Patent Document ID: 4606067
Application ID: 06462030
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. Method of recognizing, at distances beyond the resolution of optical imaging systems, randomly shaped objects from which electromagnetic radiation emanates, comprising the steps of (a) two-dimensionally arranging, in fixed relative positions, a plurality of detectors responding to radiation of an object, each of the detectors representing a discrete point of no particular shape, (b) providing a known object at a large distance from said detectors, (c) exposing each detector directly to radiation emanating from said known object toward said detector, whereby said detectors provide first signals indicative of said radiation from the known object, (d) correlating said first signal provided by each detector with each one of first signals provided by a plurality of associated other ones of said detectors to provide a first pattern of correlation signals indicative of said known object, (e) storing said first pattern of correlation signals, (f) exposing each detector directly to radiation emanating from an unknown object towards said detector, whereby said detectors provide second signals indicative of said radiation from the unknown object, (g) correlating said second signal provided by each detector with each one of second signals provided by said plurality of associated other ones of said detectors to provide a second pattern of correlation signals indicative of said unknown object, and (h) comparing said second pattern with said stored first pattern to determine whether said known and unknown objects are similar.