——w of Figure 5. ‘Thus the double triode , and forth as it sweeps the mosaic. Preferably, this vol‘ ' 102 and its control grid operating means, including the age is applied to the “horizontal” plates 21, 22 although square wave. generator, the sweep generator and . the ' it maybe applied to the “vertical” plates. Another way iconoscope 2t]a (or an ‘equivalent device capable of pro- ‘ of increasing .thesensitivity of iconoscope 21) is to have ' ducing the square pulse of Figure-4), provides electronic the beam sweep the image rapidly but‘have long spaces, switching means applying energy derived from the mosaic ' between successive sweeping operations. For example, during a ?rst half of. each line sweep to one of. the coils the sweep voltage 32 of Figure 6 shows three saw-tooth ' 40, v41 (or 44, 45, depending on the instantaneous po—. surgeswith substantial spaces. The curve 32 of Figure sition of switch 58) and to the other of said coils during 6 is used for purposes of illustration only, and in carry the remaining half of each line sweep. - . p > i ing out my invention I normally would employe longer As long ascurrent flows to plate,38,,coil ‘40 is ener spaces between the saw-tooth surges ‘as compared to the gized accordingly, and asl‘ong as current flows to plate duration of‘ the surges. ' The long spacesbetween sweep 39 the coil 41 isener‘gized accordingly. irregularities inthe ' ing operations isrnuch longer than ordinarily employed energizations of coils 40 and 41 are evened by integrat~ in iconoscopes, but the speed at which the'beam moves ~ ing condensers 42 and 43 respectively, which form there 40 across the light sensitive mosaic surface'is about the same with integrating means for the current from plates 38 as for ordinary television iconoscopes. In other words, and 39, whereby the armature 52 is attracted one Way the total time required to sweep the entire target is greatly or the other depending on which of coils 40 or 41 has increased but the actual time that the beam is sweeping the greatest average energization. When coil 41 has the image is the same as for ordinary television icono? the greater average energization, the pivoted armature 45 scopes. Since the photo-electric voltage output of the 52 energizes the coil 54 through battery 53. When coil iconoscope depends (a) on the rate at which the beam 40 has the greater average energization, the coil 56 is travels and (b) on the time permitted for charges to energized through battery 55. For purposes of illustra accumulate, it may be shown mathematically that my tion, assume that a bomb is dropping in a true vertical invention which sweeps the target at the same rapid path. Coil 54 is arranged to turn the vane VNS in one 50 rate asordinarily employed in present day iconoscopes direction to de?ect the bomb so it falls north of the but with relatively long spaces between sweeping oper vertical line, while coil 56 operates the vane VNs to cause ations, improves the sensitivity of‘ the apparatus. the bomb to travel on the south side of the vertical line. This invention is preferably used for control of bombs, Coil 50 operates a second vane Vnw to cause the bomb although it may be used to guide aircraft or any other to travel east of the vertical line and coil 51 operates object. A bomb, such as shown in Figure 8, must be the second vane Vnw to cause the bomb to travel west controlled in two planes, hence two vanes Vnw and of the vertical line. As will appear later, a bomb does VNs respectively controlled by coils 50, 51 and 54, 56 not fall in a true vertical path and moreover the bomb are used. Coils 50, 51, and 54, 56 are respectively en may spin as it falls but the above illustration of the op ergized by batteries48, 49,, and 53, 55. The two arma eration 'of coils 54, 56, 50 and 51 enables one skilled 60 tures 47 and 52 are respectively controlled by coils 44, in the art to identify these parts and their cooperative 45 and 40, 41 which, are respectively shunted by in relationship with the vanes in the manner known to the tegrating condensers 46, 47A and 42, 43. These latter art. The switching member 59 alternately and intermit coils and ‘condensers form integrating means for the cur tently operates reversing switches 57 and 58 to their rent from tube 102. ‘ 65 When my invention is used for control of bombs, it is respective opposite positions. When switch 59 is re to be noted that a bomb may spin as it falls and in such versed from its present position, the sweep voltage ap instance it is apparent that my apparatus still exercises plied to plates 21, 22 is shifted to plates 23, 24; and appropriate control. Should‘ the vane VNS rotate by that applied to plates 23, 24 shifted to 2}, 22. In effect, ninety degrees as it falls, then it is in the position of when switches 57 and 58 are in a down position, the 70 vane Vnw and the plates 21, 22, 23, 24 have likewise iconoscope 20 is shifted from what has been termed for. rotated ninety degrees and the same character of con illustration purposes “horizontal” sweeping to “vertical” trol is still maintained. Since the reversing mechanism sweeping. Likewise, coils 40, 41 are rendered inoper ative and coils 44 and 45 are brought into play. 59 repeatedly and intermittently sensitizes the two vanes, Hence when the beam of iconoscope 20 is sweeping it is apparent that the two vanes rapidly adjust them the image‘ east and west (switch 59 down), the coils 75 selves as the bomb spins. 