| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 244300160 | Optical (includes infrared) | 61 |
| 20080272227 | Target tracking device and method - A target tracking device incorporating a Position Sensitive Detector (PSD) | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080302905 | OPTICAL ELEMENT MOUNT AND METHOD THEREOF FOR A GUN-LAUNCHED PROJECTILE - An optical element mount is effective in high G environments to protect brittle optical elements in which tensile stresses are generated on surface S | 12-11-2008 |
| 20090039197 | Optically Guided Munition Control System and Method - An optically guided munition and control system has a replacement fuse assembly mounted on the front of a munition body or shell casing. An optical seeker subsystem detects an illuminated target and supplies signals to a processor. The processor develops steering commands sent to a flight control subsystem having a plurality of guidance canards which are actuated by drive motors through gear assemblies. The roll of the munition is established and left/right and up/down steering commands are sent to the canard drive motors based upon the optical seeker subsystem detection of the target illuminator. Range adjustment is based upon bore sight lockdown angle and cross range control is based upon left/right centering error. A code is contained in the optical radiation received from the illuminated target which must be validated by a preset code in the system processor to arm the munition. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090078817 | ABSOLUTE TIME ENCODED SEMI-ACTIVE LASER DESIGNATION - SAL designation uses absolute time coding of the pulse-stream to disambiguate the designator in a manner that reduces the number of pulses in a pulse-stream and reduces the total pulse energy on the target. This requires timing synchronization between the designator and receiver. For improved rejection of unintended returns, more precise time gating (narrower absolute time window) is required. This can be achieved by removing the path length and or firing time uncertainty errors. Absolute time coding reduces the number of pulses and total energy on target in two ways. First, the designator may only have to transmit the pulse-code once. The “spot” appears for the brief time associated with a pulse-stream and disappears; continuous lasing of the target is not required. Second, the designator can be disambiguated using a combination of pulse-code (relative spacing of pulses) and pulse-position (absolute timing of pulses) modulation. This allows the pulse-stream to be shortened considerably, perhaps to a single pulse. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090114762 | Remote control device for a target designator from an attack module, attack module and designator implementing such device - The invention relates to a remote control device from an attack module flying over a target, module of the projectile or sub-projectile, missile or attack drone type, for a target designator positioned on a terrain of operations, comprising means to emit a remote control signal that are arranged in the attack module and at least one receiver means for the remote control signal that are integral with the designator and are associated with means to activate the start-up of the designator, wherein the emitter means incorporate at least one light source oriented so as to illuminate the terrain and in that the receiver means incorporate a detector for the radiation emitted by the light source or sources. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090121072 | Device for Countering and Tracking a Threat with Optical Delay Device - The invention concerns a device for countering and tracking a threat with optical delay device in the form of a homing-head missile, comprising a homing head adapted to receive an incident coherent light beam and in deflecting same to produce a transmitted beam. The invention is characterized in that the homing head comprises a biprism dividing the transmitted beam into two sub-beams, the biprism being associated with an optical delay device introducing an optical path difference between the two sub-beams greater than the coherence length of the incident beam. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20100001119 | LASER TARGET SEEKER DEVICE - A laser target seeker device arranged to receive a laser beam reflected from an object. Detector elements are arranged to detect the reflected laser beam. A processor is arranged to determine the received radiation on the respective detector element in order to determine the origin of the laser beam. A diffractor is arranged relative to the detector elements and configured to diffract the reflected laser beam into portions prior to being detected by the detector elements. The detector elements are arranged to detect the respective portion. A flyable body is for hitting a target by means of a laser beam. A system for hitting a target by means of a laser beam. A method for detecting a laser beam reflected from an object. Use of a kinoform member in a laser target seeker for diffracting a laser beam. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100012765 | Aiming System With Integrated Deviation Meter - According to the invention, the system comprises an infrared detector ( | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100108800 | OBJECT DETECTION SYSTEM HAVING AN IMAGE DETECTION SYSTEM - An object detection system has an image detection system with an imaging detector, a position detection system with a position detector, and optics which guide incident radiation onto both detectors. The two detectors are arranged one behind the other, in particular adjacent to one another, in the beam path. This makes it possible to achieve a simple, compact and reliable object detection system. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100127113 | Multimode Seeker System With RF Transparent Stray Light Baffles - There is disclosed a multimode seeker including an imaging infrared seeker and a radio frequency seeker. The imaging infrared seeker and the radio frequency seeker may share an optical system adapted to form an infrared image of an outside scene on a focal plane array image detector and to collimate radio frequency radiation transmitted from a radio frequency transceiver and focus millimeter ware radiation received from the outside scene onto the radio frequency transceiver. The shared optical system may include a plurality of baffles to block sunlight from reaching the focal plane array image detector, each baffle comprising a material that is opaque to infrared radiation and transparent to radio frequency radiation. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100200690 | TARGET TRACKING DEVICE AND METHOD - A target tracking device incorporating a Position Sensitive Detector (PSD) | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100264252 | COLD SHIELD APPARATUS AND METHODS - A shield for use with a detector includes a first opening adjacent the detector, a second opening opposite the first opening along an optical axis intersecting the detector, and a field of view defined by the detector and the second opening. A shield body includes alternating curved profile regions and linear profile regions coaxially aligned along the optical axis. The curved profile regions have respective curved interior surfaces concave facing toward the second opening, and the linear profile regions have respective interior surfaces facing toward the first opening. In this way, specular reflections associated with stray light may be greatly reduced. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100264253 | Projectile Guidance System Including a Compact Semi-Active Laser Seeker - A guidance system may include an optical system to focus incident radiation onto a detector configured to generate at least one guidance signal in response to the focused incident radiation. The optical system may include a first lens having a first side and a second side, the first side consisting of a Fresnel lens formed on a generally convex surface and the second side being generally planar. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100320312 | MINIATURE MISSILE - A miniature lightweight high-maneuverability missile ( | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100327105 | OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR A MISSILE, AND METHOD FOR IMAGING AN OBJECT - An optical system for a missile has optics for imaging an object through a beam path on an imaging plane. The optics have external optics, rotatably mounted about a roll axis and a pitch axis of the missile, and internal optics, and one of the ends of the beam paths is fixed with respect to the structure in the missile. In order to prevent image disturbances caused by shadows which are caused at a high squint angle by an element which is fixed to the structure, the optical system includes a shutter, which can be introduced into the beam path during flight of the missile, in order to mask out a shadow, which is produced by an element of the missile, in the beam path in a viewing direction of the external optics which is tilted with respect to the roll axis. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110017864 | SMALL SMART WEAPON AND WEAPON SYSTEM EMPLOYING THE SAME - A weapon and weapon system, and methods of manufacturing and operating the same. In one embodiment, the weapon includes a warhead including destructive elements and a guidance section with a seeker configured to guide the weapon to a target. The seeker includes a detector configured to receive a distorted signal impinging on an objective lens from the target, memory configured to store target criteria and a correction map, and a processor configured to provide a correction signal based on the distorted signal, the target criteria and the correction map to guide the weapon to the target. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110073704 | CO-BORESIGHTED DUAL-MODE SAL/IR SEEKER INCLUDING A SAL SPREADER - In a co-boresighted SAL/IR seeker, the optical system and particularly the secondary lens and position of the SAL detector are configured to produce a well-corrected spot of laser energy at the SAL detector. A spreader is positioned between the secondary mirror/lens and the SAL detector, possibly on the secondary mirror, away from the aperture stop and not in the optical path to the IR detector. The spreader is configured to spatially homogenize the laser energy to increase the size of the spot of focused laser energy at the SAL detector to set the system transfer function to meet slope requirements. Spatial homogenization serves to reduce both boresight shift and slope non-linearities. This approach greatly simplifies the time and labor intensive calibration of the SAL detector's system transfer function. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110215190 | ANTENNAS - A reflector | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110233322 | Navigation Method for a Missile - A SAR image recorded by a reconnaissance system is transferred as a reference edge image together with the data of the trajectory as a reference. The signal of the infrared seeker head of the missile is converted into a virtual SAR edge image and compared to the SAR reference image to calculate the precise position of the missile. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110315807 | ONE-PIECE NANO/NANO CLASS NANOCOMPOSITE OPTICAL CERAMIC (NNOC) EXTENDED DOME HAVING SEAMLESS NON-COMPLEMENTARY GEOMETRIES FOR ELECTRO-OPTIC SENSORS - A one-piece extended dome having a spanning angle greater than 180 degrees. The dome is integrally formed of a Nano/Nano class Nanocomposite Optical Ceramic (NNOC) material. The extended dome comprises seamless first and second non-complementary geometric shapes, such as a first spherical geometry and a second conical or ogive geometry. The Nano/Nano class NNOC material comprises two or more different chemical phases (nanograins) dispersed in one another, each type having a sub-micron grain dimension in at least the direction of light transmission. The material is a true NNOC material in that all of the constituent elements have sub-micron grain dimensions, there is no host matrix. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110315808 | SOLID SOLUTION-BASED NANOCOMPOSITE OPTICAL CERAMIC MATERIALS - A solid solution-based optical material capable of transmitting infrared light, the solid solution-based optical material comprising at least two nano-sized phases intermixed in one another, wherein at least one of the at least two nano-sized phases is a solid solution containing a dissolved dopant, the dissolved dopant present in an amount sufficient to reduce a refractive index difference between the at least two nano-sized phases to about 0.2 or less when infrared light is being transmitted. Various embodiments are directed to related systems and methods. In one embodiment, the infrared light is visible infrared light, short-wave infrared light, eye safe infrared light, medium wave infrared light, long wave infrared red light, or combinations thereof. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20120001015 | ENHANCED MULTIPLE KILL VEHICLE (MKV) INTERCEPTOR FOR INTERCEPTING EXO AND ENDO-ATMOSPHERIC TARGETS - By sharing tasks between the CV and the KVs, the MKV interceptor provides a cost-effective missile defense system capable of intercepting and killing multiple targets. The placement of the acquisition and discrimination sensor and control sensor on the CV to provide target acquisition and discrimination and mid-course guidance for all the KVs avoids the weight and complexity issues associated with trying to “miniaturize” unitary interceptors. The placement of either a short-band imaging sensor and headlamp or a MWIR sensor on each KV overcomes the latency, resolution and bandwidth problems associated with command guidance systems and allows each KV to precisely select a desirable aimpoint and maintain track on that aimpoint to impact. An implicit divert and attitude control system (DACS) using tow or more divert thrusters performs KV divert and attitude maneuvers to respond to the command guidance pre-handover and to maintain track on the aimpoint to terminal intercept post-handover | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001016 | PROJECTILE HAVING ONE OR MORE WINDOWS FOR TRANSMITTING POWER AND/OR DATA INTO/FROM THE PROJECTILE INTERIOR - A projectile including: a casing; first and second windows provided on the casing for at least one of transmitting a first optical signal into an interior of the casing and transmitting a second optical signal from the interior of the casing; a receiving element disposed on the interior of the casing and in optical communication with one or more of the first and second windows for at least one of converting the first optical signal into electrical energy and storing data provided in the first optical signal; and a transmitting element disposed on the interior of the casing and in optical communication with one or more of the first and second windows for transmitting data provided in the second optical signal to outside the casing. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120012691 | LIGHTPIPE FOR SEMI-ACTIVE LASER TARGET DESIGNATION - A semi-active laser (SAL) sensing system is provided that uses a lightpipe to pass received reflected laser light from an aperture to a detector. The lightpipe facilitates further miniaturization of the SAL sensing system by taking the place of a larger lens system that would otherwise be required. For example, the use of the lightpipe in a missile or guided projectile can facilitate the placement of the SAL sensing system with other sensors in the limited available space at the front of the missile. In one embodiment, the lightpipe is formed from cladded optical fibers that are bundled together, shaped, and fused together. The core material from the optical fibers are then dissolved away, leaving the outer cladding. This remaining outer cladding remains fused together, and maintains its shape, thus forming a lightpipe that can be used in a SAL sensing system. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120061508 | DEVICE FOR FIRING WEAPONS FROM AN ARMED DRONE - The present invention relates to the field of unmanned air vehicles, more commonly designated drone. More specifically, the invention applies to an armed drone system ( | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120068000 | INTERCEPTION SYSTEM THAT EMPLOYS MINIATURE KILL VEHICLES - There is provided an interception system that employs miniature kill vehicles. According to certain embodiments of the invention, a small kill-vehicle (KV) accommodated within an interceptor missile together with additional at least one KV, each KV is equipped with an image acquisition sensor operable in the visible or near IR range, and adapted to be launched from the interceptor missile during exo-atmospheric flight and utilizing said sensor for tracking and homing at least one Re-entry Vehicle (RV) of a Ballistic Missile (BM). | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120068001 | MULTI-WAVELENGTH HIGH OUTPUT LASER SOURCE ASSEMBLY WITH PRECISION OUTPUT BEAM - A laser source assembly ( | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120080552 | SEEKER WITH A MOLDED DICHROIC MIRROR - A molded dichroic mirror and a seeker comprising a molded dichroic mirror are provided. The dichroic mirror may be molded from polysiloxane or lithia potash borosilicate and may be coated to reflect an infrared signal and configured to transmit a radio frequency signal between 33 GHz and 37 GHz. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120111992 | VEHICLE HAVING SIDE PORTHOLES AND AN ARRAY OF FIXED EO IMAGING SUB-SYSTEMS UTILIZING THE PORTHOLES - A vehicle including electro-optic (EO) imaging has a vehicle body having an outer surface including a front portion and a side portion, wherein the side portion includes a plurality of portholes. A propulsion source is within the vehicle body for moving the vehicle. A fixed EO imaging system having a field-of-regard (FOR) includes a plurality of fixed EO imaging sub-systems arrayed within the vehicle body. The fixed EO imaging sub-systems each have a different field-of-view (FOV) for providing a portion of the FOR and include a camera affixed within the vehicle body and an optical window secured to one of the portholes for transmitting electromagnetic radiation received from one of the portions of the FOR to the camera, wherein the cameras each generate image data representing one of the portions of the FOR therefrom. A processor is coupled to receive the image data from the plurality of fixed EO imaging sub-systems for combining the image data to provide composite image data spanning the FOR. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120138728 | FLIGHT VEHICLES WITH IMPROVED POINTING DEVICES FOR OPTICAL SYSTEMS - A pointing device is provided for directing electromagnetic radiation along a line of sight within a flight vehicle. The pointing device includes a beam deviation structure; a rotation assembly configured to support the beam deviation structure such that the beam deviation structure is pivotable about the rotation axis; and a nod gimbal configured to support the rotation assembly and the beam deviation structure such that the rotation assembly and the beam deviation structure are pivotable about a nod axis. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120160953 | SELF CLOCKING FOR DISTRIBUTED PROJECTILE GUIDANCE - A projectile has a pair of different parts with respective orientation sensors for detecting orientation, such as the roll position of the parts. The orientation sensors may be any of a variety of sensors, such as magnetometers, light sensors, infrared (IR) sensors, or ultraviolet (UV) sensors. Orientation events of the orientation sensors, such as maxima or minima of sensor output, are determined. The orientation events of the two sensors are compared to produce an alignment correction factor for correcting for misalignment of the parts relative to one another, that is to correct for differences in alignment between the sensors of the two parts. This allows (for example) instructions produced at one of the parts to be usable at the other of the parts. | 06-28-2012 |
| 20120199689 | INFRARED SPATIAL MODULATOR FOR SCENE-BASED NON-UNIFORMITY IMAGE CORRECTION AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS RELATED THERETO - Embodiments of an infrared spectral modulator for scene-based non-uniformity image correction are generally disclosed herein. The spectral modulator may be suitable for use in a system for navigating an object having a flight path comprising an infrared sensor having an optical path; an infrared modulator in the optical path of the infrared sensor, wherein the infrared modulator is configured to allow the infrared sensor to perform in situ, real-time, scene-based non-uniformity correction; and a guidance system within the object, wherein the guidance system can adjust the flight path of the object based on the non-uniformity correction. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20120211590 | STEERABLE SPIN-STABILIZED PROJECTILE AND METHOD - A spin-stabilized projectile has its course controlled by counter rotation of an internal mass about a longitudinal axis of the projectile. The internal mass may be a boom within a cavity of an external body of the projectile. The internal mass may be tiltable relative to the hull, and may be configured to counter rotate relative to the hull about the axis of the hull. The counter-rotation may keep the boom in a substantially same orientation relative to the (non-spinning) environment outside of the projectile. The positioning of the boom or other weight within the projectile thus may be used to steer the projectile, by providing an angle of attack to the projectile hull. A magnetic system may be used to counter rotate the boom or other weight. The projectile may have a laser guidance system to aid in steering the projectile toward a desired aim point. | 08-23-2012 |
