Methods and apparatus for communications between a fire control system and an effector
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsDavid A. Lance, Steven T. Siddens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for communications between a fire control system and an effector according to various aspects of the present invention may include a communications link. The communications link may be coupled to a launcher for the effector and the effector. The communications link is detachably coupled to at least one of the launcher and the effector. The communications link may be adapted to transmit a fire control solution to the effector after initiating the launch.
Claims17
A launch system for launching a projectile, comprising:
- a launcher;
- and
- a communications link coupled to the launcher and the projectile, wherein the communications link is:
- detachably coupled to at least one of the launcher and the projectile;
- adapted to communicate a fire control solution from the launcher to the projectile after the projectile has been launched and as the projectile is exiting the launcher;
- and
- adapted to detach from at least one of the launcher and the projectile:
- after the fire control solution has been communicated to the projectile and the projectile has moved a selected distance relative to the launcher as the projectile is exiting the launcher;
- and
- before the projectile proceeds to follow a path corresponding to the fire control solution,
- wherein the projectile follows the path corresponding to the fire control solution without additional communication after the communications link has detached.
A method for controlling a projectile, comprising:
- generating a fire control solution for the projectile;
- launching the projectile from a launcher;
- communicating the fire control solution to the projectile after launching the projectile via a communications link coupled to the launcher and the projectile, wherein the communications link is detachably coupled to at least one of the launcher and the projectile;
- and
- detaching the communications link from the at least one of the launcher and the projectile when the projectile moves a selected distance relative to the launcher during an egress of the projectile from the launcher after the projectile has been launched and the fire control solution, provided to the projectile, wherein the projectile follows a path corresponding to the fire control solution without additional communication after the communications link has been detached.
A launch system for firing a countermeasure projectile to intercept a target, comprising:
- a radar system;
- a launcher configured to house the projectile prior to firing;
- a flexible tether detachably connected to the projectile and the launcher, wherein the flexible tether is adapted to:
- communicate signals to the projectile, wherein the signals comprise:
- a launch signal;
- and
- a fire control solution for guiding the projectile the target;
- and
- detach from the projectile after the signals have been communicated to the projectile and the projectile has moved a selected distance relative to the launcher during an egress of the projectile from the launcher after the projectile has been launched following the launch signal;
- and
- a fire control system responsive to the radar system and coupled to the flexible tether, wherein the fire control system initiates the signals communicated to the projectile, and wherein
- the projectile follows a path corresponding to the fire control solution without additional communication after the flexible tether has been detached from the projectile.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.