초록 ▼

A tracking system having an acquisition sight for use by a pilot to acquire and track a target. Once the target is acquired an operator using a track handle can control tracking of the target. The operator monitors the target utilizing narrow and wide field of view monitors. A computer receives azim

A tracking system having an acquisition sight for use by a pilot to acquire and track a target. Once the target is acquired an operator using a track handle can control tracking of the target. The operator monitors the target utilizing narrow and wide field of view monitors. A computer receives azimuth and elevation positional signals from the tracking device which may be the acquisition sight, the track handle, or other tracking device. The computer then processes the azimuth and elevation data and provides azimuth and elevation angle signals to a gimballed mirror steering the mirror to the target. The mirror receives image forming light from the target and then directs the image forming light to a wide field of view camera and a zoom telescope. The wide field of view camera is connected to the wide field of view monitor displaying the target on the monitor. The zoom telescope directs a narrow field of view image to a narrow field of view camera, which is connected to the narrow field of view monitor allowing the narrow field of view image of the target to be displayed to the operator.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An airborne video tracking system for establishing and maintaining a line of sight to a target having a fixed location, said airborne video tracking system being mounted within an aircraft, said airborne video tracking system comprising:an acquisition sight positioned wit

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An airborne video tracking system for establishing and maintaining a line of sight to a target having a fixed location, said airborne video tracking system being mounted within an aircraft, said airborne video tracking system comprising:an acquisition sight positioned within said aircraft, said acquisition sight allowing a pilot of said aircraft to acquire and begin tracking said target, said acquisition sight having a newton ring, said target being acquired when said pilot observes said target within the newton ring of said acquisition sight, said acquisition sight providing acquisition sight analog position signals indicative of azimuth and elevation sight angles for said acquisition sight when said acquisition sight is tracking said target;a track handle positioned within said aircraft, said track handle having a trigger switch, said track handle allowing an observer within said aircraft to take control of tracking said target from said pilot when said observer activates said trigger switch, said track handle providing track handle analog position signals indicative of azimuth and elevation sight angles for said track handle when said track handle is tracking said target;a computer connected to said acquisition sight to receive said acquisition sight analog position signals from said acquisition sight, said computer being connected to said track handle to receive said. track handle analog position signals from said track handle, said computer processing said acquisition sight analog position signals and said track handle analog position signals to generate gimbal angular pointing signals;a gimballed mirror having a gimbal interface, said gimbal interface being connected to said computer to receive said gimbal angular pointing signals from said computer, said gimbal interface responsive to said gimbal angular pointing signals steering said gimballed mirror to said target to establish and then maintain said line of sight to said target;said gimballed mirror receiving image forming light from said target and then directing a first beam of said image forming light along a first light path;a first turning mirror positioned on said first light path to receive the first beam of said image forming light from said gimballed mirror, said first turning mirror directing asecond beam of said image forming light along a second light path;a first video camera positioned on said second light path to receive the second beam of said image forming light, said first video camera responsive to the second beam of said image forming light received from said first turning mirror generating a first video signal;a first video monitor connected to said first video camera to receive said first video signal, said first video monitor responsive to said first video signal displaying a wide field of view scene including said target, said first video monitor being positioned within said aircraft to allow said observer to monitor said target;a second turning mirror positioned on said first light path downstream from said first turning mirror, said second turning mirror receiving the first beam of said image forming light from said gimballed mirror, said second turning mirror directing a third beam of said image forming light along a third light path;a zoom telescope positioned on said third light path to receive the third beam of said image forming light, said zoom telescope modifying the third beam of said image forming light to define a narrow field of view scene;a second video camera positioned downstream from said zoom telescope on said third light path to receive the third beam said image forming light from zoom telescope, said second video camera responsive to the third beam of said image forming light received from said zoom telescope generating a second video signal;an aircraft inertial navigation system connected to said computer, said aircraft inertial navigation system generating digital aircraft positional signals indicative of latitude, longitude and altitude for said aircraft and roll, pitch and heading for said aircraft, said aircraft inertial navigation system providing said digital aircraft positional signals to said computer;said gimbal interface generating gimbal angular position signals indicative of azimuth and elevation line of sight angles for said gimballed mirror when gimballed mirror is tracking said target, said gimballed interface providing said gimbal angular position signals to said computer;said computer, responsive to said digital aircraft positional signals and said gimbal angular position signals, calculating latitude, longitude and altitude positional data for said target;said computer having a cue point buffer, said computer saving said latitude, longitude and altitude positional data for said target in said cue point buffer;a keyboard coupled to said computer, said keyboard having a plurality of alpha-numeric and function keys;a second video monitor coupled to said computer, said second video monitor being positioned to allow said observer to monitor said second video monitor;said computer having a CUEPOINT.DAT computer software module, the alpha-numeric and function keys of said keyboard being utilized by said observer to enter a written description of said target into said CUEPOINT.DAT computer software module and to instruct said computer to transfer said latitude, longitude and altitude positional data for said target from said cue point buffer to said CUEPOINT.DAT computer software module for storage in said CUEPOINT.DAT computer software module;the alpha-numeric and function keys of said keyboard being utilized by said observer to retrieve the written description of said target from said CUEPOINT.DAT computer software module and display said written description of said target on said second video monitor;the alpha numeric and function keys being utilized by said observer to instruct said computer to process said latitude, longitude and altitude positional data for said target when said written description of said target is displayed on said second monitor;said computer, responsive to said latitude, longitude and altitude positional data for said target, regenerating said gimbal angular pointing signals to provide regenerated gimbal angular pointing signals to said gimbal interface;said gimbal interface, responsive to said regenerated gimbal angular pointing signals, steering said gimballed mirror to said target to reacquire said line to said target;said computer being connected to said second video camera to receive said second video signal, said computer processing said second video signal to overlay the latitude, longitude and altitude positional data for said target on said second video signal; anda third video monitor connected to said computer to receive said second video signal, said third video monitor responsive to said second video signal displaying said narrow field of view scene, said narrow field of scene having said target displayed therein whenever said gimballed mirror is aligned with said line of sight to said target, said narrow field of view scene including said latitude, longitude and altitude positional data for said target, said third video monitor being positioned within said aircraft to allow said observer to monitor said target.