The present invention includes, in various aspects and embodiments, a method and apparatus for guiding a laser guided munition to an offset aim point relative to the laser spot. In one aspect, the laser guided munition comprises a propelled explosive ordnance; an optical sensor; means for indicating
The present invention includes, in various aspects and embodiments, a method and apparatus for guiding a laser guided munition to an offset aim point relative to the laser spot. In one aspect, the laser guided munition comprises a propelled explosive ordnance; an optical sensor; means for indicating an offset from a laser designation; and a flight control system. The flight control system is responsive to an output from the optical sensor to: home on the laser designation during the descent of an arcing trajectory for the propelled explosive ordnance; determine that the propelled explosive ordnance traversed a predetermined point in the descending trajectory; and upon traversing the predetermined point, guide the propelled explosive ordnance to the position defined by the offset indicator. In a second aspect, the laser guided munition is deployed as part of a system that also includes a laser designator. The laser designator includes: a laser capable of generating a laser signal; a lens though which a generated laser signal is transmitted; and a diffraction grating capable of diffracting the transmitted laser signal into a laser designation and an optical marker separated from the laser designation. In a third aspect, the invention includes a method for guiding a laser guided munition. The method, comprises: homing on a laser designation during the descent of an arcing trajectory for the laser guided munition; traversing a predetermined point in the descending trajectory; and upon traversing the predetermined point, guiding the laser guided munition to a position offset from the laser designation.
대표청구항▼
1. A method for offsetting an impact of a laser guided munition, comprising: homing on a laser designation during a descent of an arcing trajectory for a small arms explosive ordnance, including: detecting a return of the laser designation; andguiding the laser guided munition to center the laser de
1. A method for offsetting an impact of a laser guided munition, comprising: homing on a laser designation during a descent of an arcing trajectory for a small arms explosive ordnance, including: detecting a return of the laser designation; andguiding the laser guided munition to center the laser designation return on a detector;traversing a predetermined point in the descent of the arcing trajectory; andupon traversing the predetermined point, guiding the small arms explosive ordnance to a position offset from the laser designation. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein traversing the predetermined point includes: sensing ambient optical energy;detecting a marker of optical energy; anddetermining that the detected marker represents the predetermined point. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising programming the position offset from the laser designation into the laser guided munition. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing the descent of the arcing trajectory. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein sensing the descent includes sensing an orientation of the small arms explosive ordnance relative to gravity. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising laser designating a spot from which the position offset from the laser designation is measured. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein laser designating the spot includes generating an optical marker. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an optical marker. 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: detecting a passage of the small arms explosive ordnance through an optical marker;determining the azimuth of the optical marker relative to the small arms explosive ordnance; andcombining the optical marker azimuth with offset inputs to provide an offset aimpoint relative to the laser designation. 10. A laser guided munition, comprising: a propelled explosive ordnance;an optical sensor;means for indicating an offset from a laser designation; anda flight control system responsive to an output from the optical sensor to: home on the laser designation during a descent of an arcing trajectory for the propelled explosive ordnance;determine that the propelled explosive ordnance traversed a predetermined point in the descent of the arcing trajectory; andupon traversing the predetermined point, guide the propelled explosive ordnance to a position defined by the offset indicator. 11. The laser guided munition of claim 10, wherein the propelled explosive ordnance comprises: an explosive body;means for propelling the explosive body; anda plurality of control surfaces for controlling flight of the explosive body. 12. The laser guided munition of claim 11, wherein the explosive body is a grenade or a mortar. 13. The laser guided munition of claim 11, wherein the means for propelling the explosive body comprises a rocket squib. 14. The laser guided munition of claim 11, wherein the control surfaces comprise a plurality of stabilizer fins. 15. The laser guided munition of claim 10, wherein the optical sensor is a charge-coupled device. 