Seeker, particularly for target seeking missiles
First Claim
1. A seeker, particularly for target seeking missiles, comprising:
- a supporting structure;
an optical imaging system for imaging a field of view of the seeker;
gimbal means comprising an inner gimbal and an outer gimbal and supported at said structure;
said gimbal means universally movably supporting said optical imaging system relative to said structure;
a detector arranged for receiving an image of said field of view produced by said optical imaging system;
said optical imaging system including an optical member arranged at said inner gimbal of said gimbal means;
said optical member being placed on the object side of said optical imaging system and defining an optical axis of said optical imaging system;
said optical imaging system further including a deflecting mirror arranged at said inner gimbal;
said optical imaging system defining a path of rays;
said deflecting mirror folding said path of rays defined by said optical imaging system;
reflecting means for reversing the path of rays defined by said optical imaging means;
said deflecting mirror being fixedly arranged at said inner gimbal and on the object side of said reflecting means;
said inner gimbal defining a gimbal axis;
said deflecting mirror folding said path of rays and deflecting said optical axis of said optical imaging system to coincide with said gimbal axis of said inner gimbal;
said detector being retained at said outer gimbal of said gimbal means and being positioned on the gimbal axis of said inner gimbal;
said reflecting means being also positioned at the gimbal axis of said inner gimbal; and
said reflecting means reversing the path of rays deflected by said deflecting mirror in the direction of said gimbal axis of said inner gimbal, and directing the reversed, deflected path of rays toward said detector.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A seeker, particularly for target seeking missiles, includes an imaging optical system which is universally movably supported with respect to a structure using a gimbal mount via an inner gimbal and an outer gimbal, and further includes a detector at which an image of the field of view can be produced by the optical system. In such seeker, the imaging optical system comprises optical members which are disposed at the inner gimbal on the side of the object and which define an optical axis of the imaging optical system. The optical system contains a deflecting mirror for folding a path of rays such that the deflected optical axis coincides with a gimbal axis of the inner gimbal. Image rotating reflecting means is arranged on the gimbal axis of the inner gimbal and reverses the deflected path of rays in order to direct the reversed, deflected path of rays to a detector which is retained at the outer gimbal, placed on the gimbal axis of the inner gimbal and designed as a detector array. The reflecting means is attached to the outer gimbal and driven for rotation about the gimbal axis of the inner gimbal.
16 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A seeker, particularly for target seeking missiles, comprising:
-
a supporting structure; an optical imaging system for imaging a field of view of the seeker; gimbal means comprising an inner gimbal and an outer gimbal and supported at said structure; said gimbal means universally movably supporting said optical imaging system relative to said structure; a detector arranged for receiving an image of said field of view produced by said optical imaging system; said optical imaging system including an optical member arranged at said inner gimbal of said gimbal means; said optical member being placed on the object side of said optical imaging system and defining an optical axis of said optical imaging system; said optical imaging system further including a deflecting mirror arranged at said inner gimbal; said optical imaging system defining a path of rays; said deflecting mirror folding said path of rays defined by said optical imaging system; reflecting means for reversing the path of rays defined by said optical imaging means; said deflecting mirror being fixedly arranged at said inner gimbal and on the object side of said reflecting means; said inner gimbal defining a gimbal axis; said deflecting mirror folding said path of rays and deflecting said optical axis of said optical imaging system to coincide with said gimbal axis of said inner gimbal; said detector being retained at said outer gimbal of said gimbal means and being positioned on the gimbal axis of said inner gimbal; said reflecting means being also positioned at the gimbal axis of said inner gimbal; and said reflecting means reversing the path of rays deflected by said deflecting mirror in the direction of said gimbal axis of said inner gimbal, and directing the reversed, deflected path of rays toward said detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification