US3623045A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Internal gun tube ballistics laser telemeter
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1970-11-23
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Granted: 1971-11-23
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Expires: 1990-11-23
Abstract
Abstract A laser telemeter affixed in the interior of a projectile whereby performance data may be obtained from the projectile body or its safing, arming and fuzing components during the time of actual high imparted shock and acceleration while the projectile is in transit in the gun tube. A RF oscillator which generates the carrier frequency is coupled to modulator means which converts the output of the generator to current pulses whereby the injection diode is current pulsed above the lasing threshold resulting in a constant train of light pulses being emitted therefrom. The light pulses pass through an opening in the nose of the projectile and then down the gun tube to the exterior thereof. Transducers affixed to various areas or components of the projectile respond to the performance of said areas or components to produce electrical signals which are coupled to and frequency modulate related RF subcarrier oscillators. The frequency modulated outputs of the subcarrier oscillators are superimposed on the output of the carrier oscillator. Thus, the light pulses are subsequently frequency modulated providing data indicative of the performance of said areas or components. The modulated light pulses are detected and processed by receiver means which include a photomultiplier, upon which the modulated light pulse impinge, coupled to electronic demodulating circuits and recorders.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence A Ouellette
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:12
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41G; F41G3/00; F41G3/32; F41G3/14; F41G3/142; G; G01; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/02; G01S17/06; G01S17/08; G01S17/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
283 words
A semiconductor laser telemeter affixed in the interior of a projectile for obtaining data relating to the performance of the projectile and components while in transit in a gun tube comprising in combination: a hollow projectile provided with an aperture in the nose thereof, a semiconductor laser diode affixed in the projectile adjacent the aperture, means for generating a carrier signal for the telemeter, means coupling the semiconductor laser diode with the means for generating a carrier signal whereby the semiconductor laser diode is pulsed and emits light pulses at the frequency of the carrier signal, means for generating subcarrier frequencies, means affixed to selected parts of the projectile responsive to the performance of said parts to produce electrical signals which are coupled to and frequency modulate thE subcarrier frequency of respective means for generating subcarrier frequencies whereby the frequency deviations thus obtained are indicative of the performance of said parts, means coupling the frequency modulated outputs of the means for generating subcarrier frequencies to the means for generating a carrier signal, means for superimposing said frequency modulated outputs on said carrier signal providing a resultant output which is coupled through the means coupling the semiconductor laser diode with the means for generating a carrier signal whereby the light pulses of the semiconductor laser diode are modulated in accordance with the performance of said parts, optical means affixed in said projectile intermediate the aperture and semiconductor laser diode whereby the modulated light pulses comprising the laser beam are collimated and focused down the gun tube to the exterior thereof during transit of the projectile in said tube, receiver means external of the gun tube for receiving, demodulating and recording said modulated light pulses.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
283 words
A semiconductor laser telemeter affixed in the interior of a projectile for obtaining data relating to the performance of the projectile and components while in transit in a gun tube comprising in combination: a hollow projectile provided with an aperture in the nose thereof, a semiconductor laser diode affixed in the projectile adjacent the aperture, means for generating a carrier signal for the telemeter, means coupling the semiconductor laser diode with the means for generating a carrier signal whereby the semiconductor laser diode is pulsed and emits light pulses at the frequency of the carrier signal, means for generating subcarrier frequencies, means affixed to selected parts of the projectile responsive to the performance of said parts to produce electrical signals which are coupled to and frequency modulate thE subcarrier frequency of respective means for generating subcarrier frequencies whereby the frequency deviations thus obtained are indicative of the performance of said parts, means coupling the frequency modulated outputs of the means for generating subcarrier frequencies to the means for generating a carrier signal, means for superimposing said frequency modulated outputs on said carrier signal providing a resultant output which is coupled through the means coupling the semiconductor laser diode with the means for generating a carrier signal whereby the light pulses of the semiconductor laser diode are modulated in accordance with the performance of said parts, optical means affixed in said projectile intermediate the aperture and semiconductor laser diode whereby the modulated light pulses comprising the laser beam are collimated and focused down the gun tube to the exterior thereof during transit of the projectile in said tube, receiver means external of the gun tube for receiving, demodulating and recording said modulated light pulses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for generating a carrier signal is an RF sine wave oscillator provided with clipping means whereby the positive and negative peaks of the sine wave output thereof are clipped to 70.7 percent portion of the wave.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
107 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for coupling the semiconductor laser diode with the means for generating a carrier signal comprises a transistor modulator operated in the avalanche mode having its input coupled to the output of the means for generating a carrier signal and its output coupled to a transistor driver operated in the avalanche mode with the output thereof coupled to the semiconductor laser diode whereby the output of the means for generating a carrier signal is applied to said diode in the form of a positive pulse of a value in excess of the threshold forward bias of said diode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for generating subcarrier frequencies comprise a multiplicity of subcarrier RF oscillators, each said subcarrier oscillator operating on a different center frequency, and each said subcarrier oscillator coupled to respective means affixed to selected parts of the projectile, each said respective means comprising a transducer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein each said subcarrier oscillator is provided with a buffer amplifier having its input coupled to the output of said subcarrier oscillator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The invention in accordance with claim 5 wherein said means for coupling the frequency modulated outputs of the means for generating subcarrier frequencies to the means for generating a carrier signal comprises an adder and mixer amplifier coupled between the outputs of the buffer amplifiers and the input of the means for generating a carrier signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The invention disclosure in accordance with claim 5 wherein said means for superimposing said frequency modulated outputs on said carrier signal comprises a synchronizing circuit coupled across the means for generating a carrier signal whereby said frequency modulated outputs are superimposed on the clipped sine wave output of said means for generating a carrier signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
146 words
The invention in accordance with claim 7 wherein said receiver means comprises a photomultiplier tube positionable in the path of the modulated light pulses whereby said light pulses are converted to electrical signals, an amplifier coupled to said electrical signals for amplification thereof, a multivibrator sync-separator coupled across said amplifier whereby the sync-signals generated by said synchronizing circuit are removed from said electrical signals, filter and discriminator networks coupled between the output of said amplifier and the inputs of video amplifiers wherein the carrier signal as represented in said electrical signals is filtered out and each of said frequency modulated outputs as rePresented in said electrical signals is passed through respective networks filter networks thereof, and means coupling the outputs of said filter networks to respective channels of a multichannel recorder to provide data thereon from which the performance of the projectile and components is evaluated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-22 | 1975-05-24 | 1975-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-22 | 1979-05-24 | 1979-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-22 | 1983-05-24 | 1983-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |