System and method for triggering an explosive device

• US 7,417,582 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cedar Ridge Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Fullerton, Larry W., Richards, James, Fluhler, Herbert U., Fitzpatrick, Douglas D., Troutman, Dennis L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barker; Matthew M
• Application Number:
  US10/971,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20060087472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 342/68, 102/214
• US Class Current: 342/68
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 11/008 Power generation in electric fuzes F42C11/02, F42C11/04 and F42C15/295 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 13/042 based on distance determination by coded radar techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/0209 Systems with very large relative bandwidth, i.e. larger than 10 %, e.g. baseband, pulse, carrier-free, ultrawideband

Abstract

A proximity fuze (proximity fuse) comprising an ultra wideband (UWB) radar transmitter, a UWB radar receiver, an antenna, a timing system, and a signal processor. One embodiment includes an antenna with an annular conical radiation pattern. In another embodiment, a trigger delay is produced that is related to target detection range. In a further embodiment, multiple range shells are utilized to further discriminate target characteristics including velocity. A method is disclosed that utilizes target range, velocity, signal amplitude, and radar signal phase to identify the target and trigger the detonation. A proximity fuze system having a long storage life is disclosed comprising a proximity fuze element powered by a turbine generator and internal gas source.

Claims

1. A proximity fuze for triggering a warhead comprising:

a UWB radar transmitter for transmitting a UWB radar signal;

a UWB radar receiver for receiving a return signal;

an antenna coupled to said UWB radar transmitter and said UWB radar receiver;

a timing system coupled to said UWB radar transmitter and said UWB radar receiver, wherein said timing system provides timing signals to said transmitter and said receiver;

a signal processor coupled to said UWB radar receiver; and

a logic unit coupled to said signal processor for generating a trigger signal to trigger said warhead, wherein said trigger signal is responsive to a target in accordance with at least one aliased range shell.

2. The proximity fuze of claim 1, further including a summing process to sum receiver output signals, said summing process generating a sum signal.

3. The proximity fuze of claim 2, further including a modulation source for modulating said UWB radar signal;

wherein said modulation reduces the response of said sum signal to said target in said at least one aliased range shell.