| 20120211591 | OPTICAL IMPACT CONTROL SYSTEM - An optical impact system controls munitions termination through sensing proximity to a target and preventing effects of countermeasures on false munitions termination. Embodiments can be implemented on in a variety of munitions such as small and mid caliber that can be applicable in non-lethal weapons and in weapons of high lethality with airburst capability for example and in guided air-to-ground and cruise missiles. Embodiments can improve accuracy, reliability and lethality of munitions depending on its designation without modification in a weapon itself and make the weapon resistant to optical countermeasures. | 08-23-2012 |
| 20120234966 | DECONFLICTION OF GUIDED AIRBORNE WEAPONS FIRED IN A SALVO - Guided airborne weapons fired in a salvo against multiple targets are deconflicted by performing a scene correlation of multiple cued targets to TLOs acquired by the seeker's imaging sensor to track a target package. If the weapon is provided with a multimode seeker, target cues for a common designated target and a common SAL code are provided to each weapon. Each weapon uses its SAL sensor to detect and process a SAL return to verify the common SAL code and augment their scene correlations by fixing the TLO track file of the common designated target to the cued track file associated with the designated target. At terminal, each weapon commits to a particular target by referencing its assigned target to the tracked target package. Correlation to multiple targets in the target package makes the acquisition and tracking process more robust and reduces targeting ambiguity. Furthermore, a single SAL designation can improve the tracking of all the weapons to their respective targets. | 09-20-2012 |
| 20120248238 | Infrared Seeker Head - A mount for a seeker head includes a plane spanned by a holder frame in which the pitch motion of the device containing at least one detector can be performed with respect to the missile structure and within the holder frame, at right angles to the plane spanned by the holder frame, a rotating mechanism for the rotational yaw motion of the device containing at least one detector is arranged about a rotation axis lying in the plane spanned by the holder frame. The pitch and yaw motion of the device is possible in a range of much more than +/−90°. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120256040 | OPTICAL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A HEAT SHIELD TO AXIALLY RESTRAIN AN ENERGY COLLECTION SYSTEM, AND METHOD - Some embodiments relate to an optical assembly that includes an energy collection system that collects energy and a heat shield that axially restrains the energy collection system. The optical assembly further includes a sensor and a structure which supports the energy collection system such that the energy collection system directs the energy to the sensor. Other embodiments relate to a projectile that includes a propulsion system, a guidance system and an optical assembly as described above. Other embodiments relate to a method of directing a projectile that includes collecting energy using an energy collection system; directing the energy to a sensor; axially restraining the energy collection system using a heat shield; using a guidance system to determine the position of the projectile based on data received from the sensor; and directing the projectile toward the destination using a propulsion system that is commanded by a guidance system. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20120267471 | MISSILE NOSE FAIRING SYSTEM - A missile nose fairing system includes sections attached at an aft end thereof to a missile body, a restraint for normally preventing aftward displacement of the plurality of sections, and a drive unit for releasing the restraint in response to a received signal. Each of the sections has an outer surface that converges to a common forward pointed tip for enclosing and protecting a guidance head when in an extended position and is retractable into a corresponding recessed region formed within a missile nose when the drive unit is activated releasing the restraint. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20120292431 | Optical Window and Detection System Employing the Same - An optical window for a detection system and method of employing the same. In one embodiment, the detection system includes an optical window configured to internally channel external incident radiation to an exit surface for emission. The detection system also includes a detector oriented to receive emitted radiation from the exit surface. | 11-22-2012 |
| 20120292432 | METHOD FOR CORRECTING THE TRAJECTORY OF A PROJECTILE, IN PARTICULAR OF A TERMINAL PHASE-GUIDED PROJECTILE, AND PROJECTILE FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD - A method for correcting a trajectory of a projectile is provided, in that a laser beam is guide or rotated around a center of the instantaneous target course of a projectile in such a way that the projectile itself detects a divergence thereof and subsequently carries our a selfcorrection. A first laser beam is emitted over a certain region around the target course of the projectile that can at about the same time initiate a start of a timing process. A further rotating laser beam having a fixed rotational frequency Ω can be simultaneously positioned around the region. Via the second laser beam, the projectile recognizes a divergence thereof from the target course and initiates a correction based on the determined divergence, whereby a magnitude thereof is then used to effect the timed initiation of the correction. Thus, delays in the release are implemented in the projectile. | 11-22-2012 |
| 20120305697 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE ANGULAR POSITIN OF A RECTILINEAR CONTRASTING EDGE OF AN OBJECT, AND SYSTEM FOR FIXATION AND TRACKING A TARGET COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE SUCH CONTRASTING EDGE - The present invention relates to a method for measuring the angular position of a contrasting edge of an object having a luminance transition zone which is substantially rectilinear in a given direction and separates two regions of different luminances. This method comprises the functional steps of: —carrying out, in a transverse direction different from the given direction, an amplitude modulation of the signals delivered by a first and a second optical sensor; and —calculating an output signal (Yout(t)) starting from the signals delivered by the first and the second optical sensors (D | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120312912 | OPTICALLY-COUPLED COMMUNICATION INTERFACE FOR A LASER-GUIDED PROJECTILE - A communication interface for a laser-guided projectile is configured to use the SAL seeker on board the laser-guided projectile as a communication link. A communication device generates a pulsed optical beam that overlaps the detection band of the SAL seeker. The pulsed optical beam is encoded with data for the SAL seeker. Computer-readable program code is loaded into and executed by the seeker's signal processor to process the signals generated in response to the pulsed optical beam to extract the data for the SAL seeker. Data is typically coupled to the projectile pre-launch but may be coupled in flight to the target. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20120312913 | OPTICAL DEVICE - An optical device forms a beam path between an optical end element at a beam path end and an object scene into which the beam path is directed via a field of view of the end element. The optical device contains an alignment device for pivoting the field of view relative to a predetermined direction, an end optical unit and an optical articulation for guiding the beam path from the pivoted field of view into the end optical unit. In order to achieve good shielding against spurious radiation, the device has a shielding unit containing a shielding element led partly around the optical articulation, which shielding unit shields the optical articulation against incident radiation that is not incident through the entrance or exit aperture of the optical articulation. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20130193264 | Guided Munitions Protected by an Aerodynamic Cap - In the field of steered munitions intended to destroy a target after at least one flight phase followed by a target approach phase, a munition comprises a munition body of cylindrical shape of longitudinal axis having, on the same side as a front end of the munition which is the end intended to be directed toward the target, a front body comprising an optic of a guidance device that guides said munition toward the target, a cap for protecting the optic, secured to the munition body, characterized in that the protective cap comprises at least one recess having a pyrotechnic device intended to destroy said protective cap so as to free the optic and make the munition guidance device operational during the target approach phase. Application: steered or guided munitions such as those of the rocket or projectile type, or missiles. | 08-01-2013 |
| 20130221152 | MULTI-WAVELENGTH HIGH OUTPUT LASER SOURCE ASSEMBLY WITH PRECISION OUTPUT BEAM - A laser source assembly ( | 08-29-2013 |
| 20140014765 | AEROHEATING OF SENSOR PROTECTED BY INTEGRATING DEVICE SEEKER (ASPIDS) - This invention advances the related state-of-the-art by eliminating the physical EO window used by electro-optical imaging infrared seekers for tactical missiles and high-altitude endo-atmospheric interceptors, widely employed in integrated defense systems. This invention increases the probability of intercepting exo-atmospheric ballistic warheads by exo-atmospheric interceptors, and eliminates the existing altitude “gap” of interception, as well as the geographical limitations posed by the mesospheric Noctilucent Clouds. The problem of protecting an imaging EO sensor from aeroheating is solved in this invention by a special purpose device which is enabled immediately after the nose cone ejection event. The role of said device is to augment the sensor fixed sunshade and cavity lengths in the forward direction, and by doing so, the resulting new cavity enables the optimal injection of an optically inert gas into the new extended cavity in front of the sensor, thus effectively blocking the entry of the compressed hot air into the sensor cavity, while simultaneously avoiding any adverse effects of inducing flow instabilities in the flow as well as the disturbance of the injected gas flow on sensor structures. Having a greater length for the hot gas to penetrate, eliminates also the penetration of suspended particles in oncoming air stream. | 01-16-2014 |
| 20140131508 | SMALL SMART WEAPON AND WEAPON SYSTEM EMPLOYING THE SAME - A weapon and weapon system, and methods of manufacturing and operating the same. In one embodiment, the weapon includes a warhead including destructive elements and a guidance section with a seeker configured to guide the weapon to a target. The seeker includes a detector configured to receive a distorted signal impinging on an objective lens from the target, memory configured to store target criteria and a correction map, and a processor configured to provide a correction signal based on the distorted signal, the target criteria and the correction map to guide the weapon to the target. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140138473 | MISSILE GUIDANCE - Missile guidance involving projection of laser light to define a Laser Information Field (LIF) is augmented by interposition of information pulses, interleaved between laser emissions establishing the LIF. Information pulses encode further information for receipt by a missile, such as an angle of roll of a missile launch platform from which the LIF is emitted. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140158814 | MUNITION GUIDANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME - A munition guidance system is disclosed. The system comprises a generally tubular enclosure, having an internal cavity adapted for receiving a munition, wherein an outer diameter of the enclosure is at most the largest outer diameter of the munition; and a processing and control unit enclosed within the enclosure and being configured for controlling guidance wings so as to maneuver the munition while flying. | 06-12-2014 |
| 20140231576 | MULTI-MODE SEEKERS INCLUDING FOCAL PLANE ARRAY ASSEMBLIES OPERABLE IN SEMI-ACTIVE LASER AND IMAGE GUIDANCE MODES - Embodiments of a multi-mode seeker are provided for use in conjunction with a predetermined laser designator. In one embodiment, the multi-mode seeker includes a focal plane array and a bi-modal processing system. The focal plane array includes a detector array and a Read-Out Integrated Circuit (ROIC) operatively coupled to the detector array. The bi-modal processing system is operatively coupled to ROIC and is switchable between: (i) an imaging mode wherein the bi-modal processing system generates video data as a function of signals received from ROIC indicative of irradiance across the detector array, and (ii) a semi-active laser guidance mode wherein the bi-modal processing system generates line-of-sight data as a function of signals received from ROIC indicative of laser pulses detected by the detector array and qualified as corresponding to the predetermined laser designator. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140246536 | Optical Device - An optical device for a missile seeker head includes an optical sensor with a plurality of pixels, a light source, a detection device, and an optical system. The light source is configured to illuminate, using the optical system, an object that can be mapped using the optical system on at least one subarea of a predefined pixel of the optical sensor. The detection device is configured to detect the light emitted from the light source and reflected by the object. | 09-04-2014 |
| 20140312161 | DUAL-MODE SAL/IR IMAGING - Dual mode SAL/IR imaging seekers are described herein. In some embodiments, a dual-mode SAL/IR imaging seeker described herein includes a focal plane array (FPA), an objective optical assembly providing a common optical path to the FPA for incident laser radiation of a first wavelength band and incident ambient radiation of a second wavelength band non-overlapping with the first wavelength band, a first optical filter operable to selectively pass the incident laser radiation to the FPA in a transmissive mode and selectively block the incident laser radiation from the FPA in a non-transmissive mode and a second optical filter assembly operable to selectively pass the incident ambient radiation to the FPA in a transmissive mode and selectively block the incident ambient radiation from the FPA in a non-transmissive mode. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20150323287 | MULTIMODE SHORT WAVELENGTH INFRARED AND RADIO-FREQUENCY SEEKER - A multimode seeker includes a radio-frequency antenna and a controller. The radio-frequency antenna comprises a substrate and an electrically conductive film deposited on the substrate. The substrate is transparent to short wavelength infrared radiation. The electrically conductive film is configured to transmit and receive radio-frequency radiation and is transparent to the short wavelength infrared radiation. The controller is configured to receive and interpret data from the radio-frequency antenna. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150338192 | SMALL SMART WEAPON AND WEAPON SYSTEM EMPLOYING THE SAME - A weapon and weapon system, and methods of manufacturing and operating the same. In one embodiment, the weapon includes a warhead including destructive elements and a guidance section with a seeker configured to guide the weapon to a target. The seeker includes a detector configured to receive a distorted signal impinging on an objective lens from the target, memory configured to store target criteria and a correction map, and a processor configured to provide a correction signal based on the distorted signal, the target criteria and the correction map to guide the weapon to the target. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150362290 | LASER-AIDED PASSIVE SEEKER - A system to merge and exploit two uniquely different types of seeker homing modes of functionality into a single, dual-mode seeker, using only an FPA as the active sensor to achieve both modes of operation. The disclosed embodiments also provide a means to actively designate & track, and also passively track the same target between active designation pulses to track a target at an update rate higher than the designator pulse rate with less demanding automatic target tracking algorithms. The disclosed embodiments eliminate the need for automatic target acquisition/recognition algorithms necessary for purely passive target tracking. The passive tracking methodology “aids” the passive tracking algorithm, based on frame-to-frame image registration, with active SAL track information to improve overall seeker guided weapon performance. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20150377590 | MULTIMODE SHARED APERTURE SEEKER - A multimode shared aperture seeker incorporating a dual-mode diffuser and methods of operation thereof. According to one example, a non-gimbaled multimode seeker includes an IIR seeker including an FPA and an optical system that receives infrared radiation via a system optical aperture and focuses the infrared radiation onto the FPA, and a SAL seeker including a SAL detector positioned in an optical path between the system optical aperture and the FPA and configured to detect laser radiation received via the system optical aperture. The SAL detector is substantially transparent to the infrared radiation. The multimode seeker further includes a dual-mode diffuser positioned in the optical path between the system optical aperture and the optical system. The diffuser is configured to spread the laser radiation to broaden a linear field of view of the SAL seeker, and to transmit the infrared radiation substantially undiffracted to the optical system. | 12-31-2015 |
| 20160123705 | A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A STRIKE ON A TARGET - A method of conducting a strike against a target using a designator and a missile. The following steps are conducted:
| 05-05-2016 |
| 20160195365 | MOVING OBJECT COMMAND LINK SYSTEM AND METHOD | 07-07-2016 |
| 244300170 | Optical correlation | 3 |
| 20100308152 | METHOD FOR CORRECTING THE TRAJECTORY OF TERMINALLY GUIDED AMMUNITION - A method for correcting a trajectory of terminally guided ammunition is provided. In order to achieve a high probability of hits, in particular when firing in bursts (continuous fire, rapid single shot fire), it is provided that every individual ammunition is addressed separately. The “imprinting” is performed based on the beam rider guidance principle of terminally guided ammunition. Every individual ammunition reads only the guidance beam identified for this ammunition and can, using additional information, determine its absolute roll attitude in space in order to achieve the proper triggering of the correcting propulsion unit. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20130020428 | HAND LAUNCHABLE UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE - An unmanned aerial vehicle including a controller operating in a search mode of operation where a receiver of an acquisition sensor searches for a target and causes flight control surfaces to guide the vehicle in a downward spiral path, a terminal mode of operation where the acquisition sensor detects a target and causes flight control surfaces to direct the vehicle toward the target, and an activation mode of operation where a trigger sensor detects a target within a predetermined distance to the vehicle and the controller activates a responder. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130248647 | VIEW-POINT GUIDED WEAPON SYSTEM AND TARGET DESIGNATION METHOD - A passive guidance system including a viewpoint capture system (VCS) including a first processor in communication with first memory and a first SWIR imager for creating a viewpoint image database having a plurality of images, at least one of the images having a target point. A weapon guidance module is in communication with the VCS and coupled to a weapon. The weapon guidance module includes a second processor in communication with second memory and a second SWIR imager for storing the viewpoint image database and correlating in-flight images from the second SWIR imager to provide guidance commands directing the weapon to the target point. | 09-26-2013 |
