Optical impact control system
View Patent ↗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.
1. An optical impact control system, comprising:
a laser light source configured to emit laser light comprising a plurality of orthogonal wavelengths;
a first aperture configured to pass the light from the plurality of laser light sources and to direct the light to a target;
a second aperture configured to pass the light reflected off of the target;
a photodetector configured to detect the laser light having the plurality of orthogonal wavelengths after the light is passed through the second aperture only if the target is within a predetermined distance range from the optical impact control system.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light from the plurality of laser light sources is temporally multiplexed and wherein the wavelengths of the light are temporally modulated.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light from the plurality of laser light sources is spatially multiplexed.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture is an element of an optical projection system, the optical projection system configured to project the light such that the light is substantially in focus within the predetermined distance range.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the optical projection system further comprises a cylindrical lens.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the optical projection system further comprises a collimating lens.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second aperture is an element of an optical imaging system, the optical imaging system configured to image the light such that the light is substantially in focus when reflected from the target when the target is within the predetermined distance range.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the optical imaging system further comprises a cylindrical lens.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the photodetector comprises a non-position sensitive photodiode coupled to a detection circuit.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the photodetector comprises a position sensitive photodiode coupled to a detection circuit, wherein the photodetector is configured to detection position by measuring an area of an active region of the photodiode that is illuminated by the reflected light compared to the total area of the active region.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the photodetector comprises an array of photodiodes coupled to a detection circuit.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an ogive housing the laser light source, the first aperture, the second aperture, and the photodetector; and wherein the photodetector is an element of an array of photodetectors positioned in an axially symmetric manner on the ogive.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an ogive comprising a first ogive portion and a second ogive portion;
a first separating means for separating the ogive from a projectile; and
a second separating means for separating the first ogive portion from the second ogive portion; and
wherein the first ogive portion houses the laser light source and the first aperture, and the second ogive portion houses the photodetection and the second aperture.
14. A munition system, comprising:
a projectile; and
an optical impact control system coupled to the projectile and configured to transmit a target detection signal to the projectile; wherein the optical impact control system comprises:
a laser light source configured to emit laser light comprising a plurality of orthogonal wavelengths;
a first aperture configured to pass the light from the plurality of laser light sources and to direct the light to a target;
a second aperture configured to pass the light reflected off of the target;
a photodetector configured to detect the laser light having the plurality of orthogonal wavelengths after the light is passed through the second aperture only if the target is within a predetermined distance range from the optical impact control system.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the light from the plurality of laser light sources is temporally multiplexed and wherein the wavelengths of the light are temporally modulated.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the light from the plurality of laser light sources is spatially multiplexed.
17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first aperture is an element of an optical projection system, the optical projection system configured to project the light such that the light is substantially in focus within the predetermined distance range.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the optical projection system further comprises a cylindrical lens.
19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the optical projection system further comprises a collimating lens.
20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the second aperture is an element of an optical imaging system, the optical imaging system configured to image the light such that the light is substantially in focus when reflected from the target when the target is within the predetermined distance range.
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the optical imaging system further comprises a cylindrical lens.
22. The system of claim 14 , wherein the photodetector comprises a non-position sensitive photodiode coupled to a detection circuit.
23. The system of claim 14 , wherein the photodetector comprises a position sensitive photodiode coupled to a detection circuit, wherein the photodetector is configured to detection position by measuring an area of an active region of the photodiode that is illuminated by the reflected light compared to the total area of the active region.
24. The system of claim 14 , wherein the photodetector comprises an array of photodiodes coupled to a detection circuit.
25. The system of claim 14 , further comprising an ogive housing the laser light source, the first aperture, the second aperture, and the photodetector; and wherein the photodetector is an element of an array of photodetectors positioned in an axially symmetric manner on the ogive.
26. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
an ogive comprising a first ogive portion and a second ogive portion;
a first separating means for separating the ogive from a projectile; and
a second separating means for separating the first ogive portion from the second ogive portion; and
wherein the first ogive portion houses the laser light source and the first aperture, and the second ogive portion houses the photodetection and the second aperture.