초록 ▼

A unit is described that is configured to control detonation of a munition such that the munition is detonated at a desired altitude. The unit includes a radar transmitter, a radar receiver that includes a radar range gate, and a sequencer. The sequencer is configured to receive a detonation altitud

A unit is described that is configured to control detonation of a munition such that the munition is detonated at a desired altitude. The unit includes a radar transmitter, a radar receiver that includes a radar range gate, and a sequencer. The sequencer is configured to receive a detonation altitude and set the range gate based on the received detonation altitude. The unit is also configured to output a detonation signal when radar return pulses received by the receiver aligned with gate delay pulses from the range gate.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A unit configured to control detonation of a munition such that the munition is detonated at a desired altitude, said unit comprising: a radar transmitter configured to transmit radar pulses; a radar receiver comprising a radar range gate; and a sequencer configured to

The invention claimed is: 1. A unit configured to control detonation of a munition such that the munition is detonated at a desired altitude, said unit comprising: a radar transmitter configured to transmit radar pulses; a radar receiver comprising a radar range gate; and a sequencer configured to receive a detonation altitude from an external system, said sequencer configured to set said range gate based on the received detonation altitude, said unit configured to output a detonation signal to the munition when radar return pulses received by said receiver align with gate delay pulses set within said range gate. 2. A unit according to claim 1 wherein said transmitter comprises an oscillator and said receiver comprises a mixer, said mixer configured to receive a signal originating from said oscillator, said signal utilized by said mixer for down conversion of received radar return pulses. 3. A unit according to claim 2 wherein said mixer is configured to output a Doppler frequency signal representative of a velocity of the munition. 4. A unit according to claim 1 wherein said mixer comprises a local oscillator comprising an output, said mixer configured to vary a phase of said local oscillator output to vary a DC output of said mixer. 5. A unit according to claim 4 comprising a transmission line, said transmission line configured to couple said mixer to the signal originating from said oscillator, a length of said transmission line configured to provide an approximate 180 degree phase shift with respect to a leakage path between an antenna of said radar transmitter and an antenna of said radar receiver. 6. A unit according to claim 1 wherein said transmitter comprises a modulation switch, said modulation switch configured to output a modulated radar signal based upon an input from said sequencer. 7. A unit according to claim 1 further comprising a time delay counter, said time delay counter configured to receive a signal from said radar receiver indicating said munition is at the detonation altitude, and further configured to output a detonation signal, based on a detonation delay time command from said sequencer. 8. A unit according to claim 7 wherein said sequencer is configured to output a zero detonation delay time command to said time delay counter when the detonation altitude is zero or greater. 9. A unit according to claim 7 wherein said sequencer is configured to output a detonation delay time command based on a time estimate for said munition to travel from a zero altitude to a desired altitude below ground level when the detonation altitude is below zero. 10. A unit according to claim 7 wherein said radar receiver comprises a threshold detector, said threshold detector configured to output the signal to said time delay counter, the signal being a voltage, a level of the voltage adjusted according to an amount of alignment between the received radar returns and the gate delay pulses set within said range gate. 11. A unit according to claim 1 wherein said radar receiver comprises a threshold detector receiving a voltage originating from said radar range gate, a level of the voltage based on an amount of alignment between the received radar returns and the gate delay pulses set within said range gate. 12. A unit according to claim 11 further comprising an up/down counter configured to count based on a received output from said threshold detector. 13. A unit according to claim 12 wherein said up/down counter is configured to down count when the received output from said threshold detector is based upon the voltage from said radar range gate being greater than a threshold voltage set for said threshold detector. 14. A unit according to claim 13 further comprising a comparitor, said comparitor configured to receive a count from said sequencer representative of a detonation altitude and further configured to receive counts from said up/down counter, said comparitor configured to output the detonation signal when the received counts are equal. 15. A unit according to claim 13 further comprising a count to time delay counter, said count to time delay counter synchronized with a leading edge of transmit pulses output by said radar transmitter. 