US3644043A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integrated infrared-tracker-receiver laser-rangefinder target search and track system
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1969-08-11
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Granted: 1972-02-22
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Expires: 1989-08-11
Abstract
Abstract For use in a fire control system, a target search and track system to which approximate azimuth and elevation information of the position of a searched target is applied, when the system is in a search mode. The information is used to cause a pointing mirror to point to the target, so that infrared energy is received therefrom, and is reflected to an infrared tracker receiver. Once infrared energy from tee target is received, the system is switched to a track mode in which the position of the pointing mirror is controlled by error signals from the receiver. The receiver includes a detector array and an oscillating, of scanning mirror which, initially, is controlled to scan the array in a wide-angle coarse track mode, in which the array is scanned over a relatively large field of view. When the target is detected near the center of the receiver field of view, the receiver is switched to a small-angle fine track mode, in which the array of detectors is scanned over a much smaller field of view, so that the receiver provides a much higher rate of pointing mirror positioning signals. The positions of the pointing mirror, about two orthogonal axes of rotation, are encoded to provide tracked target azimuth and elevation information, which is supplied to a fire control computer. A laser rangefinder is incorporated, which uses the accurately positioned pointing mirror to reflect laser light to the target and receive laser light, which is reflected by the target back to the system. The laser rangefinder provides the tracked target range information.
Inventors
- 👤 Sheldon Jones
- 👤 Raymond W Briggs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 18:15
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; F; F41; F41G; F41G3/00; F41G3/06; F41G3/065; G01S13/00; G01S13/86; G01S13/865
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
322 words
A target search and track system comprising: mode control means for controlling said system to operate in either a search mode or a track mode; optics means for controlling the direction of transmission and reception of energy and including a positionable optical member; position control means for controlling the position of said optical member; means for receiving signals indicative of the position of a target to be tracked and for applying said signals to said position control means, when said system is in said search mode, to control the position of said optical member; receiving means coupled to said optics means and including an array of infrared energy detectors and a scanning mirror and means for controlling the scanning of said detectors by said scanning mirror to be over a wide field of view when the infrared energy is detected by one of said detectors at a point outside a selected area from the center of said field of view and for controlling the scanning of said detectors by said scanning mirror to be ovEr a small field of view when the infrared energy is detected at a point from the center within said selected area; means for applying a switching control signal to said mode control means from said receiving means to switch said system to operate in said track mode when infrared energy from said target is detected by said receiving means; means for applying positioning signals to said position control means from said receiving means when said system is in said track mode to control the position of said optical member so that infrared energy is detected by said receiving means at the center of a field of view thereof; means for measuring the position of said optical member; and laser rangefinding means for directing laser energy to said target through said optics means and for receiving laser energy reflected by said target therethrough to provide target range information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
322 words
A target search and track system comprising: mode control means for controlling said system to operate in either a search mode or a track mode; optics means for controlling the direction of transmission and reception of energy and including a positionable optical member; position control means for controlling the position of said optical member; means for receiving signals indicative of the position of a target to be tracked and for applying said signals to said position control means, when said system is in said search mode, to control the position of said optical member; receiving means coupled to said optics means and including an array of infrared energy detectors and a scanning mirror and means for controlling the scanning of said detectors by said scanning mirror to be over a wide field of view when the infrared energy is detected by one of said detectors at a point outside a selected area from the center of said field of view and for controlling the scanning of said detectors by said scanning mirror to be ovEr a small field of view when the infrared energy is detected at a point from the center within said selected area; means for applying a switching control signal to said mode control means from said receiving means to switch said system to operate in said track mode when infrared energy from said target is detected by said receiving means; means for applying positioning signals to said position control means from said receiving means when said system is in said track mode to control the position of said optical member so that infrared energy is detected by said receiving means at the center of a field of view thereof; means for measuring the position of said optical member; and laser rangefinding means for directing laser energy to said target through said optics means and for receiving laser energy reflected by said target therethrough to provide target range information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
The arrangement as described in claim 1 wherein said optics means includes a single telescope and said optical member comprises a single energy reflecting mirror, said telescope including means for directing infrared energy, which is received from said target and which is reflected to the telescope by said single mirror, to said receiving means, said telescope further including means for directing laser light from said laser rangefinding means to said mirror for reflection to the target and means for directing laser light, reflected back by the target to the mirror to said laser rangefinding means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
