Digital Signal Corporation

Michael S Hersman

Anthony R Slotwinski

Frank E Goodwin

A laser proximity sensor for a projectile includes a laser diode having front and rear facets. The diode generates a main laser signal and directs a first portion thereof out of the front facet as a source beam. Focusing means focuses the source beam on a target, and focuses the return beam reflected from the target into the laser diode through the front facet. The laser diode receives the return light beam, provides it with a positive gain, mixes it with the main laser signal, and guides it out the rear facet as a mixed beam. A detection focusing device focuses the mixed beam onto a PIN detector. The PIN detector coherently detects the mixed beam and provides an output signal having a perturbation where the target enters the focal field of the focusing optics. A processor detects the output signal from the PIN detector and may activate a fuse on the projectile. The processor is also capable of determining the relative velocity between the projectile and the target from measurement of the Doppler shifted signal or from the shape of the perturbation of the output signal from the PIN detector.

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Fairfax Station, VA, United States of America

Michael S Hersman