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:
Apr. 21, 1992
Filed:
Mar. 22, 1991
Dzung V Phan, Moorpark, CA (US);
Hughes Aircraft Company, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
A tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire guided (TOW) portable guided missile system (10) includes a launch tube (16) mounted on a tripod (18) or vehicle, and an optical/thermal sighting and tracking assembly (22) mounted on and aligned with the launch tube (16). The system operator (20) mechanically trains the assembly (22) to maintain a target (38) visually centered in a reticle, thereby establishing a line-of-sight (40) to the target (38). The assembly (22) tracks the target (38) optically or thermally, and feeds guidance signals to the missile (14) through a wire (46) to maintain the missile flight path coincident with the line-of-sight (40). An improved missile guidance electronics unit (44) is environmentally sealed in a small housing (60) which removably fits into a compartment (52) in the sighting and tracking assembly (22), thereby enabling the optical/thermal sighting and tracking elements (26,28) and guidance electronics (88) to be integrated into a compact, unitary assembly (22).