LASER FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM SMALL BOAT APPLICATION

• US 3,754,249 A
• Filed: 07/28/1969
• Issued: 08/21/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stuart D. Kearney II
• Original Assignee: Stuart D. Kearney II
• Inventors: Kearney, Stuart D. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Tubbesing, T. H.
• Application Number:
  US04/846,313
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 343/6R,6TV 244/3.13
• US Class Current: 342/54
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/007 Preparatory measures taken before the launching of the guided missiles
• 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 small boat surface to surface weapon control system comprising search radar, TV camera, laser transmitter and a semi-active guided missile is disclosed. The target is initially located by radar scanning devices and the bearing is transferred to a television camera mechanism which is mounted on the same mast as the radar antenna. The television camera and a laser gun will then be pointed in the direction of the target. A blossom on a television screen which coincides with the image of the target indicates that the laser gun is on line with the target. The missile is fired and rides a reflected laser beam to the target.

Claims

1. A weapons control system for small boats comprising:

search radar apparatus for sighting and ranging potential targets;

a telEvision camera responsive to a command signal created in response to sighting of a potential target on said radar to align said camera with the receiving antenna bearing of said radar apparatus;

a laser transmitter mounted in proximity to said television camera and responsive to movements of said camera to align itself along the same bearing assumed by said camera; and

laser beam detector means mounted in nose of a guidable missile responsive to a target reflected laser beam to cause said missile to ride said beam to said target.

2. The weapon control system of claim 1 further comprising a television receiver responsive to said television camera to diaplay images of said target and said reflected laser beam, whereby a coincidence between the target image and the reflected laser beam image indicates said laser transmitter is on target.

3. The weapons control system of claim 2 wherein said laser beam detector means comprises a four quadrant silicon detector.

4. A method for controlling fire power of surface craft utilizing search radar apparatus, a television camera, a laser transmitter rotateably mounted on a mast, a television receiver responsive to said camera, a guidable missile, and a laser beam detector means mounted in nose of said missile, comprising the steps of:

detecting a target by means of said search radar apparatus;

rotating the television camera to assume bearing of the receiving antenna of said radar apparatus;

rotating the laser transmitter to assume the bearing of said television camera;

manually adjusting said laser transmitter on target by coinciding target image and reflected laser beam blossom on said television screen; and

launching the guidable missile so it will intercept the reflected laser beam and ride it to the target.