US3733604A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aircraft guidance system
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1957-09-11
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Granted: 1973-05-15
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Expires: 1977-09-11
Abstract
Abstract 6. In an aircraft guidance system in which a guided aircraft is launched and thereafter guided by pulses of radio frequency energy transmitted from a pulse Doppler radar system, the combination of a directional antenna for said pulse Doppler system, means for driving said antenna through a search pattern, means in said pulse Doppler system for tracking a target in range, means in said pulse Doppler system for tracking a target in velocity, a guided aircraft, having a rearward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving energy transmitted directly from the antenna of said pulse Doppler radar after the guided aircraft is launched and traveling along the beam of energy transmitted by the pulse Doppler antenna, a forward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving transmitted energy from said pulse Doppler radar which is reflected from said target means in said guided aircraft for deriving an output proportional to the difference in frequencies received by the two antennas on said guided aircraft, a velocity tracking circuit in said aircraft responsive to the output of said deriving means, means responsive to the output of said tracking circuit for varying the angular position of said forward-looking antenna, means connecting the antenna driving means of said pulse Doppler radar to the means for varying the angular position of said guided aircraft forward-looking antenna prior to launch, means connecting the velocity tracking means of said pulse Doppler radar to the velocity tracking means in said guided aircraft prior to launch, and means for increasing the illuminating power of said pulse Doppler radar when the range of said target falls below a predetermined value.
Inventors
- 👤 H Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:36
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41G; F41G7/00; F41G7/20; F41G7/22; F41G7/226; F41G7/2266; F41G7/2273; F41G7/2286; G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
In an aircraft guidance system, pulse Doppler radar apparatus for tracking a distant object in range, angle and velocity, a guided aircraft, a rearward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving energy transmitted directly from said pulse Doppler radar apparatus, a forward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving reflected energy from said distant object, means in said guided aircraft for deriving an output proportional to the difference in frequencies received by said two antennas, a velocity tracking circuit responsive to said output, means responsive to the output of said velocity tracking circuit for varying the angular position of said forward-looking antenna, and means for changing the duty cycle of said pulse Doppler radar when the range of said distant object falls below a predetermined value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
In an aircraft guidance system, pulse Doppler radar apparatus for tracking a distant object in range, angle and velocity, a guided aircraft, a rearward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving energy transmitted directly from said pulse Doppler radar apparatus, a forward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving reflected energy from said distant object, means in said guided aircraft for deriving an output proportional to the difference in frequencies received by said two antennas, a velocity tracking circuit responsive to said output, means responsive to the output of said velocity tracking circuit for varying the angular position of said forward-looking antenna, and means for changing the duty cycle of said pulse Doppler radar when the range of said distant object falls below a predetermined value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
126 words
In an aircraft guidance system, pulse Doppler radar apparatus for tracking a distant object in range, angle and velocity, a guided aircraft, a rearward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving energy transmitted directly from said pulse Doppler radar apparatus, a forward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving reflected energy from said distant object, means in said guided aircraft for deriving an output proportional to the difference in frequencies received by said two antennas, a velocity tracking circuit responsive to said output, means responsive to the output of said velocity tracking circuit for varying the angular position of said forward-looking antenna, and means for changing the duty cycle of said pulse Doppler radar when the range of said distant object falls below a predetermined value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
126 words
In an aircraft guidance system, pulse Doppler radar apparatus for tracking a distant object in range, angle and velocity, a guided aircraft, a rearward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving energy transmitted directly from said pulse Doppler radar apparatus, a forward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving reflected energy from said distant object, means in said guided aircraft for deriving an output proportional to the difference in frequencies received by said two antennas, a velocity tracking circuit responsive to said output, means responsive to the output of said velocity tracking circuit for varying the angular position of said forward-looking antenna, and means for changing the duty cycle of said pulse Doppler radar when the range of said distant object falls below a predetermined value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
99 words
In an aircraft guidance system, pulse Doppler radar apparatus for tracking a distant object in range, angle, and velocity, a guided aircraft, a rearward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving energy transmitted directly from said pulse Doppler radar apparatus, a forward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving reflected energy from said distant object, means in said guided aircraft for deriving an output proportional to the difference in frequencies received by said two antennas, and means for changing the duty cycle of said pulse Doppler radar when the range of said distant object falls below a predetermined value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
99 words
In an aircraft guidance system, pulse Doppler radar apparatus for tracking a distant object in range, angle, and velocity, a guided aircraft, a rearward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving energy transmitted directly from said pulse Doppler radar apparatus, a forward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving reflected energy from said distant object, means in said guided aircraft for deriving an output proportional to the difference in frequencies received by said two antennas, and means for changing the duty cycle of said pulse Doppler radar when the range of said distant object falls below a predetermined value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
In an aircraft guidance system, pulse Doppler radar apparatus for tracking a distant object in range, angle and velocity, a guided aircraft, energy receiving means on said guided aircraft including means to compare the frequency of energy originally transmitted from said pulse Doppler radar with the frequency of energy reflected from said distant object and to derive an output proportional to the difference between said frequencies, and means in said pulse Doppler radar for increasing the transmitted power radiated thereby when the range of said distant object falls below a predetermined value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
In an aircraft guidance system, pulse Doppler radar apparatus for tracking a distant object in range, angle and velocity, a guided aircraft, energy receiving means on said guided aircraft including means to compare the frequency of energy originally transmitted from said pulse Doppler radar with the frequency of energy reflected from said distant object and to derive an output proportional to the difference between said frequencies, and means in said pulse Doppler radar for increasing the transmitted power radiated thereby when the range of said distant object falls below a predetermined value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
186 words
In an aircraft guidance system, pulse Doppler radar apparatus employing multiple values of the pulse repetition frequency to track a distant object in range, angle, and velocity, a guided aircraft, a rearward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving energy transmitted directly from said pulse Doppler radar after the guided aircraft is launched and traveling along the beam of energy transmitted by the pulse Doppler radar, a forward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving transmitted energy from said pulse Doppler radar which is reflected from said distant object, means in said guided aircraft for deriving an output proportional to the difference in frequencies received by said two antennas, a velocity tracking circuit in said aircraft responsive to the output of said deriving means, means responsive to the output of said tracking circuit for varying the angular position of said forward-looking antenna, means connecting said deriving means in said guided aircraft to said pulse Doppler radar for range gating the deriving means, and means for increasing the illuminating power of said pulse Doppler radar when the range of said distant object falls below a predetermined value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
186 words
In an aircraft guidance system, pulse Doppler radar apparatus employing multiple values of the pulse repetition frequency to track a distant object in range, angle, and velocity, a guided aircraft, a rearward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving energy transmitted directly from said pulse Doppler radar after the guided aircraft is launched and traveling along the beam of energy transmitted by the pulse Doppler radar, a forward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving transmitted energy from said pulse Doppler radar which is reflected from said distant object, means in said guided aircraft for deriving an output proportional to the difference in frequencies received by said two antennas, a velocity tracking circuit in said aircraft responsive to the output of said deriving means, means responsive to the output of said tracking circuit for varying the angular position of said forward-looking antenna, means connecting said deriving means in said guided aircraft to said pulse Doppler radar for range gating the deriving means, and means for increasing the illuminating power of said pulse Doppler radar when the range of said distant object falls below a predetermined value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
267 words
In an aircraft guidance system in which a guided aircraft is launched and thereafter guided by pulses of radio frequency energy transmitted from a pulse Doppler radar system, the combination of a directional antenna for said pulse Doppler system, means for driving said antenna through a search pattern, means in said pulse Doppler system for tracking a target in velocity, means in the pulse Doppler system for tracking a target in range, a guided aircraft, a rearward-looking antenna on the guided aircraft for receiving energy transmitted directly froM the antenna of said pulse Doppler radar after the guided aircraft is launched and traveling along the beam of energy transmitted by the pulse Doppler antenna, a forward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving transmitted energy from said pulse Doppler radar which is reflected from said target, means in said guided aircraft for deriving an output proportional to the difference in frequencies received by the two antennas on said guided aircraft, a velocity tracking circuit in said aircraft responsive to the output of said deriving means, means responsive to the output of said tracking circuit for varying the angular position of said forward-looking antenna, means connecting the antenna driving means of said pulse Doppler radar to the means for varying the angular position of said guided aircraft forward-looking antenna prior to launch, means connecting the velocity tracking means of said pulse Doppler radar to the velocity tracking circuit in said guided aircraft prior to launch, and means connecting the range track means of the pulse Doppler radar to the deriving means of said guided aircraft prior to launch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
267 words
In an aircraft guidance system in which a guided aircraft is launched and thereafter guided by pulses of radio frequency energy transmitted from a pulse Doppler radar system, the combination of a directional antenna for said pulse Doppler system, means for driving said antenna through a search pattern, means in said pulse Doppler system for tracking a target in velocity, means in the pulse Doppler system for tracking a target in range, a guided aircraft, a rearward-looking antenna on the guided aircraft for receiving energy transmitted directly froM the antenna of said pulse Doppler radar after the guided aircraft is launched and traveling along the beam of energy transmitted by the pulse Doppler antenna, a forward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving transmitted energy from said pulse Doppler radar which is reflected from said target, means in said guided aircraft for deriving an output proportional to the difference in frequencies received by the two antennas on said guided aircraft, a velocity tracking circuit in said aircraft responsive to the output of said deriving means, means responsive to the output of said tracking circuit for varying the angular position of said forward-looking antenna, means connecting the antenna driving means of said pulse Doppler radar to the means for varying the angular position of said guided aircraft forward-looking antenna prior to launch, means connecting the velocity tracking means of said pulse Doppler radar to the velocity tracking circuit in said guided aircraft prior to launch, and means connecting the range track means of the pulse Doppler radar to the deriving means of said guided aircraft prior to launch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
148 words
In an aircraft guidance system, pulse Doppler radar apparatus including means for tracking a target in velocity, a directional antenna for said pulse Doppler radar apparatus, means for driving said antenna through a search pattern, a guided aircraft adapted for launching from a point adjacent said pulse Doppler apparatus, a directional antenna or said guided aircraft for receiving reflected energy transmitted from said pulse Doppler radar apparatus, a velocity tracking circuit in said guided aircraft, means for driving the antenna of said guided aircraft through a search pattern, means effective prior to launching said aircraft for slaving the means for driving the antenna of said aircraft to the means for driving the antenna of said pulse Doppler radar, and further means effective prior to launching said aircraft for slaving the means for velocity tracking in said pulse Doppler radar to the velocity tracking circuit in said guided aircraft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
148 words
In an aircraft guidance system, pulse Doppler radar apparatus including means for tracking a target in velocity, a directional antenna for said pulse Doppler radar apparatus, means for driving said antenna through a search pattern, a guided aircraft adapted for launching from a point adjacent said pulse Doppler apparatus, a directional antenna or said guided aircraft for receiving reflected energy transmitted from said pulse Doppler radar apparatus, a velocity tracking circuit in said guided aircraft, means for driving the antenna of said guided aircraft through a search pattern, means effective prior to launching said aircraft for slaving the means for driving the antenna of said aircraft to the means for driving the antenna of said pulse Doppler radar, and further means effective prior to launching said aircraft for slaving the means for velocity tracking in said pulse Doppler radar to the velocity tracking circuit in said guided aircraft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
105 words
In an aircraft guidance system, pulse Doppler radar apparatus for locating a distant object in range, angle and velocity, a guided aircraft adapted for launching from a point adjacent said pulse Doppler apparatus, a forward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving reflected energy transmitted by said pulse Doppler radar apparatus, means for increasing the duty cycle of said pulse Doppler radar apparatus after a distant object is located in range, angle and velocity, a velocity tracking circuit in said guided aircraft, and means responsive to a predetermined range output of said pulse Doppler radar apparatus for providing a signal for launching said guided aircraft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
105 words
In an aircraft guidance system, pulse Doppler radar apparatus for locating a distant object in range, angle and velocity, a guided aircraft adapted for launching from a point adjacent said pulse Doppler apparatus, a forward-looking antenna on said guided aircraft for receiving reflected energy transmitted by said pulse Doppler radar apparatus, means for increasing the duty cycle of said pulse Doppler radar apparatus after a distant object is located in range, angle and velocity, a velocity tracking circuit in said guided aircraft, and means responsive to a predetermined range output of said pulse Doppler radar apparatus for providing a signal for launching said guided aircraft.
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) | 1976-05-14 | 1976-11-13 | 1977-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-14 | 1980-11-13 | 1981-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-14 | 1984-11-13 | 1985-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |