US 4,949,089 A · Portable target locator system

Abstract

A portable target locator system capable of being transported and utilized by an individual combatant is disclosed. The portable target locator system comprises a rifle-like target locator and a transmitter/modem capable of transmitting target location coordinates to a weapons delivery system. The rifle-target locator preferably includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver capable of determining the location coordinates of the target locator automatically and with a high degree of accuracy from signals transmitted from a network of orbiting satellites. A laser rangefinder and digital azimuth and inclination sensor are then utilized to accurately determine the range, azimuth and inclination of an identified target from the target locator. This information is then processed in conjunction with the location coordinates of the target locator to generate location coordinates for the selected target. The target location coordinates are then coupled to the transmitter/modem for transmittal to a remotely located control system, such as a weapons delivery system. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention a non-volatile memory is provided and multiple target coordinate sets are then stored within the memory and subsequently transmitted to the weapons delivery system during a single transmission.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A portable target locator system for determining the location coordinates of a selected target and coupling said coordinates to a remotely located control system, said portable target locator system comprising:

location determination means for accurately and automatically determining the location coordinates of said portable target locator system;
rangefinder means for determining the range from said portable target locator system to a selected target;
azimuth sensor means for determining the azimuth from said portable target locator system to said selected target;
processor means coupled to said location determination means, said rangefinder means and said azimuth sensor means for determining the location coordinates of said selected target;
and
communication means for coupling said location coordinates of said selected target to said remotely located control system.

3 more elements

A portable target locator system for determining the location coordinates of selected targets and coupling said coordinates to a weapons delivery system, said portable target locator system comprising:

a rifle-like target locator including:
location determination means within said rifle-like target locator for accurately and automatically determining the location coordinates of said portable target locator system;
rangefinder means within said rifle-like target locator for determining the range from said portable target locator system to a selected target;
azimuth sensor means within said riflelike target locator for determining the azimuth from said portable target locator system to said selected target;
processor means within said rifle-like target locator coupled to said location determination means, said rangefinder means and said azimuth sensor means for determining the location coordinates of said selected target;
memory means within said rifle-like target locator coupled to said processor means for storing said location coordinates of said selected target and a plurality of target identification indicia;
target selection means within said rifle-like target locator for permitting an operator to select a particular one of said plurality of target identification indicia;
and
communication means coupled to said memory means for coupling said location coordinates of said selected target and said particular one of said plurality of target identification indicia to said weapons delivery system.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Portable target locator system

Life of this patent

Portable target locator system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20