Apparatus and method suitable for use with a munition
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a fuze arming system for a munition, comprising: an arming circuit arranged to detect a setback event and, in response to the setback event, generate a signal indicating that an arming event has occurred, wherein the arming circuit comprises a sensor configured to produce a graduated output when the setback event occurs, and fuze arming system is arranged to use that graduated output.
1. A fuze arming system for a munition, the fuze arming system comprising:
an arming circuit arranged to detect a setback event and, in response to the setback event, generate a signal indicating that an arming event has occurred;
wherein the arming circuit comprises a sensor configured to produce a graduated, non-binary output to a fuze when the setback event occurs; and
wherein a graduation of the graduated, non-binary output is proportional to a degree of setback detected during the setback event, and the graduation of the graduated, non-binary output is used for providing information on one or more launch conditions of the munition.
2. The fuze arming system of claim 1 , wherein the graduated output is used for arming the fuze, and/or programming the fuze, the fuze being in connection with or forming part of the fuze arming system.
3. The fuze arming system of claim 1 , wherein the graduated output is used for programming the fuze, in addition to arming of the fuze.
4. The fuze arming system of claim 3 , wherein the graduated output is used for programming a post-launch arming delay of the fuze.
5. The fuze arming system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more launch conditions comprises an approximate muzzle velocity.
6. The fuze arming system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a solid-state sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, or a magnetostrictive sensor.
7. The fuze arming system of claim 1 , wherein a sensing axis of the sensor is aligned with a main acceleration axis of the munition.
8. The fuze arming system of claim 1 , wherein the arming circuit further comprises:
a capacitor arranged to store a voltage corresponding to the graduated output generated by the sensor.
9. The fuze arming system of claim 8 , wherein the arming circuit further comprises: a rectifier; and/or a bleed resistor.
10. The fuze arming system of claim 1 , wherein, in response to verifying that an arming event has occurred, the arming circuit is configured to output a signal to arm the fuze.
11. The fuze arming system of claim 10 , wherein the fuze comprises an electronic fuze.
12. The fuze arming system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to generate a charge when the setback event occurs.
13. The fuze arming system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to convert mechanical strain to electric charge to produce the graduated, non-binary output before a power source of the munition is activated, wherein the power source is separate from the sensor.
14. A munition comprising the fuze arming system of claim 1 .
15. A fuze arming method for a munition, the method comprising:
detecting a setback event;
responsive to the setback event, generating a signal that an arming event has occurred; and
responsive to the setback event, producing a graduated, non-binary output to a fuze, wherein a graduation of the graduated, non-binary output is proportional to a degree of setback detected during the setback event, and the graduation of the graduated, non-binary output is used for providing information on launch conditions of the munition.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the graduated output is used for arming the fuze and/or programming the fuze.
17. The fuze arming system of claim 8 , wherein the arming circuit further comprises:
a comparator circuit arranged to compare the voltage stored by the capacitor with a threshold value to verify whether an arming event has occurred.
18. A fuze arming system for a munition, the system comprising:
an arming circuit arranged to detect a setback event and, responsive to the setback event, generate a signal indicating that an arming event has occurred;
wherein the arming circuit includes a sensor configured to produce a graduated, non-binary output to a fuze responsive to the setback event, a graduation of the graduated, non-binary output being proportional to a degree of setback detected during the setback event;
wherein the graduation of the graduated, non-binary output provides non-binary information about one or more launch conditions of the munition; and
wherein the fuze arming system is arranged to use the non-binary information to arm the fuze and/or program the fuze.
19. The fuze arming system of claim 18 , further comprising the fuze.
20. A munition comprising the fuze arming system of claim 19 .