16. The laser guided munition of claim 10, wherein the means for indicating the offset from the laser designation comprises a plurality of switches. 17. The laser guided munition of claim 10, wherein the flight control system comprises a field programmable gate array. 18. The laser guided munition of claim 10, further comprising means for sensing an orientation of the laser guided munition relative to gravity. 19. The laser guided munition of claim 18, wherein the means for sensing the orientation comprises a three-axis gyroscope. 20. A laser designator, comprising: a laser capable of transmitting a laser signal; anda diffraction grating capable of diffracting the transmitted laser signal to concurrently form a laser designation and an optical marker, the optical marker located at an altitude above an altitude of the laser designation. 21. The laser designator of claim 20, further comprising a lens through which the laser signal is transmitted and which protects the laser. 22. The laser designator of claim 20, further comprising means for expanding the laser signal. 23. The laser designator of claim 20, wherein the laser designation comprises a first laser beam configured to form a circular pattern, and the optical marker comprises a second laser beam configured to form a rectangular pattern. 24. The laser designator of claim 20, wherein the diffraction grating diffracts a majority of an energy of the laser signal to form the laser designation and diffracts a minority of the energy of the laser signal to form the optical marker. 25. The laser designator of claim 24, wherein the laser designation comprises eighty percent of the energy of the laser signal, and the optical marker comprises twenty percent of the energy of the laser signal. 26. A weapon system, comprising: a laser designator, including: a laser capable of generating a laser signal;a lens through which the generated laser signal is transmitted;a diffraction grating capable of diffracting the transmitted laser signal into a laser designation and an optical marker separated from the laser designation; anda laser guided munition, including: a propelled explosive ordnance;an optical sensor;means for indicating an offset from the laser designation; anda flight control system responsive to an output from the optical sensor to: home on the laser designation during a descent of an arcing trajectory for the propelled explosive ordnance;determine that the propelled explosive ordnance traversed a predetermined point in the descent of the arcing trajectory; andupon traversing the predetermined point, guide the propelled explosive ordnance to a position defined by the offset indicator. 27. A method for offsetting an impact of a laser guided munition, comprising: homing on a laser designation during a descent of an arcing trajectory for a small arms explosive ordnance;traversing a predetermined point in the descent of the arcing trajectory, including: sensing ambient optical energy;detecting a marker of optical energy; anddetermining that the detected marker represents the predetermined point; andupon traversing the predetermined point, guiding the small arms explosive ordnance to a position offset from the laser designation. 28. A method for offsetting an impact of a laser guided munition, comprising: sensing a descent of an arcing trajectory for a small arms explosive ordnance;sensing an orientation of the small arms explosive ordnance relative to gravity;homing on a laser designation during the descent of the arcing trajectory for the small arms explosive ordnance;traversing a predetermined point in the descent of the arcing trajectory; andupon traversing the predetermined point, guiding the small arms explosive ordnance to a position offset from the laser designation. 29. A method for offsetting an impact of a laser guided munition, comprising: laser designating a spot;homing on a laser designation of the spot during a descent of an arcing trajectory for a small arms explosive ordnance;traversing a predetermined point in the descent of the arcing trajectory; andupon traversing the predetermined point, guiding the small arms explosive ordnance to a position offset from the laser designation of the spot. 30. A method for offsetting an impact of a laser guided munition, comprising: generating an optical marker;homing on a laser designation during a descent of an arcing trajectory for a small arms explosive ordnance;traversing a predetermined point in the descent of the arcing trajectory; andupon traversing the predetermined point, guiding the small arms explosive ordnance to a position offset from the laser designation. 31. A method for offsetting an impact of a laser guided munition, comprising: homing on a laser spot during a descent of an arcing trajectory for a small arms explosive ordnance;traversing a predetermined point in the descent of the arcing trajectory for the small arms explosive ordnance by detecting a passage of the small arms explosive ordnance through an optical marker;determining an optical marker azimuth of the optical marker relative to the small arms explosive ordnance;combining the optical marker azimuth with offset inputs to provide an offset aimpoint relative to the laser spot; andguiding the small arms explosive ordnance to the offset aimpoint.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (7)
Jernigan James L. (Inyokern CA), Far field target designators.
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