HOMING MISSILE STEERING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. In an acoustic homing torpedo of pulse-echo type having means for converting received target echoes to output signals defining the sense of target direction referenced to torpedo heading, in combination, means controlled by said output signals for providing target direction samplings in the form of charge increments which are substantially uniform but of sign corresponding to the sense of target direction, means for decaying each of said samplings in accordance with a predetermined time-function to provide weighting which favors the most recent sampling, means for providing a continuous algebraic cumulation of the decaying samplings, means for providing a steering command signal having characteristics varying in accordance with the varying sign and magnitude of the said algebraic cumulation, and torpedo steering means controlled by the steering command signal and in accordance with said characteristics thereof to provide target homing action in which the sense and rate of torpedo turns correspond to the varying sign and magnitude, respectively, of said algebraic cumulation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
1. In an acoustic homing torpedo of pulse-echo type having means for converting received target echoes to output signals defining the sense of target direction referenced to torpedo heading, in combination, means controlled by said output signals for providing target direction samplings in the form of charge increments which are substantially uniform but of sign corresponding to the sense of target direction, means for decaying each of said samplings in accordance with a predetermined time-function to provide weighting which favors the most recent sampling, means for providing a continuous algebraic cumulation of the decaying samplings, means for providing a steering command signal having characteristics varying in accordance with the varying sign and magnitude of the said algebraic cumulation, and torpedo steering means controlled by the steering command signal and in accordance with said characteristics thereof to provide target homing action in which the sense and rate of torpedo turns correspond to the varying sign and magnitude, respectively, of said algebraic cumulation.
23 Citations
6 Claims
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1. In an acoustic homing torpedo of pulse-echo type having means for converting received target echoes to output signals defining the sense of target direction referenced to torpedo heading, in combination, means controlled by said output signals for providing target direction samplings in the form of charge increments which are substantially uniform but of sign corresponding to the sense of target direction, means for decaying each of said samplings in accordance with a predetermined time-function to provide weighting which favors the most recent sampling, means for providing a continuous algebraic cumulation of the decaying samplings, means for providing a steering command signal having characteristics varying in accordance with the varying sign and magnitude of the said algebraic cumulation, and torpedo steering means controlled by the steering command signal and in accordance with said characteristics thereof to provide target homing action in which the sense and rate of torpedo turns correspond to the varying sign and magnitude, respectively, of said algebraic cumulation.
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2. An acoustic homing torpedo combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said predetermined time-function provides an exponential decay.
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3. An acoustic homing torpedo combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for providing target direction samplings comprises a gate circuit triggered by said output signals to provide a gate pulse of predetermined duration, and a constant current generator controlled by said gate pulse to supply a predetermined charge increment.
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4. In an acoustic homing torpedo of pulse-echo type having means for converting received target echoes to output signals defining the sense of target direction referenced to torpedo heading, in combination, a memory circuit comprising capacitive and bleeder resistance elements, means controlled by said output signals for applying to said memory circuit target direction samplings in the form of charge increments which are substantially uniform but of sign corresponding to the sense of target direction, said memory circuit decaying each of said samplings exponentially and providing a continuous algebraic cumulation of the decaying samplings, means for providing a steering command signal having characteristics varying in accordance with the varying sign and magnitude of the said algebraic cumulation, and torpedo steering means controlled by the steering command signal and in accordance with said characteristics thereof to provide target homing action in which the sense and rate of torpedo turns correspond to the varying sign and magnitude, respectively, of said algebraic cumulation.
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5. An acoustic homing torpedo combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said means for providing target direction samplings comprises a gate circuit triggered by said output signals to provide a gate pulse of predetermined duration, and a constant current generator controlled by said gate pulse to supply a predetermined charge increment.
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6. In a missile homing system, means for deriving target direction samplings having sign characteristics corresponding to the sense of target direction, means for decaying each of said samplings in accordance with a predetermined function to provide weighting which favors the most recent sampling, means for providing a continuous algebraic cumulation of the decaying samplings, and control signal means for providing missile turns of sense and rate in accordance with the sign and magnitude of said continuous algebraic cumulation of the decaying samplings.
Specification