Covert tracer round

• US 7,174,835 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2005
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Knapp, David James
• Primary Examiner(s): Bergin; James S.
• Application Number:
  US11/075,146
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 102/513, 102/501, 102/473, 102/293, 102/458, 89/410.6, 89/411.7, 89/11.1, 89/11, 244/3.1
• US Class Current: 102/513
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/36 for dispensing materials; for producing chemical or physical reaction; for signalling ; for transmitting information
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/382 emitting an electromagnetic radiation, e.g. laser beam or infrared emission

Abstract

A covert tracer round has an infrared emitter of radiation mounted to its front, side or back. The radiation (which may be coherent or incoherent) is detected by a sensor that displays an image of the target and the beam. The sensor receives the beam directly if the emitter is on the back of the round and by reflection off the target or nearby objects if the emitter faces forward. The round may include a fixed or moveable collimating lens. The emitter may radiate radially from the round to signal troops or devices located along its path. The round may include sensors that gather significant information about chemicals or biological agents, about magnetic or gravitational anomalies or any other remotely detectable property and transmit that information to the sensor by modulating the emitted radiation.

Claims

1. A tracer round including a projectile to be fired from a gun, a supply of electric power, a radiation emitter connected to the supply of electric power, a lens, mounted to the projectile, to focus the radiation emitted by the emitter, and means for adjusting the lens during flight, and a switch to connect the supply of electric power to the emitter;

wherein the switch is activated by heat or is activated by acceleration of the tracer round.

2. The tracer round of claim 1, wherein the emitter emits in the infrared spectrum.

3. The tracer round of claim 1, wherein the emitter emits in the visible spectrum.

4. The tracer round of claim 1, wherein the emitter emits in the ultraviolet spectrum.

5. A tracer round including:

a projectile to be fired from a gun, a supply of electric power,

a radiation emitter connected to the supply of electric power, and

a lens, mounted to the projectile, to focus the radiation emitted by the emitter, means for adjusting the lens during flight;

wherein the emitter connected to the supply of power is a first emitter and further including a second emitter, connected to the power supply and a switch for selectively connecting one or the other of the first and second emitters to the power supply.

6. A tracer round including a projectile to be fired from a gun, a supply of electric power, a source of radiation connected to the power supply when the projectile is fired from the gun for emitting detectable radiation, and a lens movably mounted with respect to the source of radiation to adjust the spread of the beam during the flight of the tracer round;

wherein the radiation is coherent, and wherein the coherent radiation is modulated in response to signal generated by a remote sensing device included in the tracer round.

7. The round of claim 6 wherein the radiation is emitted in the same direction as the round travels.

8. The round of claim 6 wherein the radiation is emitted in the opposite direction from the direction of travel of the round.