372 words
In combination with a fire control computer of the type providing pointing commands as a function of azimuth, elevation and range information of a tracked target supplied thereto, a target search and track system comprising: mode control means for controlling said system to operate in either a search mode or a track mode; optics means including a positionable optical member; position control means for controlling the position of said optical member; means coupled to said optics means for receiving signals indicative of the position of a target to be tracked and for applying said signals to said position control means, when said system is in said search mode, to control the position of said optical member to direct infrared energy to said receiving means; receiving means coupled to said optics means and including an array of infrared energy detectors and a scanning mirror and means for controlling the scanning of said detectors by said scanning mirror to be over a wide field of view when the infrared energy is detected by one of said detectors at a point outside a selected area from the center of said field of view and for controlling the scanning of said detectors by said scanning mirror to be over a small field of view when the infrared energy is detected at a point from the center within said selected area; means for applying a switching control signal to said mode control means from said receiving means to switch said system to operate in said track mode when infrared energy from said target is detected by said receiving means; means for applying positioning signals to said position control means from said receiving means when said system is in said track mode to control the position of said optical member so that infrared energy is detected by said receiving means at the center of a field of view thereof; means for measuring the position of said optical member and for providing said fire control computer with target azimuth and elevation information, as a function thereof; and laser rangefinding means for directing laser energy to said target through said optics means and for receiving laser energy reflected by said target therethrough to provide target range information to said computer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
372 words
In combination with a fire control computer of the type providing pointing commands as a function of azimuth, elevation and range information of a tracked target supplied thereto, a target search and track system comprising: mode control means for controlling said system to operate in either a search mode or a track mode; optics means including a positionable optical member; position control means for controlling the position of said optical member; means coupled to said optics means for receiving signals indicative of the position of a target to be tracked and for applying said signals to said position control means, when said system is in said search mode, to control the position of said optical member to direct infrared energy to said receiving means; receiving means coupled to said optics means and including an array of infrared energy detectors and a scanning mirror and means for controlling the scanning of said detectors by said scanning mirror to be over a wide field of view when the infrared energy is detected by one of said detectors at a point outside a selected area from the center of said field of view and for controlling the scanning of said detectors by said scanning mirror to be over a small field of view when the infrared energy is detected at a point from the center within said selected area; means for applying a switching control signal to said mode control means from said receiving means to switch said system to operate in said track mode when infrared energy from said target is detected by said receiving means; means for applying positioning signals to said position control means from said receiving means when said system is in said track mode to control the position of said optical member so that infrared energy is detected by said receiving means at the center of a field of view thereof; means for measuring the position of said optical member and for providing said fire control computer with target azimuth and elevation information, as a function thereof; and laser rangefinding means for directing laser energy to said target through said optics means and for receiving laser energy reflected by said target therethrough to provide target range information to said computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
The arrangement as described in claim 3 wherein said optics means includes a single telescope and said optical member comprises a single energy reflecting mirror, said telescope including means for directing infrared energy, which is rEceived from said target and which is reflected to the telescope by said single mirror, to said receiving means, said telescope further including means for directing laser light from said laser rangefinding means to said mirror for reflection to the target and means for directing laser light, reflected back by the target to the mirror, to said laser rangefinding means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
280 words
A target search and track system comprising: mode control means for controlling said system to either operate in a search mode or to operate in a first or a second track mode; optical means for transmitting and receiving energy and for directing the direction in space of which energy is transmitted or received; position control means coupled to said mode control means for controlling the position of said optical member; means coupled to said optical means for receiving signals representative of the position of a target to be tracked and for applying said signals to said mode control means to control the position of said optical member; receiving means coupled to said optical means and including an array of infrared energy detectors and a scanning mirror and means for controlling the scanning of said detectors over a wide field of view for said first track mode or over a small field of view for said second track mode; means responsive to infrared energy being detected by said receiving means for applying a switching control signal to said mode control means from said receiving means to switch said system for operation in either said first or said second track mode; means for applying position signals to said position control means from said receiving means when said system is in said track mode to control the position of said optical member so that infrared energy is detected by said receiving means substantially at the center of a field of view thereof; and laser rangefinding means coupled to said optical means for directing laser energy to said target and for receiving laser energy reflected by said target therethrough to provide target range information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
