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A communication interface for a laser-guided projectile is configured to use the SAL seeker on board the laser-guided projectile as a communication link. A communication device generates a pulsed optical beam that overlaps the detection band of the SAL seeker. The pulsed optical beam is encoded with

A communication interface for a laser-guided projectile is configured to use the SAL seeker on board the laser-guided projectile as a communication link. A communication device generates a pulsed optical beam that overlaps the detection band of the SAL seeker. The pulsed optical beam is encoded with data for the SAL seeker. Computer-readable program code is loaded into and executed by the seeker's signal processor to process the signals generated in response to the pulsed optical beam to extract the data for the SAL seeker. Data is typically coupled to the projectile pre-launch but may be coupled in flight to the target.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A weapons system including a laser-guided projectile, said guided projectile comprising a semi-active laser (SAL) seeker including receiver optics that capture and direct pulsed-laser electro magnetic radiation (EMR) scattered from a target to form a laser spot on a detector assembly, said assemb

1. A weapons system including a laser-guided projectile, said guided projectile comprising a semi-active laser (SAL) seeker including receiver optics that capture and direct pulsed-laser electro magnetic radiation (EMR) scattered from a target to form a laser spot on a detector assembly, said assembly comprising one or more detectors each producing a signal in response to the laser power incident thereon, a signal processor and a first portion of computer-readable program code loaded into signal processor memory and executed by the signal processor to process the one or more signals to output a designator code and one or more guidance signals indicative of the position of the laser spot on the one or more detectors and the bearing to target, wherein the improvement to the weapons system comprises: a communication device that generates a pulsed optical beam that overlaps the detection band of the one or more detectors, said pulsed optical beam encoded with data for the SAL seeker; anda second portion of computer-readable program code loaded into signal processor memory and executed by the signal processor to process the signals to extract the data for the SAL seeker. 2. The weapons system of claim 1, wherein said pulse-laser EMR is Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF) coded, said designator code corresponding to a particular PRF code, said communication device encoding the data on the pulsed optical beam using PRF coding, said second portion of computer-readable program code extracting the data from the PRF coded pulsed optical beam. 3. The weapons system of claim 1, wherein said one or more detectors detect EMR in an infrared (IR) detection band, said communication device comprises a pulsed IR laser. 4. The weapons system of claim 1, wherein said data comprises pre-launch data, said communication device configured to optically couple the pulsed optical beam to the SAL seeker prior to launch of the guided projectile. 5. The weapons system of claim 4, wherein said pulsed optical beam is encoded with a device code that identifies the communication device to the SAL seeker. 6. The weapons system of claim 4, wherein said data includes a range-to-target for the SAL seeker. 7. The weapons system of claim 4, wherein said data includes a guidance mode for the SAL seeker. 8. The weapons system of claim 4, wherein said data includes atmospheric conditions for the SAL seeker. 9. The weapons system of claim 4, wherein said data includes target location for the SAL seeker. 10. The weapons system of claim 4, wherein said data includes a fuze timing mode for the guided projectile. 11. The weapons system of claim 4, wherein said data includes a fuze detonation mode for the guided projectile. 12. The weapons system of claim 4, wherein said communication device comprises: a pulsed IR laser;one or more sensors for acquiring data;a data collection interface for acquiring data; anda data processor that processes the acquired data to encode the pulsed optical beam. 13. The weapons system of claim 4, wherein the guided projectile is fired out of a tube, said communication device comprising a coupling mechanism that mechanically couples the communication device to the end of the tube to direct the pulsed optical beam through the receiver optics onto the detector assembly. 14. The weapons system of claim 1, wherein the second portion of computer-readable program code is an upgrade to the first portion of computer-readable program code resident in an existing SAL seeker. 15. A weapons system for use with a laser designator that designates a target with a Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF) coded pulsed IR laser beam, comprising: a communication device that generates a PRF code for pre-launch data for a semi-active laser (SAL) seeker and modulates a pulsed IR laser beam with said PRF code; anda guided projectile, said projectile seeker comprising a SAL seeker including, receiver optics that capture and direct electro magnetic radiation (EMR) scattered from the target to form a laser spota detector assembly, said assembly comprising one or more detectors each producing a signal in response to the laser power in a portion of the laser spot incident thereon,a signal processor;a first portion of computer-readable program code executed by the signal processor to process the one or more signals produced in response to the laser designator to output a designator code and one or more guidance signals indicative of the position of the laser spot on the one or more detectors;a second portion of computer-readable program code executed by the signal processor to process the signals produced in response to the communication device to extract the pre-launch data for the SAL seeker; anda flight computer that processes the pre-launch data and processes the guidance signals to determine a bearing to target and to issue control signals to aerodynamic control surfaces on the projectile. 16. The weapons system of claim 15, wherein the communication device generates and modulates the beam with a PRF device code that identifies the communication device to the SAL seeker, said data comprising at least a range-to-target. 17. The weapons systems of claim 15, further comprising: a launch tube for firing the guided projectile;said communication device comprising a coupling mechanism that mechanically couples the communication device to the end of the tube to direct the pulsed IR beam through the receiver optics onto the detector assembly. 18. The weapons systems of claim 15, wherein the second portion of computer-readable program code is an upgrade to the first portion of computer-readable program code resident in an existing SAL seeker. 19. A method of communicating pre-launch data to a laser-guided projectile, said projectile comprising a semi-active laser (SAL) seeker including receiver optics that capture and direct pulsed IR laser electro magnetic radiation (EMR) scattered from a target to form a laser spot on a detector assembly, said assembly comprising one or more detectors each producing a signal in response to the laser power incident thereon, a signal processor and a first portion of computer-readable program code executed by the signal processor to process the one or more signals to output a designator code and one or more guidance signals indicative of the position of the laser spot on the one or more detectors and a flight computer the verifies the designator code and processes the one or more guidance signals to determine a bearing to target and to control aerodynamic control surfaces on the projectile, said method comprising: directing from a communication device a pulsed IR laser beam onto the SAL seeker's receiver optics and detector assembly, said beam encoded with pre-launch data for the SAL seeker; andproviding a second portion of computer-readable program code executed by the signal processor to process the signals produced in response to the communication device to extract the pre-launch data for the SAL seeker. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said pulsed IR laser EMF is Frequency (PRF) coded, said designator code corresponding to a particular PRF code, said communication device encoding the data on the pulsed optical beam using PRF coding, said second portion of computer-readable program code extracting the data from the PRF coded pulsed optical beam. 21. The method of claim 19, wherein during pre-launch the beam is encoded with a device code that identifies the communication device to the SAL seeker and pre-launch data comprising a range-to-target. 22. The method of claim 19, wherein the guided projectile is launched from a tube, further comprising: mechanically coupling the communication device to the end of the tube to direct the pulsed IR beam through the receiver optics onto the detector assembly. 23. The method of claim 19, wherein providing the second portion of computer-readable program code comprises upgrading the first portion of computer-readable program code resident in an existing SAL seeker. 24. A weapons system including a laser-guided projectile, said guided projectile comprising a semi-active laser (SAL) seeker that detects electro magnetic radiation (EMR) scattered from a target to extract a designator code and a bearing to target, wherein the improvement to the weapons system comprises: a communication device that generates a pulsed optical beam that overlaps the detection band of the SAL seeker, said pulsed optical beam encoded with data for the SAL seeker; andcomputer-readable program code loaded into and executed by the SAL seeker to extract the data from the EMR responsive to the pulsed optical beam.