US4085910A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual mode optical seeker for guided missile control
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp
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Filing: 1972-04-12
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Granted: 1978-04-25
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Expires: 1992-04-12
Abstract
Abstract An optical assembly is mounted in the nose of a missile, this assembly including an infra-red sensor for sensing the orientation of the missile relative to an infra-red illuminated target, and a visible sensor such as a vidicon for determining the orientation of the missile relative to a visible target. The infra-red and visible detectors may be used alternatively for acquiring and tracking a target, as the situation may demand. The optical unit is stabilized in space about the pitch and yaw axes thereof by means of a gyro stabilized platform unit which is separated therefrom and linked thereto by coupling rods which cause the optical assembly to accurately follow the stabilized platform in both yaw and elevation.
Inventors
- 👤 William G. Baker
- 👤 James H. Gisbrecht
- 👤 Edward T. Luszcz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:30
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41G; F41G7/00; F41G7/008; F41G7/20; F41G7/22; F41G7/2213; F41G7/2253; F41G7/226; F41G7/2273; F41G7/2293
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
In a dual mode optical seeker having an optical assembly comprising optical units for separately sensing visible signals and infra-red signals, said optical assembly being mounted for pivotal motion about azimuth and elevation axes, the improvement comprising means for inertially stabilizing said optical assembly without mounting said assembly on a stable platform, said improvement including: a stable platform unit, means for inertially stabilizing said platform unit, and rod means for interconnecting said platform unit with said optical assembly to cause said optical assembly to precisely physically follow said platform unit in azimuth and elevation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
In a dual mode optical seeker having an optical assembly comprising optical units for separately sensing visible signals and infra-red signals, said optical assembly being mounted for pivotal motion about azimuth and elevation axes, the improvement comprising means for inertially stabilizing said optical assembly without mounting said assembly on a stable platform, said improvement including: a stable platform unit, means for inertially stabilizing said platform unit, and rod means for interconnecting said platform unit with said optical assembly to cause said optical assembly to precisely physically follow said platform unit in azimuth and elevation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said rod means comprises a plurality of rods spaced around said platform unit and pivotally connected thereto at one end thereof, said rods being pivotally connected to said optical assembly at the opposite ends thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said platform unit has a rectangular configuration, there being four rods, said one end of each of said rods being connected to one of the corners of said platform unit, the opposite ends of said rods each being connected to a separate portion of the optical assembly, said last mentioned optical assembly portions being symmetrically arranged about the periphery of said assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said optical assembly includes a centrally located infra-red detector, a vidicon, an infra-red optical filter in the form of a disc having an aperture at the center thereof, said infra-red detector being positioned to receive the light output from said infra-red filter, and a lens system internally concentric with said infra-red filter for directing visible light to the input of said vidicon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
A dual mode seeker for a missile having visible and infra-red sensing systems comprising: an optical assembly for supporting said sensing systems, means for pivotally supporting said optical assembly in the nose of said missile for rotation about pitch and yaw axes, a gyro stabilized platform, means for pivotally supporting said platform in said missile for rotation about mutually orthogonal axes defining yaw and pitch axes, and rod means interconnecting said optical assembly and said platform to cause said optical assembly to follow said platform in yaw and pitch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
A dual mode seeker for a missile having visible and infra-red sensing systems comprising: an optical assembly for supporting said sensing systems, means for pivotally supporting said optical assembly in the nose of said missile for rotation about pitch and yaw axes, a gyro stabilized platform, means for pivotally supporting said platform in said missile for rotation about mutually orthogonal axes defining yaw and pitch axes, and rod means interconnecting said optical assembly and said platform to cause said optical assembly to follow said platform in yaw and pitch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said rod means comprises a plurality of rods pivotally connected at one end thereof to said platform and at the opposite end thereof to said optical assembly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 6 wherein the number of said rods is four, said platform being rectangular in configuration, each of said rods being connected to a separate corner of said platform.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said means for pivotally supporting said optical assembly comprises a pair of arcuate tracks on opposite sides of said optical assembly and ball means for each of said tracks mounted in said missile, said ball means each riding in an associated one of said tracks.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2995318A
Cited
US3514179A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-04-24 | 1981-10-24 | 1982-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-24 | 1985-10-24 | 1986-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-24 | 1989-10-24 | 1990-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |