Controlled range proximity fuze

Claim 2

A fuze for a projectile, comprising: a counter including an input terminal, first output terminal for providing a first output signal at a first count, and a final output terminal for providing a final output signal at a final counT greater than said first count; a circuit for receiving pulses from an outside source, including a receiving antenna, an r.f. detector having an input terminal coupled to said receiving antenna and an output terminal coupled to said counter input terminal for providing pulses thereto; a local oscillator circuit having an output terminal coupled to said receiving circuit for providing a pulse thereto precluding the subsequent provision of pulses from said receiving circuit to said counter input terminal and also coupled to said counter input terminal for providing pulses thereto; a proximity circuit, including: a transmitting antenna, a transmitting oscillator having an output terminal coupled to said transmitting antenna for providing energy thereto, and an input terminal coupled to said counter first terminal for enabling the provision of energy by said transmitting oscillator to said transmitting antenna at and subsequent to said first count, and means for detecting the presence of a target in the near field of said transmitting antenna when said antenna is energized by said transmitting oscillator and having an output terminal for providing a signal in response to such detection; and an output function circuit, including a first input terminal coupled to said counter final output terminal for providing an output function at the final count, and a second input terminal coupled to said proximity detecting means output terminal for providing an output function in response to the detection of the presence of a target in the near field of said transmitting antenna.

Claim 3

A fuze according to claim 1, wherein said counter further includes a second output terminal for providing a second output signal at a second count, which second count is greater than said first count and smaller than said final count; and said proximity circuit further includes latchable means, for inhibiting the functioning of said proximity circuit, having an input terminal coupled to said counter second output terminal, thereby precluding the provision of a signal in response to the presence of a target in the near field of said transmitting antenna at and subsequent to said second count.

Claim 4

A dual alternative function fuze, for proximity or controlled range detonation, comprising: a counter including an input terminal, a first output terminal for providing a first output signal at a first count, a second output terminal for providing a second output signal at a second count, which second count is greater than said first count, and a final output terminal for providing a final output signal at a final count, which final count is greater than said second count; a circuit for receiving pulses from an outside source, including a receiving antenna an r.f. detector having an input terminal coupled to said receiving antenna and an output terminal coupled to said counter input terminal for providing pulses thereto; first latchable means, normally disabled, for inhibiting the functioning of said receiving circuit, having an input terminal, a local oscillator circuit having an output terminal coupled to said first latchable means for providing a pulse thereto for precluding the subsequent provision of pulses from said receiving circuit to said counter input terminal, and also coupled to said counter input terminal for providing pulses thereto; a proximity circuit, including a transmitting antenna, a delay means, a transmitting oscillator having an output terminal coupled to said transmitting antenna for providing energy thereto, and an input terminal coupled via said delay means to said counter first terminal for enabling the provision of energy by said transmitting oscillator to said transmitting antenna at a fixed time subsequent to said first count, means for detecting the presence of a target in the near field of said transmitting antenna when said antenna is eNergized by said transmitting oscillator, and having an output terminal for providing a signal in response to such detection, and latchable means for inhibiting the functioning of said proximity circuit, having an input terminal coupled to said counter second output terminal for precluding the provision of a signal in response to the presence of a target in the near field of said transmitting antenna at and subsequent to said second count; an output function circuit, including a first input terminal coupled to said counter final output terminal for providing an output function at the final count, and a second input terminal coupled to said proximity detecting means output terminal for providing an output function in response to the detection of the presence of a target in the near field of said transmitting antenna; whereby if said pulses provided by said r.f. detector run the count in said counter up to or beyond said second count before said first count signal, as delayed said fixed time, enables said transmitting oscillator, said fuze will omit any proximity function, and output function will be provided by said final count signal; but, if said pulses provided by said r.f. detector run the count not up to said second count before said first count signal, as delayed said fixed time, enables said transmitting oscillator, then said fuze will provide a proximity function, and output function will be provided by the first to occur of target detection and signal and final count signal.

Claim 5

A dual alternative function fuze, for proximity or controlled range detonation, comprising: a counter including an input terminal, a first output terminal for providing a first output signal at a first count, a second output terminal for providing a second output signal at a second count, which second count is greater than said first count, and a final output terminal for providing a final output signal at a final count, which final count is greater than said second count; a circuit for receiving pulses from an outside source, including a receiving antenna an r.f. detector having an input terminal coupled to said receiving antenna and an output terminal coupled to said counter input terminal for providing pulses thereto; first latchable means, normally disabled, for inhibiting the functioning of said receiving circuit, having an input terminal, a local oscillator circuit having an output terminal coupled to said first latchable means for providing a pulse thereto for precluding the subsequent provision of pulses from said receiving circuit to said counter input terminal, and also coupled to said counter input terminal for providing pulses thereto; a proximity circuit, including a transmitting antenna, a delay means, a transmitting oscillator having an output terminal coupled to said transmitting antenna for providing energy thereto, and an input terminal coupled via said delay means to said counter first terminal for enabling the provision of energy by said transmitting oscillator to said transmitting antenna at a fixed time subsequent to said first count, means for detecting the presence of a target in the near field of said transmitting antenna when said antenna is eNergized by said transmitting oscillator, and having an output terminal for providing a signal in response to such detection, and latchable means for inhibiting the functioning of said proximity circuit, having an input terminal coupled to said counter second output terminal for precluding the provision of a signal in response to the presence of a target in the near field of said transmitting antenna at and subsequent to said second count; an output function circuit, including a first input terminal coupled to said counter final output terminal for providing an output function at the final count, and a second input terminal coupled to said proximity detecting means output terminal for providing an output function in response to the detection of the presence of a target in the near field of said transmitting antenna; whereby if said pulses provided by said r.f. detector run the count in said counter up to or beyond said second count before said first count signal, as delayed said fixed time, enables said transmitting oscillator, said fuze will omit any proximity function, and output function will be provided by said final count signal; but, if said pulses provided by said r.f. detector run the count not up to said second count before said first count signal, as delayed said fixed time, enables said transmitting oscillator, then said fuze will provide a proximity function, and output function will be provided by the first to occur of target detection and signal and final count signal.

Claim 6

A weapons system comprising: an r.f. pulse transmitter having a transmitting antenna; and a projectile having a dual, alternative function fuze, for proximity or controlled range detonation, comprising: a counter including an input terminal, a first output terminal for providing a first output signal at a first count, a second output terminal for providing a second output signal at a second count, which second count is greater than said first count, and a final output terminal for providing a final output signal at a final count, which final count is greater than said second count; a circuit for receiving pulses from an outside source, including a receiving antenna, an r.f. detector having an output terminal coupled to said receiving antenna and an output terminal coupled to said counter input terminal for providing pulses thereto; first latchable means, normally disabled for inhibiting the functioning of said receiving circuit, having an input terminal, a local oscillator circuit having an output terminal coupled to said first latchable means for providing a pulse thereto for precluding the subsequent provision of pulses from said receiving circuit to said counter input terminal, and also coupled to said counter input terminal for providing pulses thereto; a proximity circuit, including a transmitting antenna, a delay means, a transmitting oscillator having an output terminal coupled to said transmitting antenna for providing energy thereto, and an input terminal coupled via said delay means to said counter first terminal for enabling the provision of energy by said transmitting oscillator to said transmitter antenna at a fixed time subsequent to said first count, means for detecting the presence of a target in the near field of said transmitting antenna when said antenna is energized by said transmitting oscillator, and having an output terminal for providing a signal in response to such detection, and latchable means for inhibiting the functioning of said proximity circuit, having an input terminal coupled to said counter second output terminal for precluding the provision of a signal in response to the presence of a target in the near field of said transmitting antenna at and subsequent to said second count; an output function circuit, including a first input terminal coupled to said counter final output terminal for providing an output function at the final count, and a second input terminal coupled to said proximity detecting means output terminal for providing an output function in response to the detection of the presence of a target in the near field of said transmitting antenna; whereby if said pulses provided by said r.f. detector run the count in said counter up to or beyond said second count before said first count signal, as delayed said fixed time, enables said transmitting oscillator, said fuze will omit any proximity function, and output function will be provided by said final count signal; but, if said pulses provided by said r.f. detector run the count not up to said second count before said first count signal, as delayed said fixed time, enables said transmitting oscillator, then said fuze will provide a proximity function, and output function will be provided by the first to occur of target detection and signal and final count signal.

Claim 7

A weapons system comprising: an r.f. pulse transmitter having a transmitting antenna; and a projectile having a dual, alternative function fuze, for proximity or controlled range detonation, comprising: a counter including an input terminal, a first output terminal for providing a first output signal at a first count, a second output terminal for providing a second output signal at a second count, which second count is greater than said first count, and a final output terminal for providing a final output signal at a final count, which final count is greater than said second count; a circuit for receiving pulses from an outside source, including a receiving antenna, an r.f. detector having an output terminal coupled to said receiving antenna and an output terminal coupled to said counter input terminal for providing pulses thereto; first latchable means, normally disabled for inhibiting the functioning of said receiving circuit, having an input terminal, a local oscillator circuit having an output terminal coupled to said first latchable means for providing a pulse thereto for precluding the subsequent provision of pulses from said receiving circuit to said counter input terminal, and also coupled to said counter input terminal for providing pulses thereto; a proximity circuit, including a transmitting antenna, a delay means, a transmitting oscillator having an output terminal coupled to said transmitting antenna for providing energy thereto, and an input terminal coupled via said delay means to said counter first terminal for enabling the provision of energy by said transmitting oscillator to said transmitter antenna at a fixed time subsequent to said first count, means for detecting the presence of a target in the near field of said transmitting antenna when said antenna is energized by said transmitting oscillator, and having an output terminal for providing a signal in response to such detection, and latchable means for inhibiting the functioning of said proximity circuit, having an input terminal coupled to said counter second output terminal for precluding the provision of a signal in response to the presence of a target in the near field of said transmitting antenna at and subsequent to said second count; an output function circuit, including a first input terminal coupled to said counter final output terminal for providing an output function at the final count, and a second input terminal coupled to said proximity detecting means output terminal for providing an output function in response to the detection of the presence of a target in the near field of said transmitting antenna; whereby if said pulses provided by said r.f. detector run the count in said counter up to or beyond said second count before said first count signal, as delayed said fixed time, enables said transmitting oscillator, said fuze will omit any proximity function, and output function will be provided by said final count signal; but, if said pulses provided by said r.f. detector run the count not up to said second count before said first count signal, as delayed said fixed time, enables said transmitting oscillator, then said fuze will provide a proximity function, and output function will be provided by the first to occur of target detection and signal and final count signal.

Claim 8

A fuze for a projectile, comprising: a counter including an input terminal, first output terminal for providing a first output signal at a first count, and a final output terminal for providing a final output signal at a final count greater than said first count; a circuit for receiving pulses from an outside source, including a receiving antenna, a r.f. detector having an input terminal coupled to said receiving antenna and an output terminal coupled to said counter input terminal for providing pulses thereto; a local oscillator circuit having an output terminal coupled to said receiving circuit for providing a pulse thereto precluding the subsequent provision of pulses from said receiving circuit to said counter input terminal and also coupled to said counter input terminal for providing pulses thereto; an output function circuit, including a first input terminal coupled to said counter final output terminal for providing an output function at the final count.

Claim 9

A fuze for a projectile, comprising: a counter including an input terminal, first output terminal for providing a first output signal at a first count, and a final output terminal for providing a final output signal at a final count greater than said first count; a circuit for receiving pulses from an outside source, including a receiving antenna, a r.f. detector having an input terminal coupled to said receiving antenna and an output terminal coupled to said counter input terminal for providing pulses thereto; a local oscillator circuit having an output terminal coupled to said receiving circuit for providing a pulse thereto precluding the subsequent provision of pulses from said receiving circuit to said counter input terminal and also coupled to said counter input terminal for providing pulses thereto; an output function circuit, including a first input terminal coupled to said counter final output terminal for providing an output function at the final count.