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US4586436A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electronic assembly for moderate hard target penetrator fuze

Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1984-09-13
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Granted: 1986-05-06
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Expires: 2004-09-13
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Abstract

Abstract A microcomputer controlled electronic fuze capable of surviving a hard tat impact is disclosed comprising two epoxy potted printed circuit boards mounted back to back of which one of the boards is designed to survive impact and contains the microcomputer controller, storage charge, timing circuit, and fire pulse detonator circuit. The other board carries an electric motor drive circuit for mechanical timing and detonator alignment, a detonation delay command storage circuit, and an AC rectifier and voltage regulator circuit coupling a wind turbine generator power supply to the fuze.

Inventors

  • 👤 James R. Denney
  • 👤 Robert L. Stehr

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 16:08
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42C; F42C15/00; F42C15/40; F42C11/00; F42C11/06; F42C11/065; F42C15/28; F42C15/295

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 211 words
A microcomputer controlled electronic assembly for a target penetrator bomb fuze capable of withstanding a 100,000 g impact and of interfacing with a plurality of components including, a fuze contact, proximity, and drag sensor, a fuze mechanical timing and alignment device, a fire pulse delay switch and arming time switch, a Fuze Function Control Set (FFCS) and an alternate FFCS, a wind turbine generator, and a fire pulse generator, comprising: a power conversion circuit coupling said wind turbine generator to said mechanical timing and alignment device and to said microcomputer; a detonation delay code storage circuit, coupling said FFCS to said microcomputer; means for coupling said alternate FFCS to said microcomputer; a sensor lead coupling said contact, proximity, and drag sensors to said microcomputer; a switch lead coupling said arming time switch and said fire pulse delay switch to said microcomputer; a motor drive circuit coupling said mechanical timing and alignment device to said microcomputer; a power storage circuit, keep alive circuit, capable of withstanding a 100,000 g impact, coupling said wind turbine generator to said microcomputer; a timing circuit, capable of withstanding a 100,000 g impact, coupled to said microcomputer; and a fire pulse circuit, capable of withstanding a 100,000 g impact, coupling said fire pulse generator to said microcomputer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 211 words
A microcomputer controlled electronic assembly for a target penetrator bomb fuze capable of withstanding a 100,000 g impact and of interfacing with a plurality of components including, a fuze contact, proximity, and drag sensor, a fuze mechanical timing and alignment device, a fire pulse delay switch and arming time switch, a Fuze Function Control Set (FFCS) and an alternate FFCS, a wind turbine generator, and a fire pulse generator, comprising: a power conversion circuit coupling said wind turbine generator to said mechanical timing and alignment device and to said microcomputer; a detonation delay code storage circuit, coupling said FFCS to said microcomputer; means for coupling said alternate FFCS to said microcomputer; a sensor lead coupling said contact, proximity, and drag sensors to said microcomputer; a switch lead coupling said arming time switch and said fire pulse delay switch to said microcomputer; a motor drive circuit coupling said mechanical timing and alignment device to said microcomputer; a power storage circuit, keep alive circuit, capable of withstanding a 100,000 g impact, coupling said wind turbine generator to said microcomputer; a timing circuit, capable of withstanding a 100,000 g impact, coupled to said microcomputer; and a fire pulse circuit, capable of withstanding a 100,000 g impact, coupling said fire pulse generator to said microcomputer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
An electronic assembly according to claim 1, wherein said power conversion circuit contains means for converting power from AC to DC.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
An electronic assembly according to claim 2, wherein said converting means consists of a bridge DC/full wave rectifier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
An electronic assembly according to claim 1, wherein said power conversion circuit contains means for reducing power from a high voltage to a low voltage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
An electronic assembly according to claim 4, wherein said reducing means consists of a five volt regulator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 23 words
An electronic assembly according to claim 1, wherein said power conversion circuit contains means for smoothing out AC-DC power at a predetermined level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 34 words
An electronic assembly according to claim 6, wherein said charge storing means consists of a zener diode and a first and second series capacitors, said zener diode being in parallel to said series capacitors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 42 words
An electronic assembly according to claim 1, wherein said detonation delay code storage circuit contains means for temporarily holding a positive and negative first voltage level, and a positive and negative second voltage level code from said FFCS and said alternate FFCS.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 24 words
An electronic assembly according to claim 8, wherein said holding means consists of a first input lead in parallel with a second input lead.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 34 words
An electronic assembly according to claim 9, wherein said first input lead has a first diode to ground, in parallel with a first capacitor to ground, in parallel with a first diode from ground.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 31 words
An electronic assembly according to claim 10 wherein said first input lead has a first reversed biased diode coupled between said first diode to ground and said first capacitor to ground.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 29 words
An electronic assembly according to claim 10 wherein said first input lead has a first resistor coupled between said first capacitor to ground and said first diode from ground.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 34 words
An electronic assembly according to claim 9 wherein said second input lead has a second diode to ground in parallel with a second capacitor to ground, in parallel with a second diode from ground.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 30 words
An electronic assembly according to claim 13, wherein said second input has a second reversed biased diode coupled between said second diode to ground and said second capacitor to ground.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 29 words
An electronic assembly according to claim 13, wherein said second input lead has a second resistor coupled between said second cpacitor to ground and said second diode from ground.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 50 words
An electronic assembly according to claim 1, wherein said motor drive circuit provides means, controlled by said microcomputer, for driving said mechanical timing and alignment device forward and for sensing a forward stall, then for driving said mechanical timing and alignment device in reverse and for sensing a reverse stall.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 41 words
An electronic assembly according to claim 1, wherein said power storage circuit provides means for storing sufficient charge, during wind turbine generator up time, to provide a five volt power source to said microcomputer when said wind turbine generator is destroyed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 19 words
An electronic assembly according to claim 1, wherein said timing circuit provides means for timing and resetting said microcomputer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 37 words
An electronic assembly according to claim 1, wherein said fire pulse circuit provides means for storing a fire pulse charge, microcomputer controlled means for enabling a fire pulse, and microcomputer controlled means for triggering said fire pulse.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 66 words
An electronic assembly according to claim 1 having a first and a second PCBs, wherein said power conversion circuit, said detonation delay code storage circuit, and said motor drive circuit are contained by said first PCB, and said power storage circuit, said timing circuit, said fire pulse circuit, and said microcomputer are contained by said second PCB which is capable of surviving a 100,000 g impact.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 15 words
An electronic assembly according to claim 20, wherein said first and second PCBs are potted.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US3914732A Cited
US3961577A Cited
US4044680A Cited
US4002123A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-05-05 1989-11-04 1990-05-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-05-05 1993-11-04 1994-05-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-05-05 1997-11-04 1998-05-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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