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. 19, 1993
Filed:
Jun. 12, 1991
John R Wootton, St. Louis, MO (US);
Gary Waldman, St. Louis, MO (US);
Electronics & Space Corp., St. Louis, MO (US);
Abstract
Fire control apparatus (30) comprises a gun (32) for firing a projectile at a target (T). The gun is mounted on a platform (36) which is subject to vibratory motion. A laser unit (40) generates a laser beam directable at the target. A gunner (G) directs a laser beam at the target and a return laser waveform reflected by the target is received back at the platform. A processor (44) is responsive to the return waveform to determine the target's range, speed, and direction of movement relative to the platform. Further, the processor determines a firing solution by which a projectile fired from the gun strikes the target. This solution includes a lead angle by which the gun should be directed ahead of the target for the projectile to strike it. A beam steering unit (62) is responsive to an output from the processor to realign the laser beam relative to the target. The degree of realignment is in accordance with the firing solution so the projectile fired from the gun strikes the target. The beam steering unit also stabilizes the laser beam to isolate it from platform vibrations. This is done to increase system accuracy.