Millimeter wave length guidance system
First Claim
1. High frequency, vehicle coupled, target detecting seeker system having search and track modes and having twist reflector antenna means coupled to receiver means comprising:
- a high frequency target sensor system having search and track modes coupled to said receiver means for detecting the position and range of said target and for providing target range signals, and signals Kε
e representative of the difference between said antenna'"'"'s actual and desired line of sight rates of angular change with respect to a first predetermined reference in a first direction, and signals Kε
a representative of the difference of said antenna'"'"'s actual and desired line of sight rate of angular change with respect to said first predetermined direction in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, and for further providing signals λ
del representative of said antenna'"'"'s desired line of sight angle with respect to said first predetermined reference in said first direction and signals λ
daz representative of said antenna'"'"'s desired line of sight angle with respect to said first predetermined reference in said second direction;
antenna drive means coupled to said twist reflector antenna means and coupled to said target sensor system means for positioning said antenna in said first and second directions according to said target sensor system signals;
first angle sensor means coupled to said antenna drive means for providing signals β
representative of said antenna drive means angle in said first direction with respect to said first predetermined reference;
second angle sensor means coupled to said antenna drive means for providing signals ψ
representative of said antenna drive means angle in said second direction with respect to said first predetermined reference;
first vehicle rate sensor means coupled to said vehicle for providing signals θ
p representative of the angular rate of change of said vehicle in a third direction with respect to a second predetermined reference;
second vehicle rate sensor means coupled to said vehicle for providing signals φ
HD R representative of the angular rate of change of said vehicle in a fourth direction orthogonal to said third direction, with respect to said predetermined reference;
third vehicle rate sensor means coupled to said vehicle for providing signals φ
y representative of the angular rate of change of said vehicle in a fifth direction orthogonal to said third and fourth directions, with respect to said second predetermined reference; and
antenna control means coupled to said antenna drive means and adapted to receive said signals Kγ
e, Kε
a, θ
p, φ
R, θ
y, β
, ω
, λ
daz and λ
del for providing signals in said track mode for controlling said antenna drive means rate of angular change β
in said first direction substantially according to the formula;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">β
=1/2(Kε
.sub.e -θ
.sub.p +2ψ
φ
.sub.R) and for further providing signals in said track mode for controlling said antenna drive means angular rate of change ψ
in said second direction substantially according to the formula;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">ψ
=1/2(Kε
.sub.a -θ
.sub.y -2β
φ
.sub.R) and for providing signals in said search mode for controlling said antenna drive means angular rate of change β
in said first direction substantially according to the formula;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">β
=1/2[K(-∫
(θ
.sub.p. -2φ
.sub.R ψ
)dt+λ
.sub.del -2β
)-(θ
.sub.p -2φ
.sub.R ψ
)] and for further providing signals in said search mode for controlling said antenna drive means angular rate of change ψ
in said second direction substantially according to the formula;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">3/8=1/2[K(-∫
(φ
.sub.y +2β
φ
.sub.R)dt+λ
.sub.daz -2ψ
)-(φ
.sub.y+ 2β
φ
.sub.R)].
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A high frequency target seeking device, using a stabilized reflector antenna, performs range search and tracking functions and target angle search and tracking functions. A technique is provided for target range discrimination using several narrow band i.f. filters, also thereby improving signal-to-clutter ratio and signal-to-receiver noise ratio. Target search is accomplished with simultaneous range and antenna azimuth scanning, with the range bins and the antenna beam swept across the target. A multiplexer selects the range bin having signals indicative of the target. Target range tracking is accomplished by the multiplexer additionally automatically selecting range bins adjacent to the target'"'"'s range bin and comparing their output signals. Antenna stabilization is accomplished utilizing signals from vehicle pitch, roll, and yaw rate sensors, and antenna elevation and azimuth rate and angle sensors. These signals are processed in the antenna control circuit according to predetermined relationships to provide the desired antenna stabilization.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. High frequency, vehicle coupled, target detecting seeker system having search and track modes and having twist reflector antenna means coupled to receiver means comprising:
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a high frequency target sensor system having search and track modes coupled to said receiver means for detecting the position and range of said target and for providing target range signals, and signals Kε
e representative of the difference between said antenna'"'"'s actual and desired line of sight rates of angular change with respect to a first predetermined reference in a first direction, and signals Kε
a representative of the difference of said antenna'"'"'s actual and desired line of sight rate of angular change with respect to said first predetermined direction in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, and for further providing signals λ
del representative of said antenna'"'"'s desired line of sight angle with respect to said first predetermined reference in said first direction and signals λ
daz representative of said antenna'"'"'s desired line of sight angle with respect to said first predetermined reference in said second direction;antenna drive means coupled to said twist reflector antenna means and coupled to said target sensor system means for positioning said antenna in said first and second directions according to said target sensor system signals; first angle sensor means coupled to said antenna drive means for providing signals β
representative of said antenna drive means angle in said first direction with respect to said first predetermined reference;second angle sensor means coupled to said antenna drive means for providing signals ψ
representative of said antenna drive means angle in said second direction with respect to said first predetermined reference;first vehicle rate sensor means coupled to said vehicle for providing signals θ
p representative of the angular rate of change of said vehicle in a third direction with respect to a second predetermined reference;second vehicle rate sensor means coupled to said vehicle for providing signals φ
HD R representative of the angular rate of change of said vehicle in a fourth direction orthogonal to said third direction, with respect to said predetermined reference;third vehicle rate sensor means coupled to said vehicle for providing signals φ
y representative of the angular rate of change of said vehicle in a fifth direction orthogonal to said third and fourth directions, with respect to said second predetermined reference; andantenna control means coupled to said antenna drive means and adapted to receive said signals Kγ
e, Kε
a, θ
p, φ
R, θ
y, β
, ω
, λ
daz and λ
del for providing signals in said track mode for controlling said antenna drive means rate of angular change β
in said first direction substantially according to the formula;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">β
=1/2(Kε
.sub.e -θ
.sub.p +2ψ
φ
.sub.R)and for further providing signals in said track mode for controlling said antenna drive means angular rate of change ψ
in said second direction substantially according to the formula;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">ψ
=1/2(Kε
.sub.a -θ
.sub.y -2β
φ
.sub.R)and for providing signals in said search mode for controlling said antenna drive means angular rate of change β
in said first direction substantially according to the formula;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">β
=1/2[K(-∫
(θ
.sub.p. -2φ
.sub.R ψ
)dt+λ
.sub.del -2β
)-(θ
.sub.p -2φ
.sub.R ψ
)]and for further providing signals in said search mode for controlling said antenna drive means angular rate of change ψ
in said second direction substantially according to the formula;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">3/8=1/2[K(-∫
(φ
.sub.y +2β
φ
.sub.R)dt+λ
.sub.daz -2ψ
)-(φ
.sub.y+ 2β
φ
.sub.R)]. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16)
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2. A high frequency target sensor system having search and track modes and having directive antenna means coupled to receiver means comprising:
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transmitter oscillator means coupled to said directive antenna means for illumination of targets and background by said directive antenna means, and further coupled to said receiver means for generating therein a beat frequency signal in the presence of said illuminated target or background; transmitter oscillator drive means having input terminals and output terminals, said output terminals being coupled to said transmitter oscillator for providing transmitter oscillator drive signals at said output terminals responsive to the amplitude of signals applied to said input terminals, the frequency of said transmitter oscillator signals being responsive to said transmitter oscillator drive signals; a plurality of range bin means coupled to receive said beat frequency signal, each of said range bins being responsive to illuminated objects in substantially contiguous predetermined ranges and for providing output signals from a bin corresponding to the range of said illuminated target, and for further providing signals from bins corresponding to ranges adjacent to said target range; difference means having input terminals coupled to receive said signals corresponding to ranges adjacent to said target, for providing in said tracking mode signals representative of the difference in amplitude of said adjacent range bin signals to said oscillator drive means; frequency discrimination means having input means coupled to receive said beat frequency signal and having an output means coupled to said transmitter oscillator drive means for providing in said tracking mode, background range tracking signals to said transmitter drive means upon departure of said beat frequency from a predetermined frequency value; range search generator means switchably coupled to said transmitter oscillator drive means for providing in said search mode range search signals; antenna drive means having input terminals and being coupled to said directive antenna means, for varying the position of said directive antenna means in space in response to signals applied to said antenna drive means input terminals; angle track demodulator means having input terminals coupled to receive said target range bin signal and output terminals, for providing signals Kε
e representative of the difference between said antenna'"'"'s actual and desired line of sight rate of angular change with respect to a first predetermined reference in a first direction, and signals Kε
a representative of the difference between said antenna'"'"'s actual and desired line of sight rate of angular change with respect to said first predetermined direction in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, at said output terminals, said output terminals being coupled to said antenna drive means input terminals; andsearch command generator means coupled to said antenna drive means input terminal for providing search command signals λ
del and λ
daz, said directive antenna'"'"'s motion in said first direction being responsive to said signal λ
del and said directive antenna'"'"'s motion in said second direction being responsive to said signal λ
daz. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18)
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3. A high frequency, vehicle coupled, target detecting seeker system having twist reflector antenna means coupled to a receiver means comprising:
