Raytheon Company

Hughes Aircraft Company

Hughes Electronics Corporation

John A Tyson

Michael L Wells

Richard J Sand

Glenn S Higa

Jane L Pauwels

A system ( ) for tracking a missile ( ) in flight, the missile ( ) having an optical beacon generator ( ) that outputs a modulated signal ( ) having a predetermined frequency, including an optical system ( ) for transmitting image data along an optical path ( ) onto an array of detectors ( ), such that each detector in the array ( ) receives substantially simultaneously the image data from the optical system ( ). The system ( ) further includes means for processing (46) the image data transmitted onto the array of detectors ( ) in order to locate the optical beacon ( ).

Solid state modulated beacon tracking system

An error detector apparatus (42) producing a signal used in the computation of a missile guidance signal in an aircraft-based missile guidance and tracking system. The error detector apparatus (42) incorporates means (146), (148), (150), (152), and (154) for producing a first envelope signal from a tracking signal emitted by a missile. The envelope signal is then converted, along with a reference signal, to a digital signal by an analog to digital converter (158). A microcontroller (168) calculates an error correction signal from the digital signals. A digital to analog converter (160) converts the digital error correction signal to an analog error correction signal and outputs the analog error correction signal to the system for use in computing a missile guidance signal.

Error detector apparatus with digital coordinate transformation

A method for measuring boresight and parallax misalignment between multiple missile track links and for compensating guidance of a missile to a selected target. The method is applicable to any missile tracking system employing multiple track links. A missile is projected toward a target along a line of sight and tracked by multiple tracking sensors. Instantaneous output signals of any two tracking sensors are compared to determine instantaneous errors in boresight, parallax, or random errors. The error information is used to compute boresight and parallax correction terms. The correction terms are fed into conventional missile guidance algorithms to correct errors between the tracking sensor's line of sight and an operator's line of sight. Misalignment is measured during missile flight and the missile is used as a reference source in measuring the misalignments. The method is useful in tracking systems mounted on moving vehicles where accurate alignment of track links is difficult. The invention is also be useful in automatically preventing missile misses due to accidental misalignments in systems where the operator has manual control of the misalignment.

Growing community of inventors

Lawndale, CA, United States of America

John A Tyson