Target designation system

• US 6,842,138 B1
• Filed: 09/22/2003
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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: Wilkinson, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E.
• Application Number:
  US10/666,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20050001756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 372/109, 348/164, 434/2, 340/870.18, 421/15, 356/5.04, 356/151, 244 31- 33, 342 42- 45, 342/51, 342 61- 65, 342/385, 89/11.1, 89/410.3, 89/411.7
• US Class Current: 342/62
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/145 using a target illuminator
• 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: F41G 7/226 Semi-active homing systems, i.e. comprising a receiver and involving auxiliary illuminating means, e.g. using auxiliary guiding missiles
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2286 using radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2293 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/68 Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information

Abstract

A target designation system for indicating a target to be destroyed by remotely guided ordnance comprising a receiver arranged to produce a receiver output signal in response to an incident electromagnetic signal from an attack aircraft. An auto-switch is connected to the receiver and arranged to produce a power signal in response to the receiver output signal. A transmitter is connected to the auto-switch to be activated by the power signal. When activated, the transmitter transmits a homing signal that indicates its location or the location of the target.

Claims

1. A target designation system designating a target for destruction comprising:

a first power source for providing a first electrical power signal;

a manual switch connected to said first power source, said manual switch being turned on by a user of said target designation system;

a receiver connected to said manual switch, said receiver being activated by the first power signal from said first power source when said manual switch is turned on, said receiver when activated being adapted to receive an encoded RF signal at a preset frequency, said receiver providing an electrical equivalent encoded signal of said encoded RF signal whenever said receiver receives said encoded RF signal at said preset frequency;

a decoder circuit having a memory, said memory having activation and deactivation data stored therein, said decoder circuit being connected to said receiver to receive and then decode said electrical equivalent encoded signal provided by said receiver, said decoder circuit providing a switch activation signal whenever decoded data contained in said electrical equivalent encoded signal is equivalent to said activation data stored in said memory, said decoder circuit providing a switch deactivation signal whenever said decoded data contained in said electrical equivalent encoded signal is equivalent to said deactivation data stored in said memory;

a second power source for providing a second electrical power signal;

an auto switch connected to said second power source and said decoder circuit, said auto switch being turned on by said switch activation signal, and said auto switch being turned off by said switch deactivation signal;

a transmitter connected to said auto switch, said transmitter being activated by the second power signal from said second power source when said auto switch is turned on by said switch activation signal;

said transmitter transmitting a laser homing signal to said target, said laser homing signal being reflected from said target to a remotely guided weapons system allowing said remotely guided weapons system to track and locate said target designation system and destroy said target;

a push-to-test switch connected to said first power source and said transmitter, said push-to-test switch when depressed by said user providing said first electrical power signal to said transmitter activating said transmitter allowing for an alignment by said user of said laser homing signal with said target, said push-to-test switch being released by said user when said laser homing signal is aligned with said target.

2. The target designation system of claim 1 wherein said first power source and said second power source each comprise a direct current voltage battery.

3. The target designation system of claim 1 wherein said decoder circuit is connected to said first power source, said decoder circuit being activated when said user turns on said manual switch.

4. The target designation system of claim 1 wherein said switch deactivation signal provided by said auto switch deactivates said transmitter, wherein said transmitter stops transmitting said laser homing signal when said transmitter is deactivated.

5. The target designation system of claim 1 further comprising:

an auto-destruct delay circuit connected to said auto switch, said auto-destruct delay circuit being activated by said second power signal when said auto-switch is turned on, said auto-destruct delay circuit generating a destruct signal after a preset auto-destruct delay time period; and

an anti-comprise device connected to said auto-destruct delay circuit to receive said destruct signal, said anti-comprise device, responsive to said destruct signal, destroying said target designation system.

6. The target designation system of claim 5 further comprising a low voltage switch connected between said first power source and said anti-compromise device.

7. The target designation system of claim 1 further comprising:

a power on delay circuit connected to said manual switch, said power on delay circuit receiving the first power signal from said first power source when said manual switch is turned on;

a motion sensor connected to said power on delay circuit to receive the first power signal from said power on delay circuit after a preset power on delay time, said motion sensor being activated by the first power signal, said motion sensor when activated generating a destruct signal upon sensing motion of said target designation system; and

an anti-comprise device connected to said motion sensor to receive said destruct signal, said anti-comprise device, responsive to said destruct signal, destroying said target designation system.

8. The target designation system of claim 7 further comprising a low voltage switch connected between said first power source and said anti-compromise device.

9. The target designation system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter includes a window which emits said laser homing signal.

10. The target designation system of claim 1 wherein said switch deactivation signal provided by an auto switch included within said target designation system deactivates said transmitter, wherein said transmitter stops transmitting said laser homing signal when said transmitter is deactivated.

