Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Photocell controls its own optical systems
Patent
1996-12-04
1998-07-14
Westin, Edward P.
Radiant energy
Photocells; circuits and apparatus
Photocell controls its own optical systems
356 401, G01S 1766
Patent
active
057808392
ABSTRACT:
A laser tracking system steers a beam of laser energy which is dithered in two directions to scan the surface of a moving object. A laser energy detector detects laser energy reflected from the target. Reflected energy is filtered to distinguish dither frequencies for signals in both directions, which signals are independently analyzed to determine the location of the target in relation to the laser beam. A bias signal is generated which causes the beam of laser energy to be steered toward the target, to the tracked location on-target, or modified signals steer a portion of the beam to an optimum track location on target while offsetting most of the beam's energy to a second engagement location on target. The tracking system advantageously locks onto target features such as those having a high compound curvature on the targeted object. For missile defense, this allows for tracking and engagement of vulnerable features which are found on a missile. Also, a track testing system is capable of monitoring a laser beam focused on a missile and determining the effective laser engagement on a spinning target.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4063819 (1977-12-01), Hayes
patent: 5198607 (1993-03-01), Livingston et al.
patent: 5216236 (1993-06-01), Blais
patent: 5253033 (1993-10-01), Lipchak et al.
"Boresighting a Gaussian beam on a specular target point: a method using conical scan", Ahmed Erteza, Applied Optics, vol. 15, No. 3 (Mar. 1976), pp. 656-660.
"Laser beam active tracking for specular objects to actions .lambda./D", Livingston, et al, Applied Optics, vol. 24, No. 13 (Jul. 1985) pp. 1919-1925.
Lee John R.
TRW Inc.
Westin Edward P.
Yatsko Michael S.
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