초록 ▼

The present invention relates to a strap down SAL seeker that includes an optical system having an engineered diffuser for transforming a laser spot into a uniform distribution of optical energy with a predetermined shape. The predetermined shape is preferably a square "top hat" or uniform scatter p

The present invention relates to a strap down SAL seeker that includes an optical system having an engineered diffuser for transforming a laser spot into a uniform distribution of optical energy with a predetermined shape. The predetermined shape is preferably a square "top hat" or uniform scatter pattern. The SAL seeker further includes a silicon quad detector, having a focal plane defined by at least two axes. The detector is operatively associated with the engineered diffuser, and it generates signals indicative of the position of the optical energy with respect to the focal plane of the detector.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A semi-active laser (SAL) seeker, comprising: an optical system having a diffuser that homogenizes input illumination of incident laser radiation, spreads said incident radiation within a predetermined divergence angle and according to a predetermined shape, and establishes a predetermi

I claim: 1. A semi-active laser (SAL) seeker, comprising: an optical system having a diffuser that homogenizes input illumination of incident laser radiation, spreads said incident radiation within a predetermined divergence angle and according to a predetermined shape, and establishes a predetermined intensity profile for said incident radiation; and a detector, having a focal plane defined by at least two axes, operatively associated with the diffuser, such that when the homogenized and spread incident radiation is projected onto said detector, the detector generates signals indicative of the position of the incident radiation with respect to the axes of the focal plane. 2. The SAL seeker according to claim 1 wherein the SAL seeker is either a strapped down SAL or a velocity pursuit SAL seeker. 3. The seeker according to c1aim 1, wherein the predetermined shape is a square pattern. 4. The SAL seeker of claim 1, wherein said SAL seeker is disposed in a guided weapon such that the signals from the SAL seeker are applied to a control system that directs the weapon to a target based on the position of the incident radiation with respect to the axes of the focal plane. 5. The SAL seeker of claim 4 wherein the guided weapon is a bomb dropped from an aircraft. 6. The SAL seeker of claim 1, further comprising: a narrow band optical filter disposed between the incident laser radiation and the diffuser; and a diffractive element disposed between the diffuser and the detector. 7. The SAL seeker of claim 1, further comprising: a narrow band optical filter disposed between the incident laser radiation and the diffuser; and a refractive element disposed between the diffuser and the detector. 8. A semi-active laser (SAL) seeker, comprising: an optical system having a diffuser for transforming laser energy into a uniform distribution of optical energy having a predetermined shape; and a detector, having a focal plane defined by at least two axes, operatively associated with the diffuser, for generating signals indicative of the position of the optical energy with respect to the axes of the focal plane, wherein the SAL seeker is a strapped down SAL seeker that includes a narrow band optical filter disposed between the incoming laser illumination and the diffuser; and a diffractive element disposed between the diffuser and the detector. 9. A semi-active laser (SAL) seeker, comprising: an optical system having a diffuser for transforming laser energy into a uniform distribution of optical energy having a predetermined shape; and a detector, having a focal plane defined by at least two axes, operatively associated with the diffuser, for generating signals indicative of the position of the optical energy with respect to the axes of the focal plane, wherein the SAL seeker is a strapped down SAL seeker that includes a narrow band optical filter disposed between the incoming laser illumination and the diffuser; and a refractive element disposed between the diffuser and the detector. 10. A method of locating and tracking a laser signal using a semi-active laser (SAL) seeker, comprising: receiving, as input, incident laser radiation; diffusing said incident laser radiation with a diffuser, wherein diffusing includes: homogenizing and input illumination of said incident radiation, spreading said incident radiation within a predetermined divergence angle and according to a predetermined shape, and establishing a predetermined intensity profile for said incident radiation; projecting, onto a focal plane defined by at least two axes and operatively associated with the diffuser, the diffused incident laser radiation; and detecting the position of the projected, diffused incident laser radiation with respect to the axes of the focal plane. 11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the predetermined shape is a square pattern. 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising filtering said incident laser radiation before diffusing; and wherein said projecting includes diffracting said diffused incident laser radiation. 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising filtering said incident laser radiation before diffusing; and wherein said projecting includes refracting said diffusing incident laser radiation. 14. The method of claim 10, further comprising directing a guided weapon to a source of said laser signal based on the position of the projected, diffused incident laser radiation with respect to the axes of the focal plane. 15. A method for operating a strap down semi-active laser (SAL) seeker, comprising: imaging a laser spot; transforming the laser spot into a uniform distribution of optical energy having a predetermined shape with a diffuser; detecting on a focal plane, defined by at least two axes and operatively associated with the diffuser, the position of the optical energy with respect to the axes of the focal plane; filtering the incoming laser spot before transforming the laser spot with the diffuser; and diffracting the predetermined shape spot before it is detected. 16. A method for operating a strap down semi-active laser (SAL) seeker, comprising: imaging a laser spot; transforming the laser spot into a uniform distribution of optical energy having a predetermined shape with a diffuser; detecting on a focal plane, defined by at least two axes and operatively associated with the diffuser, the position of the optical energy with respect to the axes of the focal plane; filtering the incoming laser spot before transforming the laser spot with the diffuser; and refracting the predetermined shape spot before it is detected. 17. A missile system, comprising: an airframe; control mechanism for guiding the airframe; a control system for controlling the control mechanism a strap down semi-active laser (SAL) seeker disposed on the airframe, the strap down SAL seeker including; an optical system having a diffuser for transforming a laser spot into a uniform distribution of optical energy having a predetermined shape; and a detector, having a focal plane defined by at least two axes, operatively associated with the diffuser, for generating signals indicative of the position of the optical energy with respect to the axes of the focal plane, wherein the strap down SAL seeker includes a narrow band optical filter disposed between the incoming laser illumination and the diffuser; and a diffractive element disposed between the diffuser and the detector. 18. A missile system, comprising: an airframe; control mechanism for guiding the airframe; a control system for controlling the control mechanism a strap down semi-active laser (SAL) seeker disposed on the airframe, the strap down SAL seeker including; an optical system having a diffuser for transforming a laser spot into a uniform distribution of optical energy having a predetermined shape; and a detector, having a focal plane defined by at least two axes, operatively associated with the diffuser, for generating signals indicative of the position of the optical energy with respect to the axes of the focal plane, wherein the strap down SAL seeker includes a narrow band optical filter disposed between the incoming laser illumination and the diffuser; and a refractive element disposed between the diffuser and the detector. 19. A missile system, comprising: an airframe; control mechanism for guiding the airframe; a control system for controlling the control mechanism; a strap down semi-active laser (SAL) seeker disposed on the airframe, the strap down SAL seeker including; an optical system having a narrow band optical filter for filtering incoming illumination; a diffuser for transforming incoming illumination in the form of a laser spot into a uniform distribution of optical energy having a square shape; an optical element that either diffracts or refracts the optical energy from the diffuser; and a detector, having a focal plane defined by at least two axes, operatively associated with the diffuser, for generating signals indicative of the position of the square shaped optical energy with respect to the axes of the focal plane; wherein the SAL seeker is responsive to a laser beam that is generated by a laser designator and is reflected from a target, in order to generate signals for the control system which generates the control signals to guide the missile to the target.