11. A target designation system comprising:

a first power source for providing a first electrical power signal;

a manual switch connected to said first power source, said manual switch being turned on by a user of said target designation system;

a receiver connected to said manual switch, said receiver being activated by the first power signal from said first power source when said manual switch is turned on, said receiver when activated being adapted to receive an encoded RF signal at a preset frequency, said receiver providing an electrical equivalent encoded signal of said encoded RF signal whenever said receiver receives said encoded RF signal at said preset frequency;

a decoder circuit having a memory, said memory having activation and deactivation data stored therein, said decoder circuit being connected to said receiver to receive and then decode said electrical equivalent encoded signal provided by said receiver, said decoder circuit providing a switch activation signal whenever decoded data contained in said electrical equivalent encoded signal is equivalent to said activation data stored in said memory, said decoder circuit providing a switch deactivation signal whenever said decoded data contained in said electrical equivalent encoded signal is equivalent to said deactivation data stored in said memory;

a second power source for providing a second electrical power signal;

an auto switch connected to said second power source and said decoder circuit, said auto switch being turned on by said switch activation signal, and said auto switch being turned off by said switch deactivation signal;

a transmitter connected to said auto switch, said transmitter being activated by the second power signal from said second power source when said auto switch is turned on by said switch activation signal;

said transmitter transmitting a laser homing signal to said target, said laser homing signal being reflected from said target to a remotely guided weapons system allowing said remotely guided weapons system to track and locate said target designation system and destroy said target;

a push-to-test switch connected to said first power source and said transmitter, said push-to-test switch when depressed by said user providing said first electrical power signal to said transmitter activating said transmitter allowing for an alignment by said user of said laser homing signal with said target, said push-to-test switch being released by said user when said laser homing signal is aligned with said target

an auto-destruct delay circuit connected to said auto switch, said auto-destruct delay circuit being activated by said second power signal when said auto-switch is turned on, said auto-destruct delay circuit generating a first destruct signal after a preset auto-destruct delay time period;

a power on delay circuit connected to said manual switch, said power on delay circuit receiving the first power signal from said first power source when said manual switch is turned on;

a motion sensor connected to said power on delay circuit to receive the first power signal from said power on delay circuit after a preset power on delay time, said motion sensor being activated by the first power signal, said motion sensor when activated generating a second destruct signal upon sensing motion of said target designation system;

an anti-comprise device connected to said auto-destruct delay circuit and said motion sensor to receive said first destruct signal and said second destruct signal, said anti-comprise device, responsive to each of said first and said second destruct signals, destroying said target designation system.

12. The target designation system of claim 11 wherein said first power source and said second power source each comprise a direct current voltage battery.

13. The target designation system of claim 11 wherein said decoder circuit is connected to said first power source, said decoder circuit being activated when said user turns on said manual switch.

14. The target designation system of claim 11 wherein said switch deactivation signal provided by said auto switch deactivates said transmitter, wherein said transmitter stops transmitting said laser homing signal when said transmitter is deactivated.

15. The target designation system of claim 11 further comprising a low voltage switch connected between said first power source and said anti-compromise device, said low voltage switch providing a third destruct signal to said anti-compromise device when said first power source drops below a preset voltage level, said anti-comprise device, responsive to each of said third destruct signals, destroying said target designation system.

16. The target designation system of claim 11 wherein said transmitter includes a window which emits said laser homing signal.

17. A method for destroying a target by remotely guided ordinance comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning a target designation system in proximity to said target to be destroyed;

(b) aligning said target designation system with said target by depressing a push-to-test switch which activates a transmitter included in said target designation system;

(c) transmitting a laser homing signal from said transmitter to said target when said push-to-test switch is depressed to insure alignment of said target designation system with said target;

(d) activating said target designation system by turning on a manual switch included in said target designation system;

(e) receiving an encoded RF signal at a preset frequency after said target designation system is activated, said target designation system including a receiver which is set at said preset frequency to receive said encoded RF signal;

(f) decoding said encoded RF signal to provide an activation signal and a deactivation signal, said target designation system including a decoder circuit which decodes said encoded RF signal to provide said activation signal and said deactivation signal;

(g) transmitting said laser homing signal from said target to said remotely guided ordinance allowing said remotely guided ordinance to track and then destroy said target, said target designation system including said transmitter for transmitting said laser homing signal to said target wherein said laser homing signal is reflected from said target to said remotely guided ordinance, said transmitter starting transmission of said laser homing signal in response to said activation signal and ceasing transmission of said laser homing signal in response to said deactivation signal; and

(h) destroying said target designation system after a preset auto-destruct delay time period, said preset auto-destruct delay time period being initiated by said activation signal from said decoder circuit, said target designation system including an auto destruct delay circuit which generates a destruct signal after said preset auto-destruct delay time period expires and an anti-compromise device which receives said destruct signal and destroys said target designation system, responsive to said destruct signal from said auto destruct delay circuit.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of destroying said target designation system whenever a motion sensor within said target designation system detects movement of said target designation system, said motion sensor providing another destruct signal to said anti-compromise which then destroys said target designation system.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said preset auto-destruct delay time period expires after approximately ten minutes.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said transmitter includes a window which emits said laser homing signal.