DISTRIBUTED ARRAY SEMI-ACTIVE LASER DESIGNATOR SENSOR

• US 20100290038A1
• Filed: 05/13/2009
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Sagan, Stephen F., Frey, Robert D. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,390,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/152.1
• 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 7/2293 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves

Abstract

A system is provided for semi-active laser designation, the system comprising: a guidance and control system having a plurality of wings disposed at an aerodynamically advantageous angle; a plurality of linear sensor arrays configured to measure location of a target, each the sensor array being disposed on a wing of the plurality of wings; and each the linear sensor array providing independent data to the guidance and control system as to the location of the target.

Claims

1. A system for semi-active laser designation, the system comprising:

A guidance and control system having a plurality of wings disposed at an aerodynamically advantageous angle;

A plurality of linear sensor arrays configured to measure location of a target, each said sensor array being disposed on a wing of said plurality of wings; and

Each said linear sensor array providing independent data to said guidance and control system as to said location of said target.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said linear sensor array is a InGaAs Pin Diode.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said linear sensor array has a sensitivity lower than an avalanche photodiode.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said linear sensor array has an asymmetrical prescription.

5. The system of claim 1, said system having a horizontal field of regard of between 0 and 14 degrees.

6. The system of claim 1, said system having a vertical field of regard of ±

14 degrees.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said linear array comprises at least 5 pixels.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein three of said pixels cover a 14 degree field of regard.

9. The system of claim 1, said system having a pixel noise of not greater than 0.28 degrees, root mean squared.

10. The system of claim 1 said wing being disposed with a wing of about approximately 7 degrees.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said wing is disposed about approximately normal to the body of said system.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising an asymmetric lens.

16. The system according to claim 1 further comprising an optical system having both imaging and non-imaging axes.

17. The system according to claim 16 wherein said non-imaging axis comprises a waveguide.

18. The system according to claim 17 wherein said waveguide is tapered.

19. The system according to claim 16 wherein said non-imaging axis comprises at least one waveguide selected from the group of waveguides consisting of non-tapered waveguides, tapered waveguides, folded waveguides, and combinations thereof.

13. An method for the determination of angle to target of semi-active laser detection system, said method comprising:

Locating a target with two linear sensor arrays of a plurality of linear sensor arrays;

Identifying a quadrant in which said target is disposed;

Obtaining measurements of angular position of the target with respect to individual sensors within said two linear sensor arrays;

Using a two dimensional lookup table relating sensed azimuth-elevation to true azimuth elevation.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said lookup table contains true azimuth data calculated from the dependency of sensed azimuth data error on distance of the target from an axis coincident with the sense axis for an array.

15. An apparatus for the detection of a target, said apparatus comprising:

A plurality of linear InGaAs sensor arrays;

said linear InGaAs arrays being configured with asymmetric lenses;

Said linear InGaAs arrays each having at least 5 pixels;

said linear InGaAs arrays being configured to provide a horizontal field of regard of 0 to 14 degrees; and

angular location of said target is provided by mean dos comparison of measured angles from at least two of said InGaAs sensor arrays and a two dimensional lookup table relating sensed azimuth elevation and true azimuth elevation.