Target assignment projectile

• US 20060196383A1
• Filed: 09/27/2004
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William P. Parker
• Original Assignee: William P. Parker
• Inventors: Bibby, Thomas F.A., Parker, William P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,638,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/501
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/365 Projectiles transmitting information to a remote location using optical or electronic means F42B12/385 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/382 emitting an electromagnetic radiation, e.g. laser beam or infrared emission

Abstract

A projectile includes an ordnance portion configured to impact a target and a communication apparatus positioned rearward of the ordnance portion. The projectile is configured to rotate about and travel along a longitudinal axis after launch.

Claims

1. A projectile comprising:

an ordnance portion configured to impact a target; and

a communication apparatus positioned rearward of the ordnance portion;

wherein the projectile is configured to rotate about and travel along a longitudinal axis after launch.

2. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the ordnance portion includes a bullet.

3. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the ordnance portion includes a grenade.

4. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the ordnance portion is configured to partially penetrate a target such that at least a portion of the communication apparatus is remotely visible.

5. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the ordnance portion is constructed of an energy absorbing material.

6. The projectile of claim 5 wherein the energy absorbing material is a thermoplastic.

7. The projectile of claim 5 wherein the energy absorbing material is a soft metal.

8. The projectile of claim 5 wherein the energy absorbing material encases a penetration device.

9. The projectile of claim 8 wherein the penetration device is constructed of a material chosen from the group consisting of:

a ceramic material;

a carbon fiber material; and

a hard metal.

10. The projectile of claim 9 wherein the ceramic material is silicon carbide.

11. The projectile of claim 9 wherein the hard metal is tungsten.

12. The projectile of claim 8 wherein the penetration device is a threaded penetration device configured to attach the projectile to sheet metal.

13. The projectile of claim 1 further comprising one or more deployable fins that extend after leaving a barrel from which the projectile is launched.

14. The projectile of claim 1 further comprising one or more range-limiting fins.

15. The projectile of claim 1 further combining a sabot for encasing the projectile at the time the projectile is launched.

16. The projectile of claim 1 further comprising a power supply for providing energy to at least the communication apparatus.

17. The projectile of claim 16 wherein the power supply includes a use detection apparatus for activating the power supply after the occurrence of a use event.

18. The projectile of claim 17 wherein the use event is chosen from the group consisting of:

a launch event, and an impact event.

19. The projectile of claim 17 wherein:

the power supply is an electrochemical battery pack that generates electrical energy due to an electrochemical reaction between at least two components; and

the use detection apparatus includes a membrane that separates the at least two components until the occurrence of the use event.

20. The projectile of claim 19 wherein:

the battery pack is a zinc air (Zn/O₂) battery pack;

the at least two components include zinc, carbon and air; and

the membrane separates the zinc and carbon from the air.

21. The projectile of claim 19 wherein:

the battery pack is a lead acid (Pb/H₂SO₄) battery pack;

the at least two components include lead, lead oxide and sulfuric acid; and

the membrane separates the lead and lead oxide from the sulfuric acid.

22. The projectile of claim 19 wherein:

the battery pack is an alkaline battery pack;

the at least two components include zinc, manganese dioxide and potassium hydroxide; and

the membrane separates the zinc and the manganese dioxide from the potassium hydroxide.

23. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the communication apparatus includes a reception device for receiving energy from a remote source.

24. The projectile of claim 23 wherein:

the energy received is RF energy; and

the reception device includes an antenna.

25. The projectile of claim 23 wherein:

the energy received is infrared energy; and

the reception device includes a photoreceptor.

26. The projectile of claim 23 wherein the energy received includes an encoded data signal configured to energize at least a portion of the communication apparatus.

27. The projectile of claim 26 wherein the energized portion of the communication apparatus includes a transmission device for transmitting energy to a remote receiver.

28. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the communication apparatus includes a transmission device for transmitting energy to a remote receiver.

29. The projection of claim 28 wherein:

the transmitted energy is RF energy; and

the transmission device includes an antenna.

30. The projectile of claim 28 wherein:

the transmitted energy is infrared energy; and

the transmission device includes one or more light emitting diode.

31. The projectile of claim 30 wherein the transmission apparatus further includes a lens assembly for refracting the infrared energy transmitted from the one or more light emitting diodes.

32. The projectile of claim 31 wherein the lens assembly is a convex lens assembly.

33. The projectile of claim 31 wherein the lens assembly is a concave mirror assembly.

34. The projectile of claim 30 wherein the one or more light emitting diodes includes a plurality of light emitting diodes, the transmission device further including a driver circuit for sequentially exciting each of the one or more light emitting diodes.

35. The projectile of claim 34 wherein the transmission apparatus further includes a lens assembly configured to:

project the infrared energy transmitted from a first of the plurality of light emitting diodes at a first radial angle; and

project the infrared energy transmitted from a second of the plurality of light emitting diodes at a second radial angle.

36. The projectile of claim 34 wherein the transmission apparatus further includes a lens assembly configured to:

project the infrared energy transmitted from a first of the plurality of light emitting diodes at a first longitudinal angle; and

project the infrared energy transmitted from a second of the plurality of light emitting diodes at a second longitudinal angle.

37. The projectile of claim 34 wherein the transmission apparatus further includes a lens assembly configured to:

project the infrared energy transmitted from a first of the plurality of light emitting diodes at a first longitudinal angle and a first radial angle; and

project the infrared energy transmitted from a second of the plurality of light emitting diodes at a second longitudinal angle and a second radial angle.

38. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the communication apparatus is a passive communication apparatus.

39. The projectile of claim 38 wherein the passive communication apparatus includes a retroreflector.

40. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the communication apparatus is an active communication apparatus.

41. The projectile of claim 40 wherein the active communication apparatus is configured to substantially withstand the acceleration associated with launching the projectile from a launcher and the deceleration associated with the projectile striking the target.

42. The projectile of claim 41 wherein the active communication apparatus includes one or more surface mount electronic components mounted on a shock-resistant system board.

43. The projectile of claim 40 further comprising one or more interconnections for electrically coupling a plurality of electronic components internal to the projectile, wherein at least one interconnection is configured to allow a limited amount of relative movement between the plurality of electronic components.

44. The projectile of claim 42 wherein the active communication apparatus includes a system board for mounting one or more electronic components, wherein the system board is positioned within a plane that is essentially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the projectile.

45. The projectile of claim 42 wherein the communication apparatus includes an essentially planar mounting structure that is essentially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the projectile, wherein the essentially planar mounting structure is configured to receive a system board containing one or more electronic components.

46. The projectile of claim 1 wherein an exterior surface of the projectile is configured to engage an interior surface of a barrel from which the projectile is launched.

47. The projectile of claim 46 wherein the interior surface of the barrel includes spiral rifling that engages the exterior surface of the projectile and rotates the projectile about the longitudinal axis after launch.

48. A projectile comprising:

a communication apparatus including a transmission device for transmitting energy to a remote receiver; and

an ordnance portion positioned forward of the communication apparatus and configured to partially penetrate a target such that at least a portion of the communication apparatus is remotely visible;

wherein the projectile is configured to rotate about and travel along a longitudinal axis after launch.

49. A projectile comprising:

a communication apparatus including a transmission device for transmitting energy to a remote receiver, and a receiving device for receiving energy from a remote transmitter; and

an ordnance portion positioned forward of the communication apparatus and configured to partially penetrate a target such that at least a portion of the communication apparatus is remotely visible;

wherein the projectile is configured to rotate about and travel along a longitudinal axis after launch, and

one or more interconnections for electrically coupling a plurality of electronic components internal to the projectile, wherein at least one interconnection is configured to allow a limited amount of relative movement between the plurality of electronic components.