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transmitter oscillator means coupled to said directive antenna means for illumination of targets and background by said directive antenna means, and further coupled to said receiver means for generating therein a beat frequency signal in the presence of said illuminated target or background; transmitter oscillator drive means having input terminals and output terminals, said output terminals being coupled to said transmitter oscillator for providing transmitter oscillator drive signals at said output terminals responsive to the amplitude of signals applied to said input terminals, the frequency of said transmitter oscillator signals being responsive to said transmitter oscillator drive signals; a plurality of range bin means coupled to receive said beat frequency signal, each of said range bins being responsive to illuminated objects in substantially contiguous predetermined ranges and for providing output signals from a bin corresponding to the range of said illuminated target, and for further providing signals from bins correspondiing to ranges adjacent to said target range; difference means having input terminals coupled to receive said signals corresponding to ranges adjacent to said target, for providing in said tracking mode a signal representative of the difference in amplitude of said adjacent range bin signals to said oscillator drive means; frequency discrimination means having input means coupled to receive said beat frequency signal and having an output means coupled to said transmitter oscillator drive means for providing in said tracking mode, background range tracking signals to said transmitter drive means upon departure of said beat frequency from a predetermined frequency value; range search generator means switchably coupled to said transmitter oscillator drive means for providing in said search mode range search signals; antenna drive means having input terminals and being coupled to said directive antenna means, for varying the position of said directive antenna means in space in first and second directions, said first and second directions being orthogonal, in response to signals applied to saiid antenna drive means input terminals; angle track demodulator means having input terminals coupled to receive said target range bin signal and output terminals, for providing signals Kε
e representative of the difference between said antenna'"'"'s actual and desired line of sight rate of angular change with respect to a first predetermined reference in said first direction, and signals Kε
a representative of the difference between said antenna'"'"'s actual and desired line of sight rate of angular change with respect to said first predetermined direction in said second direction at said output terminals, said output terminals being coupled to said antenna drive means input terminals;search command generator means coupled to said antenna drive means input terminals for providing search command signals λ
del and λ
daz, said directive antenna'"'"'s motion in said first direction being responsive to said signal λ
del and said directive antenna'"'"'s motion in said second direction being responsive to said signal λ
daz ;first angle sensor means coupled to said antenna drive means for providing signals β
representative of said antenna drive means angle in said first direction with respect to said first predetermined reference;second angle sensor means coupled to said antenna drive means for providing signals ψ
representative of said antenna drive means angle in said second direction with respect to said first predetermined reference;first vehicle rate sensor means coupled to said vehicle for providing signals θ
p representative of the angular rate of change of said vehicle in a third direction with respect to a second predetermined reference;second vehicle rate sensor means coupled to said vehicle for providing φ
R representative of the angular rate of change of said vehicle in a fourth direction orthogonal to said third direction, with respect to said predetermined reference;third vehicle rate sensor means coupled to said vehicle for providing signals φ
y representative of the angular rate of change of said vehicle in a fifth direction orthogonal to said third and fourth directions, with respect to said second predetermined reference; andantenna control means coupled to said antenna drive means and adapted to receive said signals Kε
e, Kε
a, θ
p, φ
R, θ
y, β
, ψ
, λ
del, and λ
daz for providing signals in said tracking mode for controlling said antenna drive means rate of angualr change β
in said first direction substantially according to the formula;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">β
=1/2(Kε
.sub.e -θ
.sub.p +2ψ
θ
.sub.R)and for further providing signals in said tracking mode for controlling said antenna drive means angular rate of change ψ
in said second direction substantially accordiing to the formula;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">ψ
=1/2(Kε
.sub.a -θ
.sub.y -2β
φ
.sub.R)and for providing signals in said search mode for controlliing said antenna drive means angular rate of change β
in said first directiion substantially according to the formula;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">β
=1/2[K(-∫
(θ
.sub.p -2φ
.sub.R ψ
)dt+λ
.sub.del -2β
)-(θ
.sub.p -2φ
.sub.R ψ
)]and for further providing signals in said search mode for controlling said antenna drive means angular rate of change ψ
in said second direction substantially according to the formula;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">ψ
=1/2[K(-∫
(φ
.sub.y+ 2β
φ
.sub.R)dt+λ
.sub.daz -2ψ
)-(φ
.sub.y+ 2β
φ
.sub.R)].
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9. second switch means having first input means coupled to said second angle amplifier, second input means adapted to receive said signal Kε
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a, and output means coupled to said second rate amplifier for switchably coupling said output means of said second switch means to said input means of said second switch means; and
acquisition detector means responsive to said target range signals and coupled to said first and second switch means for comparing said target range signals to a second predetermined threshold signal, and for actuating said first and second switch means in the presence of a signal greater than said second threshold signal.
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a, and output means coupled to said second rate amplifier for switchably coupling said output means of said second switch means to said input means of said second switch means; and
Specification