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US 7,654,186 B1Granted
Fuze module
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsRandall D. Cope, Gabriel H. Soto, John K. Kandell, Brian D. Dutton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A self-contained fuze module, for installation on pieces of ordnance, having sensing devices and processing capability within the fuze module to determine whether conditions have been met to arm the ordnance. The fuze module is a unitary sealed module communicating with a launch vehicle via one or more communication/power buses.
Claims12
A method for arming a fuze module in a weapon comprising:
- providing means to transfer data and electric power to said fuze module, means for operating said fuze module, and a plurality of sensors operatively connected to said means for operating said fuze module;
- activating a battery within said weapon to provide electric power to said weapon after launch;
- detecting a transfer of the source of electric power from a power from a power supply external to said weapon to said battery within said weapon;
- launching said weapon;
- monitoring acceleration of said weapon after launch by said means for operating said fuze module to determine distance from said launch;
- receiving a plurality of data by said means for operating said fuze module from a guidance system on said weapon to determine if said weapon is in flight;
- and
- arming said fuze module if said weapon is in flight at a safe distance from said launch when said plurality of sensors detect predetermined conditions.
5 more elements
A method for arming a fuze module in a weapon comprising:
- providing a means to transfer data and electric power between a launch vehicle and said fuze module;
- providing a means for operating said fuze module;
- providing a plurality of sensors operatively connected to said means for operating said fuze module;
- providing a means for analyzing data from said plurality of sensors operatively connected to said means for operating said fuze module;
- initiating a launch sequence for said weapon containing said fuze module;
- activating a battery within said weapon to provide electric power to said weapon after a launch of said weapon from said launch vehicle;
- detecting a transfer of electric power from a power supply within said launch vehicle to said battery within said weapon;
- launching said weapon from said launch vehicle;
- collecting data from said sensors operatively connected to said means for operating said fuze module;
- analyzing said data from said sensors operatively connected to said means for operating said fuze module;
- arming said fuze module after said weapon has been released from said launch vehicle and when said analysis of said data from said plurality of sensors operatively connected to said means for operating said fuze module indicates that the weapon is proceeding toward a selected target and is a safe distance from the launch vehicle.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.