US 5,180,881 AGranted

Beam steered laser for fire control

AssigneeElectronics & Space Corp.

InventorsJohn R. Wootton, Gary Waldman

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Abstract

Fire control apparatus (30) comprises a gun (32) for firing a projectile at a target (T). The gun is mounted on a platform (36) which is subject to vibratory motion. A laser unit (40) generates a laser beam directable at the target. A gunner (G) directs a laser beam at the target and a return laser waveform reflected by the target is received back at the platform. A processor (44) is responsive to the return waveform to determine the target's range, speed, and direction of movement relative to the platform. Further, the processor determines a firing solution by which a projectile fired from the gun strikes the target. This solution includes a lead angle by which the gun should be directed ahead of the target for the projectile to strike it. A beam steering unit (62) is responsive to an output from the processor to realign the laser beam relative to the target. The degree of realignment is in accordance with the firing solution so the projectile fired from the gun strikes the target. The beam steering unit also stabilizes the laser beam to isolate it from platform vibrations. This is done to increase system accuracy.

Claims19

Dependent claims

Fire control apparatus for locating a target at which a projectile is to be fired from a gun, determining the range between said gun and said target, and for thereafter designating said target so a projectile fired by said gun strikes said target comprising:

a gun for firing a projectile at a target, said gun being manually movable by a gunner;
a platform on which said gun is mounted, said platform being subject to vibratory motion;
laser means for generating a laser beam directable at said target, said laser means comprising a multi-mode laser operable in both a pulsed mode and in a continuous-wave (CW) mode, said pulsed mode being used for determining said target's range and said continuous-wave mode when said laser beam is designating said target;
targeting means operable by said gunner for directing said laser beam at said target and for receiving a return laser waveform reflected by said target back toward said platform;
processing means responsive to said return waveform to determine said target's range and direction of movement relative to an axis of said platform, and for determining a firing solution by which said projectile fired from said gun strikes said target, said solution including a lead angle by which said gun should be directed ahead of said target for said projectile to strike said target;
and,
beam steering means responsive to said processing means for realigning said laser beam relative to said target in a accordance with said firing solution whereby said projectile fired from said gun strikes said target, said beam steering means stabilizing said laser beam to isolate said laser beam from platform vibrations and enhance system accuracy.

4 more elements

A method of fire control for locating a target at which a projectile is to be fired from a gun, determining the range between said gun and target, and for thereafter designating said target so a projectile fired by said gun strikes said target comprising:

generating a laser beam directable at said target;
directing said laser beam at said target and receiving back a return laser waveform reflected by said target;
processing said return waveform to obtain information on said target's range, velocity, and direction of movement relative to said gun;
determining a firing solution, using the information, by which said projectile fired from said gun strikes said target, said firing solution including a lead angle at which said gun is directed ahead of said target for said projectile to strike said target;
and,
steering said laser beam by a beam steering means in response to said firing solution to realign said laser beam relative to said target whereby said projectile fired from said gun strikes said target, said beam steering means also stabilizing said laser beam to isolate said laser beam from platform vibrations and enhance system accuracy, steering of said laser beam by said beam steering means including steering with a two-axis acousto-optical deflector.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.