Launchable countermeasure device and method

• US 6,341,101 B1
• Filed: 03/27/2000
• Issued: 01/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Navy As Represented By The Secretary of The
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Dutton, C. Ray, Lopes, Joseph B., Potter, Lynn A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian J.
• Application Number:
  US09/536,490
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 367/1, 381/71.1
• US Class Current: 367/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/224 Deceiving or protecting means jamming or anti-jamming of radio-wave systems in general G01S7/36, G01S7/38; defense installations in general F41H11/02; chaff dispensers F42B12/70
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/537 Counter-measures or counter-counter-measures, e.g. jamming, anti-jamming

Abstract

A launchable countermeasure device and method is disclosed that may be selectively operated to produce one or more of a plurality of countermeasure techniques. The device is compatible with presently existing launch control panels that are connected to an external connection that extends from the watertight hull. Although the signal formats of the launch control panel are different from those of an RS232 or RS422 connection used with a personal computer, nonetheless an interface is operable to accept any of these signal formats. The interface also includes a switch to direct communication from the personal computer to a RS232 port of an internally mounted countermeasure processor. Information downloaded by the personal computer can be used to effect or upgrade different countermeasure techniques such as sonar or incoming torpedo threat countermeasure techniques. The launch control panel is used to select the type of countermeasure technique to be used along with the information relating thereto such as acoustic signal production, hovering system constraints, duration, depth, propeller controls, and the like. The various subsystems are linked by a bus and controlled by the countermeasure processor through a bus controller.

Claims

1. A method for effecting a plurality of countermeasure techniques using a launchable countermeasure device, comprising:

connecting an external computer to said launchable countermeasure device through an external connector outside of a hull of said launchable countermeasure device;

communicating with an internal countermeasure processor mounted within said hull of said launchable countermeasure device;

transferring from said external computer data related to said plurality of countermeasure techniques into a memory for use by said internal countermeasure processor;

disconnecting said external computer from said external connector;

connecting a launch control panel to said external connector;

selecting one or more of said plurality of countermeasure techniques using said launch control panel; and

deploying said launchable countermeasure device to effect said selected one or more countermeasure techniques underwater.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reconnecting said external computer to said launchable countermeasure device; and

communicating with said internal countermeasure processor to transfer upgraded data related to at least one of said plurality of countermeasure techniques into said memory.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a logic gate array to determine whether said launch control panel or said external computer is connected to said external connector.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing preset information in an interface.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising using a logic gate array on said interface to detect arming of said launchable countermeasure device.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising using said interface for communicating with said internal countermeasure processor selectively through a system bus when said launch control panel is connected to said external connector and through a communications connection when said external computer is connected to said external connector.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing a commercial bus interface for communicating between said internal countermeasure processor and a hovering system and a signal generator system within said launchable countermeasure device.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising execution of tactical code when arming is detected.

9. A launchable acoustic countermeasure device operable for deployment by a launch control panel and for programming by an external computer, said launch control panel and said external computer producing a respective launch control panel signal and external computer signals, said launch control panel signal and said external computer signals having a different signal format, said launchable acoustic countermeasure device comprising:

a watertight hull for said acoustic countermeasure device;

a data bus within said water tight hull;

a signal generator connected to said data bus for producing countermeasure acoustic signals through a transducer;

a hovering system connected to said data bus for controlling water depth and movement of said countermeasure device;

a bus controller for communicating with said signal generator and said hovering system through said data bus;

an external connector operable for use by said launch control panel or said computer;

an internal countermeasure processor with memory operable for producing a signal for said signal generator and said hovering system through said bus controller;

an interface for said external connector for controlling communication between said internal countermeasure processor and at least one of said launch control panel and said external computer; and

a detection circuit within said interface operable to determine whether said external connector is connected to one of said launch control panel and said external computer.

10. The launchable acoustic countermeasure device of claim 9, further comprising an electronics module for physically supporting said bus controller, said internal countermeasure processor, and said interface, said electronics module including an electronics module bus for electrically connecting said bus controller, said internal countermeasure processor, and said interface.

11. The launchable acoustic countermeasure of claim 9, further comprising a communications connection between said interface and said internal countermeasure processor, said interface operating to transfer said external computer signal over said connection to said internal countermeasure processor when said detection circuitry determines said external detector is connected to said external computer.

12. The launchable acoustic countermeasure of claim 11, further comprising an analog switch in said interface for transferring said external computer signals to said connection.

13. The launchable acoustic countermeasure device of claim 9, further comprising memory for preset storage on said interface, said interface operating to read in presets to said preset storage or read back presets from said preset storage.

14. The launchable acoustic countermeasure device of claim 9, further comprising isolation and signal conversion circuitry on said interface operable for accepting at least one computer signal format from said external computer and a different signal format from said launch control panel.

15. The launchable acoustic countermeasure device of claim 14, wherein said isolation and signal conversion circuitry on said interface is operable to accept computer signal formats including RS232 signal format and RS422 signal format.

16. A method for effecting a plurality countermeasure techniques using a launchable countermeasure device, comprising the steps of:

connecting an external device to said launchable countermeasure device;

providing a mode selection signal from said connected external device to an internal countermeasure processing system within said launchable countermeasure device, said mode selection signal modes including a PC mode indicating that said connected external device is a general purpose computer and a launch control panel mode indicating that said connected external device is a launch control panel;

upon selection of said PC mode;

receiving data from said connected external device at said launchable countermeasure device; and

modifying operational code data in said internal countermeasure processing system with said received data; and

upon selection of said launch control panel mode;

receiving at least one countermeasure command from said connected external device at said launchable countermeasure device; and

activating said internal countermeasure processing system to effect at least one preprogrammed countermeasure technique associated with said received countermeasure command.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said one or more countermeasure techniques include sonar countermeasure techniques and incoming threat countermeasure techniques.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of modifying operational code data comprises the step of installing a countermeasure technique program.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising reading back presets when operated in said launch control panel mode.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising performing diagnostics when operated in said PC mode.