Missile guidance by radar signals using surface acoustic wave correlator

• US 3,946,384 A
• Filed: 01/21/1971
• Issued: 03/23/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Westaway, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilbur, Maynard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Montone, G. E.
• Application Number:
  US05/108,653
• Time in Patent Office: 1,888 Days
• Field of Search: 343/7 ED, 343/7 A, 244/3.14
• US Class Current: 342/60
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/00 Direction control systems for self-propelled missiles flight control B64C, G05D1/00 ; counter-measures against guided missiles F41H11/02; spin-stabilised missiles F42B10/26; self-propelled or guided missiles having direction control systems only installed aboard F42B15/01; rocket torpedoes F42B17/00; marine torpedoes or sea-mines having self-propulsion means F42B19/00; locating by use of radio or other waves G01S; computing aspects G06
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/02 Systems using reflection of radio waves, e.g. primary radar systems; Analogous systems

Abstract

A system for controlling the flight of a missile by the use of coded radar signals. A ground level radar transmits coded signals in the form of a phase modulated radar signal. Each coded signal represents a particular guidance command which is received by the missile and "filtered" out of the radar signal by a surface acoustic wave correlator. The correlator detects the code in the signal and in turn energizes a control circuit which operates a control surface on the missile.

Claims

1. A remote control system for guiding a missile comprising:

a radar system including means for transmitting phase-coded command signals, one phase-coded signal for each command;

means installed in the missile for receiving said command signals;

means for decoding the command signal,

said decoding means comprising a plurality of surface-acoustic-wave correlators, one correlator for each command signal, and means for deciphering the output of the correlators to determine which of the correlators produced a response; and

,

means for operating a control surface on the missile in response to the decoded command signal.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein said transmitting means includes:

a phase reversal pulse modulator for generating the phase coded command signals; and

signal coding means for energizing said pulse modulator, one signal coding means for each command signal.

3. The control system of claim 2 wherein the signal coding means is comprised of a plurality of surface wave acoustic correlators.

4. The control system of claim 1 wherein the radar system includes means for receiving part of the command signal energy which is reflected by the missile and for producing missile position information.