The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 27, 1981
Filed:
Oct. 25, 1978
Jimmy R Duke, Huntsville, AL (US);
Walter E Miller, Jr, Huntsville, AL (US);
Dorwin L Kilbourn, Huntsville, AL (US);
Nicholas J Mangus, Jr, Huntsville, AL (US);
Robert L Sitton, Huntsville, AL (US);
Walter F Fountain, Huntsville, AL (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
An improved automatic missile tracking and guidance system wherein a laund missile is guided along a line-of-sight maintained by the operator with the target. The position of an infrared source disposed on the missile is detected and guidance signals generated in accordance therewith to control the flight of the missile along the line-of-sight. The infrared source or beacon disposed on the missile comprises an array of semiconductor light emitting diodes. The solid state characteristics of the light emitting diodes provide heretofore unobtainable reliability over existing beacons. The beacon may be used to produce a modulated, high frequency, rectangular waveform, incoherent emission offering performance improvements including virtual immunity to optical countermeasures.