16. A unit according to claim 15 wherein said count to time delay counter is configured to receive counts from said up/down counter, said count to time delay counter configured to set a position of said range gate based on counts received from said up/down counter. 17. A unit according to claim 16 wherein a count is proportional to a resolution of said range gate. 18. A munition configured to detonate at a programmed altitude, said munition comprising: a radar transmitter configured to transmit a signal; a radar receiver; and a unit configured to initiate a detonation signal within said munition when a travel time for a transmitted signal to travel from said radar transmitter to the ground and back to said radar receiver is substantially equal to a preset time. 19. A munition according to claim 18 wherein said radar receiver comprises a radar range gate; and said unit comprises a sequencer configured to set said range gate with a delay time that is substantially equal to the travel time for the transmitted signal to travel from said radar transmitter to the ground and back to said radar receiver, the travel time based on the programmed detonation altitude. 20. A munition according to claim 18 wherein said unit is configured to output a detonation signal when the transmitted signals are received during the delay time of said range gate. 21. A munition according to claim 19 wherein said radar receiver comprises a mixer comprising a local oscillator, said mixer configured to vary a phase of an output of said local oscillator to vary a DC output of said mixer. 22. A munition according to claim 21 comprising a transmission line, said transmission line configured to couple said mixer to a signal originating from said oscillator, a length of said transmission line configured to provide an approximate 180 degree phase shift with respect to a leakage path between an antenna of said radar transmitter and an antenna of said radar receiver. 23. A munition according to claim 19 further comprising a time delay counter, said time delay counter configured to receive a signal from said radar receiver indicative of said munition being at the detonation altitude, and further configured to output a detonation signal, based on a detonation delay time received from said sequencer. 24. A munition according to claim 23 wherein said sequencer is configured to output a zero detonation delay time command to said time delay counter when the detonation altitude is zero or greater and output a detonation delay time command based on a time estimate for said munition to travel from a zero altitude to a desired altitude below ground level when the detonation altitude is below zero. 25. A munition according to claim 19 wherein said radar receiver comprises a threshold detector, said munition further comprising: a sequencer configured to receive a signal representative of a desired detonation altitude; an up/down counter configured to count based on a received output from said threshold detector; a comparitor, said comparitor configured to receive a count from said sequencer representative of a detonation altitude and further configured to receive counts from said up/down counter, said comparitor configured to output the detonation signal when the received counts are equal. 26. A muntion according to claim 25 further comprising a count to time delay counter, said count to time delay counter synchronized with a leading edge of transmit pulses output by said radar transmitter, said count to time delay counter configured to receive counts from said up/down counter, said count to time delay counter configured to set a position of said range gate based on counts received from said up/down counter. 27. A method for detonating a munition at a selected detonation altitude, the munition including a radar transmitter and receiver, said method comprising: providing the munition with a selected detonation altitude; configuring the munition to process radar signals to compare an actual altitude to the selected detonation altitude; and configuring the munition to generate a detonation signal if the actual altitude is substantially equal to the selected detonation altitude. 28. A method according to claim 27 wherein said programming the munition comprises providing the detonation altitude to a sequencer within the radar. 29. A method according to claim 27 wherein said configuring the munition to process radar signals further comprises: configuring a sequencer to modulate radar signals for transmission; and configuring the sequencer to set a delay time for a radar gate switch within the radar receiver; and outputting a signal from the gate switch when a time between transmission of a radar signal and reception of the radar signal is substantially equal to the delay time of the radar gate switch. 30. A method according to claim 29 wherein said configuring the munition to initiate detonation comprises delaying detonation after the signal is received from the gate switch according to a desired detonation altitude. 31. A method according to claim 27 wherein said configuring the munition to process radar signals comprises: varying a phase of a local oscillator output in the radar transmitter to vary a DC output of a mixer in the radar receiver; and setting a length of a length of a transmission line between the local oscillator and the mixer to provide an approximate 180 degree phase shift with respect to a leakage path between an antenna of the radar transmitter and an antenna of the radar receiver.