Lockheed Martin Corporation

Loral Vought Systems Corporation

Ltv Missiles and Electronics Group

Edward Max Flowers

Lionel D Liebman

Stuart W Flockencier

Don A Larson

Lewis G Minor

Nicholas J Krasutsky

Arthur Steven Bornowski

Chad Nathan Chegwidden

Gregory N Whitfield

Christopher L Gould

The present invention includes, in various aspects and embodiments, a method and apparatus for guiding a laser guided munition to an offset aim point relative to the laser spot. In one aspect, the laser guided munition comprises a propelled explosive ordnance; an optical sensor; means for indicating an offset from a laser designation; and a flight control system. The flight control system is responsive to an output from the optical sensor to: home on the laser designation during the descent of an arcing trajectory for the propelled explosive ordnance; determine that the propelled explosive ordnance traversed a predetermined point in the descending trajectory; and upon traversing the predetermined point, guide the propelled explosive ordnance to the position defined by the offset indicator. In a second aspect, the laser guided munition is deployed as part of a system that also includes a laser designator. The laser designator includes: a laser capable of generating a laser signal; a lens though which a generated laser signal is transmitted; and a diffraction grating capable of diffracting the transmitted laser signal into a laser designation and an optical marker separated from the laser designation. In a third aspect, the invention includes a method for guiding a laser guided munition. The method, comprises: homing on a laser designation during the descent of an arcing trajectory for the laser guided munition; traversing a predetermined point in the descending trajectory; and upon traversing the predetermined point, guiding the laser guided munition to a position offset from the laser designation.

Laser guided munition impact offset

The present invention includes a multifaceted imaging semi-active laser system ('I-SALS'). In one aspect, the I-SALS closes on a laser designation of a target until it starts imaging the target, whereupon the I-SALS then homes on the target from the image. Some embodiments employ a slightly defocused designation. Other embodiments use existential jitter in the designation and other embodiments intentionally induce a jitter in the designation called dither. One particular embodiments provides a dual field-of-view optics package that has no moving parts.

Dual FOV imaging semi-active laser system

A method and apparatus image a target in a SAL system. The method includes receiving on-board a platform a target designation originating from a laser source off-board the platform; homing the platform on a target responsive to the received target designation; imaging the target from the target designation; and aiming the platform at a point on the target selected from the image. The apparatus includes a receiver capable of receiving and imaging a target designation originating from a laser source off-board the apparatus; at least one flight control mechanism; and a controller. The controller is capable of processing a received target designation and issuing navigation control guidance commands to the flight control mechanism to: home the apparatus on a target responsive to a received target designation; and aim the apparatus at a point on the target selected from the image of the target.

Imaging semi-active laser system

A LADAR apparatus and a method for use in receiving a LADAR signal are disclosed. The apparatus includes an optical pickup capable of picking up a plurality of optical signals; a timing synchronization reference; a time domain multiplexer capable of multiplexing the optical signals into a multiplexed optical signal relative to the timing synchronization reference; and an optical detector capable of detecting the multiplexed optical signal. The method include time domain multiplexing a plurality of LADAR signals into multiplexed LADAR signal; detecting the multiplexed LADAR signal; and demultiplexing the detected LADAR signal.

Single detector receiver for multi-beam LADAR systems

The invention is a method for increasing the resolution of LADAR data. In one embodiment of the invention wherein the LADAR data is generated from a split beam laser signal transmitted at a given elevation scan rate and a given azimuth scan rate, the method includes reducing the elevation scan rate by which the laser signal is transmitted by a factor of n; and reducing the azimuth scan rate by which the laser signal is transmitted by a factor of m; wherein n and m are integers greater than 1.

Method for increasing LADAR resolution

An optical system transmits a first radiation beam along a first axis and receives a reflected beam along that axis; the first beam having a first wavelength and a p-planar polarization; the second beam having the first wavelength, a p-planar polarized component, an s-planar polarized component, and a greater cross-sectional area than the first beam. The system includes a transmit/reflect mirror positioned at a 45.degree. to the first axis and free of apertures in its optical area, a radiation source, an element for directing radiation from the source along the first axis toward the mirror; an element for directing radiation outwardly from the mirror along the first axis, and for directing the second beam along the first axis toward the mirror. An antireflection coating on the primary side of the mirror passes radiation having the first wavelength and a p-planar polarization. An inner area of a coating on the secondary side of the mirror passes substantially all of the p-planar polarization radiation while reflecting s-planar polarization radiation. An outer area of the secondary coating reflects substantially all radiation incident thereon having the first wavelength.

Laser scanning system with optical transmit/reflect mirror having

An apertured mirror permits an outgoing, transmitted laser beam to pass and reflects a return, reflected beam onto a detector array.

Growing community of inventors

Grand Prairie, TX, United States of America

Edward Max Flowers