Weapon aiming system

• US 4,015,258 A
• Filed: 04/07/1971
• Issued: 03/29/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Corporation
• Original Assignee: Northrop Corporation
• Inventors: Monroe, John N., Smith, William W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bentley, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US05/132,190
• Time in Patent Office: 2,183 Days
• Field of Search: 89/41 ME, 89/41 SW, 89/41 L, 244/3.13, 244/3.14, 244/3.19, 343/6 R, 343/6 ND, 343/7 R, 343/7 ED, 343/7 G, 343/7.3, 343/18 C, 356/5
• US Class Current: 342/54
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/06 with rangefinder rangefinders per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/142 based on observation of a first shoot; using a simulated shoot training F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/165 using a TV-monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/02 Systems using the reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves G01S17/66 takes precedence

Abstract

A gun aiming system having target ranging means, wherein the operator observes the position of backscattered radiation from a bullet or bullets at the target range relative to a simultaneous visually observed target position. A diverged laser beam is reflected back from a special reflector in the rear of the bullet and received in an optical system which produces an image-like indication in an operator'"'"'s combining glass. A range gating technique images only the bullets at the same range as the target. The resulting real-time display of the target and the bullet in the target plane simultaneously permits the operator to place the direction of fire so that the two images coincide, thus producing a hit.

Claims

1. The method of indicating to an aircraft gun operator or the like the real time position of a bullet fired from his gun at a target rapidly changing direction relative to the gun'"'"'s line of fire, the position indication of the bullet being as the bullet passes through the target range, comprising:

determining the range of said target, providing a reflective means on the rear of said bullet, transmitting a diverged pulsed light beam of between about 10° and

about 40°

conical angle in the general direction of the bullet path, to thus keep the bullet in said beam as the gun'"'"'s line of fire changes, detecting the reflected light from said bullet, and imaging said reflected light into the line of sight of the gun operator in true relative azimuth and elevation position to a simultaneous indication of the position of said target, said reflected light being admitted to said line of sight only during the time interval when said bullet is substantially at the range of said target.

2. An aiming system enabling an aircraft gunner or the like to hit a target rapidly changing direction relative to his gun'"'"'s line of fire, comprising target range finding means, illuminating means for projecting a diverging light beam of between about 10°

and about 40°

conical angle in the general direction of a projectile as fired from the gun, to thus keep said projectile in said beam as the gun'"'"'s line of fire changes, optical means for receiving reflection of said light beam from said fired projectile, projection means for combining the light output of said optical means and a direct visual sight of said target in relative position to the gunner, and range responsive means for passing from said optical means to said gunner only the light reflected from said projectile when it is at a distance substantially equal to said range.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 including a plurality of projectiles to be fired, at least some of which have reflective means on the rear for returning radiation in substantially the same direction from which it came.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 including a combining glass in the field of view of said gunner, said glass adapted to transmit a direct view of said target to said gunner, and wherein said projection means directs said passed light output of said optical means onto said glass at the necessary angle to project an image of said projectile into the gunner'"'"'s line of sight along with said target, said illuminating means including a diverging lens for producing said diverging conical light beam.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said optical means, said projection means and the center of said combining glass are all aligned in the same centerline plane with the gunner'"'"'s line of sight and the gun fire.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said aiming system is installed aboard an aircraft, and wherein said illuminating means is a laser mounted in fixed general alignment with the longitudinal axis of said aircraft.

7. An aircraft gun sighting system enabling an aircraft gunner to hit an evasive target capable of maneuvers rapidly changing its direction relative to the aircraft line of flight, comprising:

a. a fixed forward-firing gun in the aircraft;

b. radar means in said aircraft for determining target range;

c. a pulsed laser fixed in said aircraft to project a forward beam in general alignment with the longitudinal axis of said aircraft;

d. diverging lens means in front of said laser for producing a diverging light beam of between about 10° and

about 40°

conical angle centered about the center line of said laser, to thus keep projectiles fired from said gun within said beam as the gun'"'"'s line of fire changes;

e. reflector means on the rear of at least a portion of said projectiles fired at said target;

f. optical means in said aircraft for receiving laser reflection from said reflector means;

g. projectile image forming means connected to said optical means;

h. range responsive means connected to said radar means to block all projectile images except those received from projectiles at a distance substantially equal to said target range;

i. optical combining sight means positioned in the field of view of the gunner to the target, said sight means adapted to transmit a direct view of said target to said gunner; and

j. image projecting means arranged to project all unblocked projectile images onto said sight means;

k. said sight means being fixed at an angle to direct said unblocked projectile images into the line of sight of said gunner in true relative position with respect to said target as seen through said sight means.