Laser Beam Responsive Control and Actuating Mechanism (Patent No: 856976)

Inventor: Armstrong, Neil J.

Location: Calgary

Comments: N/A

Description: The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A control and actuating mechanism comprising a laser beam receiver, first means' in said laser beam receiver for sensing a predetermined desired condition and in response to the existence of that condition for initiating operation of preselected apparatus, and second means in said laser beam receiver for sensing the existence of a predetermined undesired condition and in response thereto discontinuing operation of preselected apparatus.

2. A control and actuating mechanism including a laser beam detector having a plurality of laser beam sensitive cells, a first cell in said detector for sensing a predetermined desired condition and in response thereto initiating operation of preselected apparatus, and a second cell in said detector for sensing the existence of a predetermined undesired condition and in response thereto positively discontinuing operation of said preselected apparatus.

3. A control and actuating mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said plural laser beam sensitive cells are arranged in concentric rows within the laser beam detector.

4. A control and actuating mechanism as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 in combination with a helicopter.

5. A mechanism as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 in combination with a helicopter, wherein said desired condition exists when the helicopter is positioned vertically over a preselected point on the terrain, and wherein said undesired condition exists when the helicopter moves from being positioned over said point.

6. A mechanism as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 in combination with a helicopter, wherein said desired condition exists when the helicopter is positioned vertically over a preselected point on the terrain, and wherein said undesired condition exists when the helicopter moves from being positioned over said point, and in which said preselected apparatus includes distance measuring equipment.

7. A mechanism as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 in combination with a helicopter, wherein said desired condition exists when the helicopter is positioned vertically over a preselected point on the terrain, and wherein said undesired condition exists when the helicopter moves from being positioned over said point, and in which said preselected apparatus includes an altitude measuring device.

8. A mechanism as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 in combination with a helicopter, wherein said desired condition exists when the helicopter is positioned vertically over a preselected point on the terrain, and wherein said undesired condition exists when the helicopter moves from being positioned over said point, and in which said preselected apparatus includes distance and altitude measuring equipment.

9. A control and actuating mechanism as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which said preselected apparatus includes distance measuring equipment whereby said mechanism cooperates with survey equipment.