Missile guidance
View Patent ↗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.
1. A missile guidance apparatus comprising:
laser beam projection means operable to project a laser beam comprising a scanned projection of laser beam pulses, the laser beam pulses comprising, in use
first laser beam pulses scanned in a first direction, substantially orthogonal to a beam projection direction, tracing grid lines in said first direction, and
second laser beam pulses scanned in a second direction, substantially orthogonal to the first direction and to the beam projection direction, tracing grid lines in said second direction; and
means for imposing information describing roll of a missile launch platform on the laser beam,
wherein the laser beam projection means is further operable to selectively project third laser beam pulses, at positions in time interposed between said first laser beam pulses and said second laser beam pulses, so that said third laser beam pulses do not interfere with said first and second laser beam pulses, said third laser beam pulses encoding said information for use by a missile projected from said missile launch platform, said missile being capable of receiving said third laser beam pulses.
2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said positions of said third laser beam pulses constitute a binary word, the presence or absence of said third laser beam pulses at said positions encoding a value of said binary word.
3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said binary word has a value in a range of values, at least a subset of said values corresponding to possible roll positions of said missile launch platform, for imparting a roll position to said projected missile.
4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 , wherein a further subset of said values correspond to command signals, for communication of a command signal to said projected missile.
5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein at least one of said positions of said third laser beam pulses is interposed in said first laser beam pulses.
6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein at least one of said positions of said third laser beam pulses is interposed in said second laser beam pulses.
7. A missile comprising:
a guidance system receptive to a laser guidance beam projected by a missile guidance apparatus, the guidance system including a receiver to detect emitted laser light pulses, and a controller to control flight of said missile, the controller being operable to detect first, second and third laser light pulses, and to determine, from said detected third laser light pulses, either emitted information concerning a roll position of said missile guidance apparatus, or a command signal communicated by way of said third laser light pulses,
wherein the missile guidance apparatus includes:
laser beam projection means operable to project laser light comprising a scanned projection of the laser light pulses, the laser light pulses comprising, in use
said first laser light pulses which are scanned in a first direction, substantially orthogonal to a light projection direction, tracing grid lines in said first direction, and
said second laser light pulses which are scanned in a second direction, substantially orthogonal to the first direction and to the light projection direction, tracing grid lines in said second direction; and
means for imposing information describing roll of a missile launch platform on the laser light,
wherein the laser beam projection means is further operable to selectively project said third laser light pulses, at positions in time interposed between said first laser light pulses and said second laser light pulses, so that said third laser light pulses do not interfere with said first and second laser light pulses, said third laser light pulses encoding said roll information for use by a recipient receiver of missile projected from said missile launch platform, said missile being capable of receiving said third laser light pulses.
8. The missile in accordance with claim 7 , operable to process detected first and second laser light pulses based on said roll information communicated thereto in said third laser light pulses, to correct pitch and yaw information conveyed in said first and second laser light pulses with respect to said roll information.
9. A missile guidance system comprising:
circuitry configured to
project a laser beam comprising a scanned projection of laser beam pulses, the laser beam pulses comprising, in use
first laser beam pulses scanned in a first direction, substantially orthogonal to a beam projection direction, tracing grid lines in said first direction, and
second laser beam pulses scanned in a second direction, substantially orthogonal to the first direction and to the beam projection direction, tracing grid lines in said second direction;
impose information describing roll associated with a missile launch platform on the laser beam; and
selectively project third laser beam pulses, at positions in time interposed between said first laser beam pulses and said second laser beam pulses, so that said third laser beam pulses do not interfere with said first and second laser beam pulses, said third laser beam pulses encoding said information for use by a missile projected from the missile launch platform, said projected missile being configured to receive said third laser beam pulses.
10. The system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said positions of said third laser beam pulses constitute a binary word, the presence or absence of said third laser beam pulses at said positions encoding a value of said binary word.
11. The system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said binary word has a value in a range of values, at least a subset of said values corresponding to possible roll positions of the missile launch platform, for imparting a roll position to said projected missile.
12. The system in accordance with claim 11 , wherein a further subset of said values correspond to command signals, for communication of a command signal to said projected missile.
13. The system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein at least one of said positions of said third laser beam pulses is interposed in said first laser beam pulses.
14. The system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein at least one of said positions of said third laser beam pulses is interposed in said second laser beam pulses.