# US 2009/0260511 A1 · Target acquisition and tracking system

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2009/0260511 A1
- Document ID: US20090260511A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/378,600
- Filed: 2009-02-17
- Published: 2009-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2005-07-18
- Assignees: Trex Enterprises Corp.
- Inventors: Steve Melnychuk; William Foote; Zhong Quan Zhao; Fritz (Cornelius) Moore
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260511A1

## CPC

- F41G 3/147: {based on detection of a firing weapon}
- G01S 3/7864: {T.V. type tracking systems}
- G01S 17/66: Tracking systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
- G01S 17/86: Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
- G02B 23/02: involving prisms or mirrors (G02B23/14 takes precedence)
- G02B 26/0816: {by means of one or more reflecting elements}
- F41G: WEAPON SIGHTS; AIMING (optical aspects thereof G02B)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

A projectile tracking system for acquiring and precisely tracking a projectile in flight in order to reveal the source from which the projectile was fired. The source is revealed by the back projection of a 3-dimensional track file. In preferred embodiments the system is installed on a vehicle, such as an un-manned blimp or other aircraft, road vehicle or ship, for locating and destroying small arms fire directed at the vehicle. A kill system may also be included on the vehicle to destroy the source of the projectile.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A missile protection system for a moving vehicle, comprising:
A) a steerable optical system mounted on said vehicle;
B) an optoelectronic system, coupled to the steerable optical system, for detecting a projectile through the steerable optical system, steering the steerable optical system to track the detected projectile, and generating range and position for the detected projectile;
C) an analysis system, coupled to the steerable optical system and the optoelectronic system, for determining the trajectory of the detected projectile based upon range and position data generated by the optoelectronic system.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system as in claim 1 and further comprising a kill system for destroying the sores of said projectile.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system as in claim 1 wherein said steerable optical system is a single-mirror system.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system as in claim 1 wherein said steerable optical system is a two-mirror system.

### Claim 5

A missile protection system for a moving vehicle, comprising:
A) a steerable optical system mounted on said vehicle including:
1) an azimuth drive motor having a rotational element defining an axis of rotation;
2) a step and stare mirror mounted to the rotational element of the azimuth drive motor along the axis of rotation, and pivotable to define an elevation angle;
3) an elevation cam mounted coaxially about the axis of rotation;
4) an elevation drive motor coupled to the elevation cam to rotate the elevation cam about the axis of rotation;
5) a cam follower extending from the step and stare mirror and in contact with the elevation cam wherein rotation of the elevation cam results in a corresponding change in elevation angle;
B) an optoelectronic system, coupled to the steerable optical system, for detecting a projectile through the steerable optical system, steering the steerable optical system to track the detected projectile, and generating range and position for the detected projectile; and
C) an analysis system, coupled to the steerable optical system and the optoelectronic system, for determining the trajectory of the detected projectile based upon range and position data generated by the optoelectronic system.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the rotational element of the azimuth drive motor is formed with a longitudinal bore for passing light through the rotational element to the step and stare mirror.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, further comprising a first and second deflecting mirror, wherein the light passed through the rotational element is redirected by the first deflecting mirror and the second deflecting mirror to the step and stare mirror.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The system as in claim 5 and further comprising a kill system for destroying the sores of said projectile.