Method and system for guiding an artillery shell

Details Method and system for guiding an artillery shell Method and system for guiding an artillery shell

2000-05-01

2001-10-23

Wimer, Michael C. (Department: 2821)

Communications: radio wave antennas

Antennas

With aircraft

C343S770000, C102S384000, C244S003140, C244S003190, C244S003240

Reexamination Certificate

active

06307514

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to artillery shells and their fuses, and more particularly relates to antenna systems for use in an artillery shell, and even more particularly relates to methods and systems for guiding and communicating with an artillery shell.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Artillery shells typically utilize a fuse installed at the leading end of the shell. The fuse is a mechanical or electronic device designed to control the detonation of the explosive charge of the shell. Modern artillery fuses further include electronics and telemetry systems for improved accuracy and detonation control. The electronic circuits disposed in the fuse remain in radio-frequency contact with a ground station after launch of the shell for coordinating the trajectory of the shell, making course corrections as necessary. Further, the artillery fuse may operate in conjunction with a satellite based positioning system, such as the NAVSTAR global positioning systems (GPS), maintained and operated by the United States government, for accurately determining the coordinates of the shell as it travels along its trajectory and reaches the point of impact, and for correcting the trajectories of subsequently fired munitions. GPS may also be used, as a positional reference, to deploy the flaps, from a previous free fall state, to more accurately control the downward descent to the target.
An artillery fuse having telemetry and positioning system electronics requires an antenna suitable for the application and environment to which an artillery shell is subject. The fuse antenna should be able to survive the extreme acceleration and high rotational velocities typical of gun launched projectiles. Further, the radiation pattern of the antenna should exhibit relatively high gain in the aft direction, the direction opposite to the direction of travel of the shell. The radiation pattern of the antenna should be minimal in the direction of travel of the shell to minimize or prevent jamming from the vicinity of the target area of the shell. Such an antenna should be of a sufficiently reduced size so as not to occupy a large of space within the interior of the fuse, and is desirably designed for operation with L-band and S-band signals. (“L” is the letter designation for microwave signals in the frequency range from 1 to 2 GHz, and “S” is the letter designation for microwave signals in the frequency range from 2-4 GHz.)
One prior art approach is described in the above-referenced patent application. While this design has considerable benefits, it does have some drawbacks. First of all, the size and shape of the antenna prohibit its use with some artillery shells having centrally disposed actuation pins for controlling airfoil surfaces on the artillery shell. The radiation pattern of the antenna is omni-directional in orthogonal directions about the shell trajectory and, therefore, is capable of being jammed from terrestrial positions.
Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and systems for guiding artillery shells.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for guiding an artillery shell.
It is a feature of the present invention to utilize an array of antennas with an open central region.
It is another feature of the present invention to include a switching mechanism to control operation of particular antenna segments as a function of their orientation with respect to the ground.
It is an advantage of the present invention to achieve improved shell control by permitting a centrally disposed airfoil actuation pin to operate in the same cavity as the antenna.
The present invention is an apparatus and method for guiding artillery shells designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in a “central obstruction-less” manner in a sense that the amount of centrally disposed obstructions in the artillery shell fuse has been greatly reduced. The present invention is also carried out in a “jam-free” manner in the sense that the susceptibility of the antenna to terrestrial-based jammers has been greatly reduced.
Accordingly, the present invention is a system and method for guiding an artillery shell which includes an array of separately controllable antennas disposed in an artillery shell fuse, with a central region therein which is available for location of an airfoil actuation pin.


REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 29296 (1977-07-01), Krutsinger et al.
patent: 3475755 (1969-10-01), Bassen et al.
patent: 3914767 (1975-10-01), Jones
patent: 4037540 (1977-07-01), Keydel
patent: 4051480 (1977-09-01), Reggia et al.
patent: 4305078 (1981-12-01), Jones et al.
patent: 5434583 (1995-07-01), Hesse et al.
Patent Application entitled “Artillery Fuse Circumferential Slot Antenna For Positioning And Telemetry”; Ser. No. 09/088,353, Filed Jun. 1, 1998 by James B. West.

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