INTEGRATION OF A SEMI-ACTIVE LASER SEEKER INTO THE DSU-33 PROXIMITY SENSOR

• US 20050030219A1
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Conrad, Mark K., Johnson, Lyle H., Friedrich, William A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,919,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/68
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/226 Semi-active homing systems, i.e. comprising a receiver and involving auxiliary illuminating means, e.g. using auxiliary guiding missiles
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2286 using radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2293 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 13/02 operated by intensity of light or similar radiation

Abstract

A proximity sensor for use with a guidance system of a smart bomb including a ranging radar proximity sensor configured for mounting on a smart bomb and a radome connected to the ranging radar proximity sensor. A laser radiation sensor system is attached to the proximity sensor, which is configured and arranged to detect laser radiation reflected from a target which passes through the radome and output the azimuth and elevation angles to the target to the guidance system.

Claims

1. A proximity sensor comprising:

a ranging proximity sensor configure for mounting on a bomb, the bomb having a guidance system for guiding the bomb to a predefined coordinate;

a radome connected to the ranging radar proximity sensor;

a laser radiation sensor attached to the proximity sensor inside the radome and configured and arranged to detect laser radiation reflected from a target which passes through the radome;

an optical assembly mounted inside the radome which is configured and arranged to direct and focus laser radiation which passes through the radome onto the laser radiation sensor;

a processor electrically connected to the laser radiation sensor and configured to derive the azimuth and elevation angles to the target.

3. The proximity sensor of claim 1 wherein the radome allows radio frequency electromagnetic energy and laser radiation to pass through the radome.

4. The proximity sensor of claim 3 wherein the laser radiation has a wavelength of approximately 1 micrometer.

5. The proximity sensor of claim 1 wherein the radome includes a laser aperture in the radome which permits laser radiation to pass through the laser aperture into the radome.

6. The proximity sensor of claim 5 wherein the laser radiation has a wavelength of approximately 1 micrometer.

2. A proximity sensor comprising:

a ranging radar proximity sensor configured for mounting on a bomb;

a radome connected to the ranging rad proximity sensor;

a laser radiation sensor attached to the proximity sensor inside the radome and configured and arranged to detect laser radiation reflected from a target which passes through the radome;

an optical assembly mounted inside the radome which is configured and arrayed to direct and focus laser radiation which passes through the radome onto the laser radiation sensor;

a processor electrically connected to the laser radiation sensor and configured to derive the azimuth and elevation angles to the target;

wherein the laser radiation is a focal plane array detector, and the processor processes a signal from the plurality of focal plane array detector elements to derive the azimuth and elevation angles to the target.

7. A proximity sensor for use with a guidance system of a smart bomb, comprising:

a ranging radar proximity sensor configured for mounting on a smart bomb, the smart bomb having a guidance system for guiding the bomb to a predefined coordinate;

a radome connected to the ranging radar proximity sensor;

an unfocused laser radiation sensor system attached to the proximity sensor which is configured and arranged to detect laser radiation reflected from a target which passes through the radome and output the azimuth and elevation angles to the target to the guidance system.

9. The proximity of claim 7 wherein the radome allows radio frequency electromagnetic energy and laser radiation to pass through the radome.

10. The proximity sensor of claim 9 wherein the laser radiation has a wavelength of approximately 1 micrometer.

11. The proximity sensor of claim 7 wherein the radome includes a laser aperture in the radome which permits laser radiation to pass through the laser aperture into the radome.

12. The proximity sensor of claim 11 wherein the laser radiation has a wavelength of approximately 1 micrometer.

8. A proximity sensor for use with a guidance system of a smart bomb, comprising:

a ranging radar proximity sensor configured for mounting on a smart bomb;

a radome connected to the ranging radar proximity sensor;

an unfocused laser radiation sensor system attached to the proximity sensor which is configured and arranged to detect laser radiation reflected from a target which passes through the radome and output the azimuth and elevation angles to the target to a guidance system;

wherein the focused laser radiation sensor system is further comprised of;

a plurality of optical detectors preferably arranged around a longitudinal axis of the proximity sensor, each optical detector on receiving incoming optical energy producing an optical detector output signal;

at least one reflector constructed and arranged to reflect incoming optical energy onto at least one of the plurality of optical detector units;

a signal processor electrically connected to the plurality of optical detectors for receiving the optical detector output signals and providing a guidance signal.

13. A smart bomb comprising:

a bomb;

a guidance system attached to the bomb for guiding the bomb to a predefined coordinate;

a ranging radar proximity sensor attached to the bomb;

a radome connected to the ranging radar proximity sensor;

a laser radiation sensor system attached to the proximity sensor which is configured and arranged to detect laser radiation reflected from a target which passes through the radome and output the azimuth and elevation angle to the target to the guidance system.

14. The smart bomb of claim 13 wherein the guidance system is a OPS guidance system.

15. The smart bomb of claim 13 wherein the laser radiation sensor system is focused.

16. The smart bomb of claim 13 wherein the laser radiation sensor system is comprised of.

a laser radiation sensor attached to the proximity sensor inside the radome and configured and arranged to detect laser radiation reflected from a target which passes through the radome;

an optical assembly mounted inside the radome which is configured an arranged to direct and focus laser radiation which passes through the radome onto the laser radiation sensor;

a processor electrically connected to the laser radiation sensor and configured to derive the azimuth and elevation angles to the target.

17. The smart bomb of claim 16 wherein the laser radiation sensor is a focal plane array detector, and the processor processes a signal from the plurality of focal plane array detector elements to derive the azimuth and elevation angles to the target.

18. The smart bomb of claim 16 wherein the radome allows radio frequency electromagnetic energy and laser radiation to pass through the radome.

19. The smart bomb of claim 18 wherein the laser radiation has a wavelength of approximately 1 micrometer.

20. The smart bomb of claim 16 wherein the radome includes a laser aperture in the radome which permits laser radiation to pass through the laser aperture into the radome.

21. The smart bomb of claim 20 wherein the laser radiation has a wavelength of approximately 1 micrometer.

22. The smart bomb of claim 13 wherein the laser radiation sensor system is unfocused.

23. The smart bomb of claim 22 where the laser radiation sensor system is comprised of:

an unfocused laser radiation sensor system attached to the proximity sensor which is configured and arranged to detect laser radiation reflected from a target which passes through the radome and output the azimuth and elevation angles to the target to the guidance system.

24. The smart bomb of claim 23 wherein the unfocused laser radiation sensor system is further comprised of:

a plurality of optical detector preferably arranged around a longitudinal axis of the proximity sensor, each optical detector on receiving incoming optical energy producing an optical detector output signal;

at least one reflector constructed and arranged to reflect incoming optical energy onto at least one of the plurality of optical detector units;

a signal processor electrically connected to the plurality of optical detectors for receiving the optical detector output signals and providing a guidance signal.

25. The smart bomb of claim 23 wherein the radome allows radio frequency electromagnetic energy and laser radiation to pass through the radome.

26. The smart bomb of claim 25 wherein the laser radiation has a wavelength of approximately 1 micrometer.

27. The smart bomb of claim 23 wherein the radome includes a laser aperture in the radome which permits laser radiation to pass through the laser aperture into the radome.

28. The smart bomb of claim 27 wherein the laser radiation has a wavelength of approximately 1 micrometer.

29. A proximity sensor comprising:

a ranging radar proximity sensor configured for mounting on a bomb;

a radome connected to the ranging a proximity sensor;

a laser radiation focal plane array detector attached to the proximity sensor inside the radomes and configured and arranged to detect laser radiation reflected from a target which passes through the radome;

a optical assembly mounted inside the radome which is configured and arranged to direct and focus laser radiation which passes through the radome onto the laser radiation sensor;

a processor electrically connected to the laser radiation sensor and configured to derive the azimuth and elevation angles to the target.

30. The proximity sensor of claim 29, wherein the laser radiation focal plane array detector comprises a four-element sensor.

31. (Canceled).