Raytheon Company

Eric B Sutton

Michael L Wells

Richard J Sand

Thomas E Jenkins

Melvin A Olson

Richrad J Sand

The need in the art is addressed by the improved missile fire control system of the present invention. In the illustrative embodiment, the inventive system is adapted for use with TOW missile systems and includes a telescope cluster assembly () for generating target position signals (). A digital error detector (') receives and processes target position signals () from the telescope cluster assembly (). The processed signals () are then fed to a stabilization control amplifier (), where a microcontroller () steps through a set of instructions eliminate angular noise from the target position signals (). The stabilization control amplifier () subsequently provides feedback to the telescope cluster assembly () for adjusting the line-of-sight in the telescope cluster assembly (). Software instructions for the microcontroller () and constant reference data are stored in the microcontroller memory (not shown). An erasable programmable logic device () is used to output discreet signals for controlling mirror positioning. The inventive set of instructions includes sampling azimuth and elevation error signals (); calculating the average of said azimuth and elevation error signals (); performing a comparison of the average to a specified boresight limit (); performing calculations on the averages in response to information received from the output of the comparison for determining motor runtimes (); and repeating the above steps as necessary for obtaining azimuth and elevation signals within a specified limit.

Missile fire control system

A coordinate transformation apparatus (,) in an aircraft-based missile guidance and tracking system for adjusting aircraft and missile position signals for a roll angle about the line of sight in the guidance and tracking system sight unit (,) caused by roll of the aircraft subsequent to firing of the missile. The apparatus (,) incorporates analog to digital converter means (,), (,), (,), (,) and (,) to convert the analog aircraft and missile position signals to digital signals for input into a microprocessor (,). The microprocessor (,) computes the roll angle as well as a change in roll angle over time around the line of sight of the sight unit (,) and subsequently adjusts the digital signals to compensate for the computed roll angle and change in roll angle. Digital to analog converter means (,), (,) and (,) convert adjusted digital signals to analog signals and output the adjusted analog signals for computation of missile guidance signals by the system.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Eric B Sutton