Small smart weapon and weapon system employing the same

• US 9,915,505 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2016
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lone Star IP Holdings, LP
• Original Assignee: Lone Star IP Holdings, LP
• Inventors: Roemerman, Steven D.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAYES, BRET C
• Application Number:
  US15/339,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20170074620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 224 315, 224 316, 224 317, 359709, 359717, 359720, 102222
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/001 Devices or systems for testing or checking
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2246 Active homing systems, i.e. comprising both a transmitter and a receiver
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/226 Semi-active homing systems, i.e. comprising a receiver and involving auxiliary illuminating means, e.g. using auxiliary guiding missiles
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2293 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/26 Optical guidance systems
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/64 of fins
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/04 of armour-piercing type
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/362 Arrows or darts F42B12/38 takes precedence, having means for implantation, e.g. hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54; arrows or darts in general F42B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/44 of incendiary type F42B12/46 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 25/00 Fall bombs F42B10/00, F42B12/00 take precedence; for practice or training F42B8/12 ; gliding type bombs F42B15/105
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 15/005 Combination-type safety mechanisms, i.e. two or more safeties are moved in a predetermined sequence to each other
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 15/20 wherein a securing-pin or latch is removed to arm the fuze, e.g. removed from the firing-pin F42C9/041 and F42C15/40 take precedence

Abstract

A weapon and weapon system, and methods of manufacturing and operating the same. In one embodiment, the weapon includes a warhead including destructive elements and a guidance section with a seeker configured to guide the weapon to a target. The seeker includes a detector configured to receive a distorted signal impinging on an objective lens from the target, memory configured to store target criteria and a correction map, and a processor configured to provide a correction signal based on the distorted signal, the target criteria and the correction map to guide the weapon to the target.

Claims

1. A seeker, comprising:

a detector configured to receive a distorted signal impinging on an objective lens from a target, said objective lens comprising a boundary with a pseudo-random pattern formed with random perturbations therein;

memory configured to store target criteria; and

a processor configured to provide a correction signal based on said distorted signal and said target criteria to guide a weapon to said target.

2. The seeker as recited in claim 1 wherein said memory is configured to store a correction map and said processor is configured to provide said correction signal based on said distorted signal, said target criteria and said correction map to guide said weapon to said target.

3. The seeker as recited in claim 2 wherein said correction map is derivable in accordance with a response map from a calibration array in comparison to known angles of illumination.

4. The seeker as recited in claim 2 wherein said correction map provides a line-of-sight estimate for said correction signal to guide said weapon to said target.

5. The seeker as recited in claim 1 wherein said pseudo-random pattern is formed by a continuous concentric circle with random perturbations therein.

6. The seeker as recited in claim 1 wherein said objective lens comprises a plurality of boundaries with pseudo-random patterns therein.

7. The seeker as recited in claim 6 wherein said plurality of boundaries with pseudo-random patterns comprise a plurality of continuous concentric circles with random perturbations therein.

8. The seeker as recited in claim 1 wherein said objective lens comprises a front surface and a back surface configured to provide a complementary corrective curvature to said front surface.

9. The seeker as recited in claim 1 wherein said objective lens comprises a front surface with a central region being a non-planar cone and outer regions being sharper cones.

10. The seeker as recited in claim 1 wherein said objective lens is integrated with a hemi-dome of a seeker housing said objective lens.

11. The seeker as recited in claim 1 wherein said objective lens includes a fast fresnel lens.

12. The seeker as recited in claim 1 wherein said objective lens comprises a back surface with at least a portion formed by a conic surface.

13. The seeker as recited in claim 1 further comprising a dome configured to provide environmental protection for said objective lens.

14. The seeker as recited in claim 1 further comprising a standoff between said objective lens and said detector.

15. The seeker as recited in claim 1 wherein said processor is configured to validate said target with said target criteria.

16. A weapon, comprising:

a warhead including destructive elements; and

a guidance section with a seeker, including;

a detector configured to receive a distorted signal impinging on an objective lens from a target, said objective lens comprising a boundary with a pseudo-random pattern formed with random perturbations therein;

memory configured to store target criteria; and

a processor configured to provide a correction signal based on said distorted signal and said target criteria to guide a weapon to said target.

17. The weapon as recited in claim 16 wherein said objective lens comprises a front surface with a central region being a non-planar cone and outer regions being sharper cones.

18. The weapon as recited in claim 16 wherein said seeker further comprises a dome configured to provide environmental protection for said objective lens.

19. The weapon as recited in claim 16 wherein said seeker further comprises a standoff between said objective lens and said detector.

20. The weapon as recited in claim 16 wherein said objective lens comprises at least one continuous concentric circle with pseudo-random patterns therein.