BAFFLES AND METHODS FOR DISTRIBUTED-APERTURE SENSORS

• US 20110176214A1
• Filed: 02/19/2009
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2009
• 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: WILLIAMS, Megan, EIANE, Courtney, CHOINIERE, Michael, BOMBARD, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,373,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/601
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/46 Streamlined nose cones; Windshields; Radomes F42B12/105 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/781 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/784 using a mosaic of detectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Laser-seeking munitions with baffled lenses, baffles for lenses of laser-seeking munitions, systems comprising lenses and baffles for laser-seeking munitions, and methods of manufacture.

Claims

1. A laser-seeking munition comprising:

a body;

one or more sensors;

a plurality of lenses coupled to the body and configured to be capable of transmitting light to the one or more sensors; and

one or more baffles coupled to the plurality of lenses, the one or more baffles configured to substantially block a portion of the plurality of lenses from transmitting light to the one or more sensors.

2. The laser-seeking munition of claim 1, where the munition has a field-of-view, and the size of the blocked portion of the plurality of lenses is substantially constant within the field-of-view.

3. The laser-seeking munition of claim 1, where the one or more baffles are at least one of in front of the plurality of lenses, behind the plurality of lenses, and integral to the plurality of lenses.

4. The laser-seeking munition of claim 1, where the one or more baffles comprise a plurality of baffles configured to substantially block a portion of each lens from transmitting light to the one or more sensors.

5. The laser-seeking munition of claim 4, where the blocked portion of each lens is a fraction of the lens, and where the sum of the blocked portions of the lenses is an integer multiple of a single lens.

6. The laser-seeking munition of claim 5, where the plurality of lenses consists of four lenses, and where the blocked portion of each lens is about one-fourth of that lens.

7. The laser-seeking munition of claim 6, where the plurality of lenses consists of four lenses, and where the blocked portion of each lens is about one-half of that lens.

8. The laser-seeking munition of claim 4, where the blocked portion of each lens comprises a slice extending radially outward from the center of the that lens.

9. The laser-seeking munition of claim 8, where the blocked portion of each lens extends outward relative to the center of the body.

10. The laser-seeking munition of claim 9, where the blocked portion of each lens comprises the inboard quadrant of that lens.

11. The laser-seeking munition of claim 8, where the blocked portion of each lens extends inward toward the center of the body.

12. The laser-seeking munition of claim 11, where the blocked portion of each lens comprises the outboard quadrant of the lens.

13. A method of constructing a laser-seeking munition, the laser seeking munition comprising a body, one or more sensors, and a plurality of lenses coupled to the body and configured to be capable of transmitting light to the one or more sensors, the method comprising:

coupling one or more baffles to the plurality of lenses such that the one or more baffles are configured to substantially block a portion of the plurality of lenses from transmitting light to the one or more sensors.

14. The method of claim 13, where the munition has a field-of-view, and the size of the blocked portion of the plurality of lenses is substantially constant within the field-of-view.

15. The method of claim 13, where the one or more baffles are at least one of:

in front of the plurality of lenses, behind the plurality of lenses, and integral to the plurality of lenses.

16. The method of claim 13, where the one or more baffles comprise a plurality of baffles configured to substantially block a portion of each lens from transmitting light to the one or more sensors.

17. The method of claim 16, where the blocked portion of each lens is a fraction of the lens, and where the sum of the blocked portions of the lenses is an integer multiple of a single lens.

18. The method of claim 17, where the plurality of lenses consists of four lenses, and where the blocked portion of each lens is about one-fourth of that lens.

19. The method of claim 18, where the plurality of lenses consists of four lenses, and where the blocked portion of each lens is about one-half of that lens.

20. The method of claim 17, where the blocked portion of each lens comprises a slice extending radially outward from the center of the that lens.

21. The method of claim 20, where the blocked portion of each lens also extends outward relative to the center of the body.

22. The method of claim 21, where the blocked portion of each lens comprises the outboard quadrant of that lens.

23. The method of claim 22, where the blocked portion of each lens also extends inward toward the center of the body.

24. The method of claim 23, where the blocked portion of each lens comprises the inboard quadrant of the lens.

25. A laser-seeking munition comprising:

a body;

one or more sensors;

a plurality of optical fibers optically coupled to the one or more sensors;

a plurality of lenses optically coupled to the plurality of optical fibers and configured to be capable of transmitting light to the one or more sensors via the plurality of optical fibers; and

where the plurality of optical fibers are configured to substantially block a portion of each of the plurality of lenses from transmitting light to the one or more sensors.