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:
Mar. 29, 1988
Filed:
Apr. 03, 1987
Frank E Goodwin, Burke, VA (US);
Michael S Hersman, Fairfax, VA (US);
Anthony R Slotwinski, Reston, VA (US);
Digital Signal Corporation, Springfield, VA (US);
Abstract
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.