Methods and apparatus for detecting a target

• US 8,885,044 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2007
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Caber, Timothy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOO, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US11/939,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20100283852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,554 Days
• Field of Search: 348/144, 348/145, 348/169
• US Class Current: 348/144
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/007 Preparatory measures taken before the launching of the guided missiles
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2206 using a remote control station
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2253 Passive homing systems, i.e. comprising a receiver and do not requiring an active illumination of the target
• 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 3/784 using a mosaic of detectors

Abstract

An exemplary apparatus providing an improved detection system is disclosed as having: a sensor array adapted to detect radiation emanating from a potential target and a missile guidance system for controlling a missile'"'"'s trajectory. Disclosed features and specifications may be variously controlled, adapted or otherwise optionally modified to improve and/or modify the performance characteristics of the detection system. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention generally provide a detection system for use as, for example, a target detection system for a missile guidance system.

Claims

1. A detection device, comprising:

a sensor array having a plurality of sensor pixels;

wherein;

said sensor array has an approximately known field of vision; and

each of said plurality of said sensor pixels has an approximately known field of vision;

a computing device coupled to said sensory array, wherein said computing device is configured to;

receive a possible target volume associated with a volume of space in which a target may be present;

record data generated by said sensor array;

identify a number of the plurality of sensor pixels that indicate a presence of a target in approximately the same portion of a scene within possible target volume based on an approximately known rate of scan of said field of vision; and

determine whether the target is present within the possible target volume based on whether the number of the plurality of sensor pixels that indicates a presence of the target in approximately the same portion of the scene exceeds a threshold value, wherein the threshold value is dynamic and alterable during flight of a projectile associated with said sensor array; and

a translating device that is coupled to said sensor array and configured to scan said field of vision of said sensor array across said scene at the approximately known rate;

a filter coupled to at least one of said sensor and said computing device, wherein said filter is configured to;

retrieve data generated by at least one sensor pixel of said sensor array;

retrieve data generated by at least one other sensor pixel of said sensor array; and

modify said data retrieved from at least one sensor pixel.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said sensor array comprises an electro-optical sensor array.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising multiple sensor arrays coupled to said computing device.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a projectile, wherein said sensor array is coupled to said projectile.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said translating device is configured to rotate said sensor array about an axis.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold value is decreased as the projectile flight time increases.

7. A method of detection, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a possible target volume associated with a volume of space in which a target may be present;

scanning a field of vision of a sensor array across a scene within the possible target volume, wherein said sensor array has an approximately known field of vision and comprises a plurality of sensor pixels, wherein each of said plurality of sensor pixels has an approximately known field of vision;

retrieving data from said sensor array;

analyzing said data to identify a number of plurality of sensor pixels that indicate a presence of a target in approximately the same portion of said scene within the possible target volume based on an approximately known rate of scan of said field of vision; and

determining whether the target is present within the possible target volume based on whether the number of the plurality of sensor pixels that indicates a presence of the target in approximately the same portion of the scene exceeds a threshold value, wherein the threshold value is dynamic and alterable during flight of a projectile associated with said sensor array;

filtering said data, wherein said step of filtering said data comprises the steps of;

retrieving data generated by at least one sensor pixel of said sensor array;

retrieving data generated by at least one other sensor pixel of said sensor array; and

modifying said data retrieved from at least one sensor pixel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said sensor array comprises an electro-optical sensor array.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said sensor array comprises a plurality of sensor arrays.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said sensor array is coupled to a projectile.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of scanning said field of vision of said sensor array across a scene is achieved primarily via projectile motion.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of scanning said field of vision of said sensor array is achieved via rotation of said sensor array.

13. A method of detection comprising:

providing a possible target volume, said possible target volume having an approximately known boundary;

providing a sensor array that has an approximately known field of vision and comprises a plurality of sensor pixels, wherein each of said plurality of sensor pixels has an approximately known field of vision,

aligning a boundary of said field of vision of said sensor array with the boundary of said possible target volume;

scanning said field of vision of said sensor array substantially across said possible target volume at an approximately known scan rate;

retrieving data generated by said sensor pixels of said sensor array;

identifying a number of plurality of sensor pixels that indicate a presence of a target in approximately the same portion of said scene within the possible target volume based on an approximately known rate of scan of said field of vision; and

determining whether the target is present within the possible target volume based on where the number of the plurality of sensor pixels that indicates a presence of the target in approximately the same portion of the scene exceeds a threshold value, wherein the threshold value is dynamic and alterable during flight of a projectile associated with said sensor array;

filtering said data, wherein said step of filtering said data comprises the steps of;

retrieving data generated by at least one sensor pixel of said sensor array;

retrieving data generated by at least one other sensor pixel of said sensor array; and

modifying said data retrieved from at least one sensor pixel.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said sensor array comprises a plurality of sensor arrays.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of scanning said field of vision of said sensor array is achieved via rotation of said sensor array.