Electronic turns-counting fuze and method therefor

Abstract

A fuse (12) detonates a spin-stabilized projectile (10) after the fuse (12) experiences a preset number of turns. The preset number is communicated (64) to the fuse (12) prior to launch. A semiconductor piezoelectric strain gauge (26) senses stress and provides a signal which is responsive to centrifugal forces experienced by the sensor (26) as a result of projectile spin. A microcontroller (30) repetitively digitizes and translates the sensor signal to determine turn numbers, which the microcontroller (30) integrates to determine the total number of turns experienced by the fuse (12) since launch. When the accumulated turn number reaches (94) the preset number, the fuse (12) detonates the projectile (10). However, an arming duration (76) must have expired before the projectile (10) can detonate, and the projectile (10) can detonate at any time following the expiration of the arming duration when an impact is detected.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.