Focal plane array seeker for projectiles
First Claim
1. An infrared (IR) sensitive seeker system for gimballed or non-gimballed mounting on a ballistic projectile capable of withstanding relatively high g forces and operating in a staring mode, the seeker system comprising:
- an imaging IR sensor system having a two-dimensional focal plane array (FPA) of ambient temperature operable IR sensors, wherein each sensor in the array has a baseline output is adapted to receive radiation and produce a temperature related analog output therefrom, the system including digitizing means for digitizing the analog output and which collectively produces an output in the form of a digital stream of data;
optical system to cause incoming IR to be focused on the FPA;
signal amplification and analog to digital conversion means to initially process the output from the sensors;
high speed, high resolution real-time imaging system to produce sequential real-time high resolution frames based on the sequential output of the two dimensional array;
high speed, high resolution real-time image processing means to extract target features; and
control and discrimination means to utilize high resolution target feature image data to control the sensor and image framing and identify targets of interest and cause the ballistic projectile to track and approach identified targets of interest.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a relatively low cost, high resolution precision target acquisition and tracking system capable of operation on nonspinning ballistic munition projectiles, or the like. The system includes an imaging IR sensor head which is preferably gimbal mounted and utilizes an ambient temperature operating, densely packed, two dimensional focal plane array of electromagnetic radiation infrared sensitive (IR) sensors. The array is adapted to operate in a staring mode and a small amount of thermal stabilization is provided. Signal processing electronics are included with stabilizing self-calibrating non-uniformity compensation processing capabilities. This is combined with a high speed, high resolution real-time image processing system to extract target features and which operates with a discriminating, tracking and control system which identifies, targets and initiates tracking to impact on a selected target.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An infrared (IR) sensitive seeker system for gimballed or non-gimballed mounting on a ballistic projectile capable of withstanding relatively high g forces and operating in a staring mode, the seeker system comprising:
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an imaging IR sensor system having a two-dimensional focal plane array (FPA) of ambient temperature operable IR sensors, wherein each sensor in the array has a baseline output is adapted to receive radiation and produce a temperature related analog output therefrom, the system including digitizing means for digitizing the analog output and which collectively produces an output in the form of a digital stream of data; optical system to cause incoming IR to be focused on the FPA; signal amplification and analog to digital conversion means to initially process the output from the sensors; high speed, high resolution real-time imaging system to produce sequential real-time high resolution frames based on the sequential output of the two dimensional array; high speed, high resolution real-time image processing means to extract target features; and control and discrimination means to utilize high resolution target feature image data to control the sensor and image framing and identify targets of interest and cause the ballistic projectile to track and approach identified targets of interest. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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- 2. The seeker system of claim wherein the IR sensing system is further characterized by an array of microbridge bolometer sensors.
Specification