Apparatus for synthetic weapon stabilization and firing

• US 8,141,473 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2009
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Kude, William B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abdosh, Samir
• Application Number:
  US12/406,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20120037702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 89 4101- 4103, 89 2711- 282, 235403-407
• US Class Current: 89/41.03
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/38 Telescopic sights specially adapted for smallarms or ordnance telescopic sights in general G02B; Supports or mountings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/12 with means for compensating for muzzle velocity or powder temperature with means for compensating for gun vibrations

Abstract

In methods and apparatuses, a weapon includes a trigger module for sensing trigger input from a shooter and generating a trigger signal, and a firing module for controlling firing of a projectile responsive to a fire control signal. The weapon also includes an image sensor configured for mounting on the weapon and sensing a series of images over a time period of interest while the trigger signal is in a motion-estimation state. A controller is configured for determining when to fire the weapon by receiving the images from the image sensor and generating a motion estimation history over the time period of interest responsive to changes in the images. The controller is also configured for determining a centroid of the motion estimation history and asserting the fire control signal when the trigger signal is in a fire-enable state and a current image is within an offset threshold from the centroid.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining when to fire a weapon, comprising:

a trigger interface configured for indicating a fire-enable state;

a fire-time synthesizer operably coupled to the trigger interface and comprising;

a memory storing computing instructions; and

a processor operably coupled to an image sensor and the memory and, responsive to a trigger signal from the trigger interface indicating the fire-enable state, processor executes computing instructions stored in the memory to;

determine a substantially random time delay after the trigger signal; and

assert a fire control signal after the substantially random time delay; and

a fire actuator operably coupled to the fire-time synthesizer to discharge the weapon responsive to assertion of the fire control signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image sensor is configured for mounting on the weapon and sensing a plurality of images over a time period of interest while the weapon is pointed at a target and wherein the processor executes computing instructions stored in the memory to:

determine a motion estimation history over the time period of interest from changes in the plurality of images;

determine a centroid of the motion estimation history; and

generate the fire control signal when a current image is within an offset threshold from the centroid.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor executes the computing instructions to generate the fire control signal when the image is approaching the offset threshold responsive to an estimate of a time to enter the offset threshold relative to a time delay between generating the fire control signal and the weapon firing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trigger interface is further configured to assert an override state and cause discharge of the weapon.

5. An apparatus, comprising:

a weapon;

a trigger module for sensing trigger input from a shooter and generating a trigger signal;

a fire actuator for controlling discharging the weapon responsive to a fire control signal; and

a fire-time synthesizer, comprising;

an image sensor configured for mounting on the weapon and sensing a plurality of images over a time period of interest while the trigger signal is in a motion-estimation state and generating data representing the plurality of images; and

a controller operably coupled to the trigger signal, the fire control signal, and the image sensor, the controller for executing computing instructions, which when executed by the controller cause the controller to;

generate a motion estimation history over the time period of interest responsive to changes in the data representing the plurality of images;

determine a centroid of the motion estimation history; and

assert the fire control signal when the trigger signal is in a fire-enable state and a current image of the plurality of images is within an offset threshold from the centroid.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the fire-time synthesizer is removable from the weapon and configured for attachment to another weapon.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller is further for executing computing instruction to generate the fire control signal when the image is approaching the offset threshold responsive to an estimate of a time to enter the offset threshold relative to a time delay between generating the fire control signal and the weapon firing.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the trigger module is further configured for sensing an override state and the fire actuator is further configured for initiating discharge of the weapon responsive to an assertion of the override state.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the weapon is selected from the group consisting of a projectile weapon and a directed energy weapon.