5 6 When-'rmyrinvention: is employedrforcontrol ofrzwaterv transmissinn:meansasynchronized with: saideleetron beam vblorne‘. .boats : to .- guide them. 1into:a target, . only‘. direction scanningqmcans: :applying energy. derived from: scanning in.=;0ne.=plane need. be controlled: Under 'theseccircum said .surface ‘during a ?rst portion. of each=sweep rof; said stances,- .the reversing switches 59,‘ 57, 58 and ithescoils electron beam to one :of said . output sai'dswitchingmeans also, in-one position . termined that its operationisnot as effective without it 15 thereof, causing said electron beamv scanning 11163118’130 as with it; I sweep said .surfa-ce ~in one-,direction'thereacross .and sin Figure 9 illustrates the general combination when used another'positionito sweep said'surface in another direction: for thepurpose of giving; left-right visual indications. thereacross. The arrangement is essentially-that shown schematically 3. Alradiant'energy sensitivedevice foriasteeringgconv in Figure 6 and comprises a light sensitive cell 103, such trol systomrcornprisingyin combination, a radiant energy as iconoscope 20,‘ assweep v*oseillator;10-4,-- such as sweep sensitive! surface, means to direct a;target image onlsaid generator 25, and an imaginary image oscillator 105 surface, :electron bearmscanning means sweeping said sur which provides an equivalent‘for th'eqfunction of icono face,-: outputicircuit means-1 derivingoutput from’ the. scan scopeztla, and, as pointed out inv the preceding-v'apara ningnfwsaid-v surface,v said output‘ being proportionate .to graph,v may vbe any conventionali .pulse» generator adapted radiations falling on said surface, separate integrating C11‘: to establish ‘a reference voltagehavingija predetermined cuits in: said. output circuit-means, means. synchronizing time position with respect to the voltage wave-‘yielded said beam scanning mean-s Withsaid .output'circuit means, bycell ‘103. . The divided pulse output of lighted-L103, said lastnamedemeans applying-energy output responsive such as shown by wave form:103A,- is applied to .a'diffcr toiscanningithe area of' one portionof said-surfaceto. one ent-ial wave- analyzer 106 which, in general, is: identical 30 of ‘said integrating :circuits. and energy; output responsive with the circuit entailing dual triode 102 and square wave to.sc;anning;another portioniofe said surface to another of generator 31. Theibehavioriioflthearrangement shown said. integrating circuits; . ' ' in-Figure 9 is in all respects the. same. as in Figure 6 4. The ;device-:according,to.claim=3 including a-second except-thatthe output is used to actuate an indicator output circuit means having-separate integratingcircuits in. lieu. of the- control mechanism of a bomb. The three therein,- said‘ I means;- synchronizing; said 1 - b‘eam- ascanning wires ‘normally going to coils 40 "and 41 may pass to means with said output circuit means including switching a “ratio” meter 107 or to a center-tapped coil D’Arsonval means in one position thereof causing said electron beam direct current meter. Such meters will show the devi scanning means to sweep said surface in one direction and ation of the moving body from its true desired course. in the other position to sweep said surface in a direction When I speak of the word “control” I speak of it broadly substantially at right angles to said one direction. so that it covers the control of the pointer of the in dicator of Figure 9. 5. A radiant energy sensitive device for a steering con Figure 10 illustrates the arrangement of the invention trol system comprising in combination, a radiant energy when employed in conjunction with the horizontal and sensitive surface, means to direct a target image on said vertical control elements of an aircraft. A differential surface, electron beam scanning means sweeping said wave analyzer 108 is provided which is the same as that surface, output circuit means deriving output from the described in connection with Figure 9, and having the scanning of said surface in response to radiations falling same input applied thereto. To effect control in both on said surface, separate integrating circuits in said out the horizontal and vertical planes, the voltage output put circuit means, means synchronizing said beam scan developed across coil 40 in series with coil 41 is applied ning means with said output circuit means, said syncho through a suitable ampli?er 109 to the horizontal me nizing means comprising electronic switching means oper chanical control means, symbolized by coil 110, while ated in synchronism with said scanning means applying the voltage output developed across coil 44 in series with energy output responsive to scanning the area of one coil 45 is applied through a suitable ampli?er 111 to the portion of said surface to one of said integrating circuits vertical mechanical control means 112. The operation and energy output responsive to scanning another portion of this system is generally similar to that described in of said surface to another of said integrating circuits. connection with Figure 6 save that it is employed in con 6. The device according to claim 5 including a second junction with an aircraft. output circuit means having separate integrating circuits, While there has been shown what at present are con additional switching synchronized with said electronic sidered preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to switching means and said electron beam scanning means, be understood that many changes and modi?cations may said additional switching means in one position thereof be made therein without departing from the invention. causing the energy derived from scanning said surface to It is therefore intended in the accompanying claims to be applied to one of said output circuits and said electron cover all such changes and modi?cations as fall within beam scanning means to sweep said surface in one direc the true spirit and scope of the invention. tion, and in the other position thereof causing the energy What is claimed is: 65 derived from scanning said surface to be applied to the 1. A radiant energy sensitive device for a steering other of said output circuits and said electron beam scan control system comprising in combination a radiant en ning means to sweep said surface in another direction ergy sensitive surface, means to direct a target image substantially at right angles to said ?rst direction. on said surface, electron beam scanning means sweeping 7. A radiant energy sensitive device for a target seeking 70 control system comprising a surface formed of discrete, said surface, a pair of output circuits deriving output radiant energy sensitive elements, each of said elements energy proportionate to radiations falling on said surface storing electrical energy proportional to radiant energy in response to the scaning thereof, transmission means falling thereon, focusing means directing on said surface conducting electrical energy from said surface to said an image of a target formed by energy rays emanating output circuits, and electronic switching means in said from said target, cathode ray means releasing the elecq 2,764,698 7 8 trical energy stored in said sensitive elements which a one pair of output circuits to the other pair of output cathode ray strikes, scanning means de?ecting said cath circuits, one of said ampli?ers in oneposition of said ode ray over said surface, two pairs of outputicircuits, a switching means feeding its output to’one output circuit pair of ampli?ers feeding said output circuits, transmis of‘one of said pairs of output circuits and the other of said sion means conducting the electrical energy released from ampli?ers feeding its output to the other output circuit said light sensitive elements to said ampli?ers, gating of said one of said pairs, gating means alternatively block means connected to the control grid of each one of said ing‘and unblocking said ampli?ers in opposite sense with ampli?ers alternately blocking andjunblocking each of respect to each other, additional switching means for said said ampli?ers in opposite sense‘ with "respect to one an scanning means in one position causing said cathode ray other, switching means for said scanning means and said 10 to be de?ected in one direction‘across said surface and pairs of output circuits in one position causing said cath in another position causing said cathode ray to be de ode ray to be de?ected in one direction across said sur flected in another direction across said surface, and means face‘iand the energy derived therefrom to be applied to synchronizing said scanning means, said switching means one of said pairs of output circuits and in another position and said gating means whereby the electrical energy de causing said cathode ray to be de?ected in another direc 15 rived from scanning said surface during a ?rst portion of tion across said surface and the energy derived therefrom each trace thereacross is ampli?ed and applied to one of applied to the other of said pair of output circuits, and a pair of said output circuits and is ampli?ed and applied means ‘synchronizing said scanning means, said gating to the other output circuit of said pair during the re means and said switching means whereby the electrical maining portion of each trace. energy released from said radiant energy sensitive ele 20 ments during a ?rst portion of each scanning trace across References Cited in the ?le of this patent said surface is ampli?ed and applied to one of a pair of UNITED STATES PATENTS said output circuits, and is ampli?ed and applied to the other output circuit of said pair during the remaining 1,387,850 Hammond ______.- Aug. 16, 1921 portion of each scanning trace. 25 1,388,932 Centervall ______-_ Aug. 30, 1921 8. A radiant energy sensitive device for a target seeking 1,747,664 Droitcour ______Feb. 18, 1930 control system comprising a surface sensitive to radiant 2,143,933 Barthelemy ______Jan. 17, 1939 energy falling thereon, focusing means directing on said 2,166,712 Bedford __‘ ______‘_____ July 18, 1939 surface an image of a target formed by rays emanating 2,357,922 Ziebolz et a1. ______Sept. 12, 1944 therefrom, scanning means directing a cathode ray over 30 2,407,936 Rost et a1. ______Sept. 17, 1946 said surface, a pair of ampli?ers, transmission means applying electrical energy derived from said surface in FOREIGN PATENTS , response to radiations falling thereon to the inputs of said 352,035 Great Britain ______June 22, 1931 ampli?er, two pairs of output circuits, switching means 354,768 Italy ______Dec. 7, 1937 alternately switching the outputs from said ampli?ers from 35 797,933 France ______Feb. 24, 1936