Synchronized countermeasure system architecture

• US 8,885,152 B1
• Filed: 04/30/2012
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Wright, Harold T.
• Primary Examiner(s): RATCLIFFE, LUKE D
• Application Number:
  US13/460,118
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 356 301- 315, 356 401- 41, 356 501- 515, 356 6- 22, 356/28, 356/28.5
• US Class Current: 356/5.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/10 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/20 using resistors, thermistors or semiconductors sensitive to radiation, e.g. photoconductive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/18 wherein range gates are used
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/483 Details of pulse systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/495 Counter-measures or counter-counter-measures using electronic or electro-optical means
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/14 for the transfer of light or images, e.g. for video-surveillance, for television or from a computer screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/24 for communication related to weapons
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/41 characterized by the control of the jamming activation or deactivation time control of jamming activation and deactivation time only for the purpose of alternating between jamming mode and target monitoring mode H04K3/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/45 characterized by including monitoring of the target or target signal, e.g. in reactive jammers or follower jammers for example by means of an alternation of jamming phases and monitoring phases, called "look-through mode"
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/825 by jamming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed that provide a high-speed synchronized interface for command and control between the sensor and the laser of countermeasure systems. The techniques may be implemented, for example, in a countermeasure system configured for operation with a laser and sensor, wherein the system includes an interface with laser and sensor command control words synchronized with a master clock having an embedded System Heart Beat defining a Master Frame period, a command and control protocol for the laser and the sensor within the Master Frame period; and a T₀ sensor to measure the time a laser pulse leaves the system, wherein the sensor uses the measured time as reference to set frame start and timing measurements. The system may support both active ranging and passive tracking (e.g., Master Frame period may include both passive and active sub-frames). The active ranging may include both coarse and fine resolution ranging.

Claims

1. A countermeasure system configured for operation with a laser and sensor, comprising:

an interface with laser and sensor command control words synchronized with a master clock having an embedded System Heart Beat defining a Master Frame period;

a command and control protocol for the laser and the sensor within the Master Frame period; and

a T₀ sensor to measure the time a laser pulse leaves the system, wherein the sensor uses the measured time as reference to set frame start and timing measurements,

wherein a laser sub-assembly including the laser generates the master clock and a pointer/tracker sub-assembly including the sensor and the T₀ sensor generates a slave clock based on the master clock.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising the sensor, wherein the sensor is for detecting infrared radiation of a target and laser returns.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising the laser, wherein the laser is for providing transmitted laser pulses.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the system supports both active ranging and passive tracking.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the active ranging includes both coarse and fine resolution ranging.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the Master Frame period comprises passive and active sub-frames.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein a previous Master Frame is used to send laser commands for a next Master Frame.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a jam head including a pointer/tracker sub-assembly comprising the sensor, and a laser sub-assembly comprising the laser; and

an electronic control unit (ECU) sub-assembly for providing cue signals to the jam head.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein passive acquisition of a target by the system has a set passive mode integration time, thereby leaving a remainder of each Master Frame period for active ranging.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the active ranging includes receiving multiple active range gate samples.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising multiple sensors each including an integrated readout circuit.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising an N×

M focal plane array operatively coupled with an integrated readout circuit.

13. A directed infrared countermeasure system, comprising:

a laser for providing transmitted laser pulses;

a sensor for detecting infrared radiation of a target and laser returns;

an interface with laser and sensor command control words synchronized with a master clock having an embedded System Heart Beat defining a Master Frame period, wherein the Master Frame period comprises passive and active sub-frames;

a command and control protocol for the laser and the sensor within the Master Frame period; and

a T₀ sensor to measure the time a laser pulse leaves the system, wherein the sensor uses the measured time as reference to set frame start and timing measurements,

wherein a laser sub-assembly including the laser generates the master clock and a pointer/tracker sub-assembly including the sensor and the T₀ sensor generates a slave clock based on the master clock.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the system supports both active ranging and passive tracking.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the active ranging includes both coarse and fine resolution ranging.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein a previous Master Frame is used to send laser commands for a next Master Frame.

17. A directed infrared countermeasure system, comprising:

a jam head including a laser sub-assembly comprising a laser for providing transmitted laser pulses, and a pointer/tracker sub-assembly comprising a sensor for detecting infrared radiation of a target and laser returns;

an electronic control unit (ECU) sub-assembly for providing cue signals to the jam head;

an interface with laser and sensor command control words synchronized with a master clock having an embedded System Heart Beat defining a Master Frame period,

wherein the Master Frame period comprises passive and active sub-frames;

a command and control protocol for the laser and the sensor within the Master Frame period; and

a T₀ sensor to measure the time a laser pulse leaves the system, wherein the sensor uses the measured time as reference to set frame start and timing measurements;

wherein passive acquisition of a target by the system has a set passive mode integration time, thereby leaving a remainder of each Master Frame period for active ranging, and the active ranging includes receiving multiple active range gate samples.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the system supports both active ranging and passive tracking, and the active ranging includes both coarse and fine resolution ranging.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein a previous Master Frame is used to send laser commands for a next Master Frame.