Aeronautics and astronautics – Missile stabilization or trajectory control – Remote control
Patent
1981-07-27
1983-10-04
Jordan, Charles T.
Aeronautics and astronautics
Missile stabilization or trajectory control
Remote control
F41G 726
Patent
active
044074646
ABSTRACT:
A steering mechanism is described for use in conjunction with a thermal imaging system. The steering mechanism comprises a pair of prisms which are positioned serially in front of the scanning mechanism of the thermal imaging system. The prisms are individually rotated by a motor means. A position encoder is connected to each of the prisms to provide feedback position information to a search computer which controls the rotation of the prisms. The refraction of the thermal image produced by the rotating prisms enables the scanning mechanism of the thermal imaging system to search in any searching pattern within a variable field of regard in the field of search of the steering mechanism. The steering mechanism may also function to boresight a laser on the same target viewed by the thermal imaging system. In one embodiment, the laser comprises a pulsed-type laser whose pulsed laser beam is transmitted through the prisms onto an acquired target. The reflection of the pulsed laser beam is then reflected from the acquired target and detected by the thermal imaging system. The lapse of time between transmission and detection of the pulsed laser beam enables the computer to compute the range of the target. The laser may alternatively comprise a low power continuous output laser which may function as a laser designator for beam rider devices.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3235733 (1966-02-01), Dauguet
patent: 3296443 (1967-01-01), Argyle
patent: 3513315 (1970-05-01), Sundstrom et al.
patent: 4034949 (1977-07-01), Hoesterey et al.
patent: 4038547 (1977-07-01), Hoesterey
patent: 4111384 (1978-09-01), Cooper
patent: 4326799 (1982-04-01), Keene et al.
Jordan Charles T.
Stein Stefan
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