Optical fusing arrangement

Claim 2

In fusing apparatus for ordnance carried by a missile having a cylindrical body, such apparatus being responsive to optical energy from an airborne target, the improvement comprising: a. a plurality of identical windows for optical energy disposed at intervals about the cylindrical body of the missile; b. a like plurality of reflecting wedges disposed between the windows, the apex of each one of such wedges lying on a circle within the cylindrical body of the missile and the bases of such wedges being affixed to the cylindrical body of the missile intermediate the windows, the slant height of each one of the reflecting wedges being such that one-half of the optical energy from a virtual source at the center of the cylindrical body passes directly through the windows and the remaining half of such optical energy is reflected once from the reflecting wedges before passing through the windows.

Claim 3

The improvement as in claim 1 having, additionally: a. a first conical mirror disposed within the cylindrical body of the missile to direct optical energy originating at any point within a hollow conical detection field outside the missile and passing through the windows in paths generally parallel to the longitudinaL axis of the missile; b. a tapered reflecting element disposed along the longitudinal axis of the missile and coaxially with the first conical mirror; and c. a photodetector across the tapered reflecting element to produce electrical signals representative of the optical energy within such element.

Claim 4

The improvement as in claim 2 having, additionally: an optical filter disposed across the tapered reflective element between the first conical mirror and the photodetector.

Claim 5

The improvement as in claim 2 having, additionally: a. a laser transmitter for producing pulses of collimated optical energy along the longitudinal axis of the missile; b. a second conical mirror disposed within the cylindrical body of the missile along the longitudinal axis of the missile; and c. a septum extending through the body of the missile to divide the windows and the reflecting wedges into two portions, the bases of the first and the second conical mirrors being affixed to opposite sides of such septum.

Claim 6

In fusing apparatus for ordnance carried by a missile, such apparatus including a photodetector responsive to optical energy from a target within a hollow conical detection field to produce electrical signals representative of such target and responsive to optical energy from sources other than a target to produce noise-like electrical signals, improved signal processing means comprising: a. a threshold detector, responsive to the level of electrical signals out of the photodetector, for producing rectified signals corresponding to electrical signals above the mean level of noise-like electrical signals; b. gating means, operable periodically, to pass a portion of the rectified signals out of the threshold detector; c. storage means, responsive to the rectified electrical signals passed through the gating means, for producing a composite signal during a plurality of periods of operation of the gating means; and d. decoding means, responsive to the composite signal in the storage means, for producing a signal indicative of the composite signal.

Claim 7

In fusing apparatus for ordnance carried by a missile, such apparatus including a photodetector responsive to optical energy from a target within a hollow conical detection field to produce electrical signals representative of such target and responsive to optical energy from sources other than a target to produce noise-like electrical signals, improved signal processing means comprising: a. a threshold detector, responsive to the level of electrical signals out of the photodetector, for producing rectified signals corresponding to electrical signals above the mean level of noise-like electrical signals; b. gating means, operable periodically, to pass a portion of the rectified signals out of the threshold detector; c. storage means, responsive to the rectified electrical signals passed through the gating means, for producing a composite signal during a plurality of periods of operation of the gating means; and d. decoding means, responsive to the composite signal in the storage means, for producing a signal indicative of the composite signal.

Claim 8

Improved signal processing means as in claim 5 having, additionally: a. peak detection means, responsive to electrical signals out of the photodetector during a number of successive intervals of time, for producing DC signals, each indicative of the peak value of the electrical signals out of the photodetector during a single one of such intervals; b. encoding means, responsive to each one of the peak detection means for producing a coded signal indicative of the change in amplitude in the peak value of the electrical signals out of the photodetector between successive intervals; and c. decoding means, responsive to the coded signal, for producing either one of a first and a second control signal for the storage means, the first control signal enabling operation of the storage means and the second control signal clearing the storage means.