280 words
A target search and track system comprising: mode control means for controlling said system to either operate in a search mode or to operate in a first or a second track mode; optical means for transmitting and receiving energy and for directing the direction in space of which energy is transmitted or received; position control means coupled to said mode control means for controlling the position of said optical member; means coupled to said optical means for receiving signals representative of the position of a target to be tracked and for applying said signals to said mode control means to control the position of said optical member; receiving means coupled to said optical means and including an array of infrared energy detectors and a scanning mirror and means for controlling the scanning of said detectors over a wide field of view for said first track mode or over a small field of view for said second track mode; means responsive to infrared energy being detected by said receiving means for applying a switching control signal to said mode control means from said receiving means to switch said system for operation in either said first or said second track mode; means for applying position signals to said position control means from said receiving means when said system is in said track mode to control the position of said optical member so that infrared energy is detected by said receiving means substantially at the center of a field of view thereof; and laser rangefinding means coupled to said optical means for directing laser energy to said target and for receiving laser energy reflected by said target therethrough to provide target range information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 5 wherein said optical means comprises a single energy reflecting mirror structure for receiving energy reflected from said target and for directing laser energy transmitted to said target and for receiving laser energy reflected back from said target.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
290 words
A system for searching in a search mode and tracking a target in a first tracking mode or a second tracking mode comprising: optical means including a positionable optical member for controlling the direction of receiving infrared energy and the direction of transmitting and receiving of laser energy; mode control means coupled to said position control means for controlling said system to operate in either said search mode or in one of said first and second tacking modes; a source of searching signals coupled to said mode control means to direct said optical member when said system is in said search mode; receiving means coupled to said optical means and to said mode control means to control the position of said optical member when said system is in said track mode, said receiving means including an array of infrared energy detectors and scanning means for controlling the scanning of said detectors with the infrared energy received by said optical means so as to respectively provide during operation in said first and second tracking modes a wide field of view or a narrow field of view of the target area as a function of the position that the energy is detected relative to the pointing direction of said optical member; means coupled between said receiver means and said mode control means for applying switching control signals thereto as a function of the detection of infrared energy so that said system operates either in said search mode or in one of said first and second track modes; and laser rangefinding means coupled to said optical means for directing laser energy to said target through said optIcal means and for receiving laser energy reflected from said target therethrough to provide target range information.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
290 words
A system for searching in a search mode and tracking a target in a first tracking mode or a second tracking mode comprising: optical means including a positionable optical member for controlling the direction of receiving infrared energy and the direction of transmitting and receiving of laser energy; mode control means coupled to said position control means for controlling said system to operate in either said search mode or in one of said first and second tacking modes; a source of searching signals coupled to said mode control means to direct said optical member when said system is in said search mode; receiving means coupled to said optical means and to said mode control means to control the position of said optical member when said system is in said track mode, said receiving means including an array of infrared energy detectors and scanning means for controlling the scanning of said detectors with the infrared energy received by said optical means so as to respectively provide during operation in said first and second tracking modes a wide field of view or a narrow field of view of the target area as a function of the position that the energy is detected relative to the pointing direction of said optical member; means coupled between said receiver means and said mode control means for applying switching control signals thereto as a function of the detection of infrared energy so that said system operates either in said search mode or in one of said first and second track modes; and laser rangefinding means coupled to said optical means for directing laser energy to said target through said optIcal means and for receiving laser energy reflected from said target therethrough to provide target range information.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-21 | 1975-08-23 | 1976-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-21 | 1979-08-23 | 1980-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-21 | 1983-08-23 | 1984-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |