Selective filter for closed loop servo system

Abstract

In a closed loop servo system in which the input signal is inaccessible and not available for measurement, but the error signal and output signal are both accessible and measurable, a filter configuration is provided which can be inserted into the error signal path of the system to reduce the undesirable effects of noise or other unwanted signals without appreciably affecting the closed loop dynamics of the overall system. In the generalized system a filter having the characteristics g(s) in LaPlace notation is inserted into the error signal path of the system to filter selected components of the error signal. A second filter having the characteristics h(s) which satisfies the equation g(s)+h(s)=1, is coupled between the output signal and the output of the filter having the characteristics g(s). The signal passing through the filter having the characteristic h(s) is summed with the signal leaving the filter having the characteristics g(s) to cancel the filtering effect relative to the output signal and thus to decouple both filters from the control loop. Thus the filtering is accomplished without appreciably altering the characteristics of the control loop. In one application, the invention is utilized in connection with the proportional navigation guidance system for a homing missile. This permits extraneous signal components due to, for example, radome loop coupling and noise to be filtered from the error signal without affective the closed loop dynamics of the missile guidance.