Automatic command guidance system using optical trackers

Claim 2

In an optical automatic command missile guidance system having tactical target capabilities, the combination comprising: a. television tracking circuit means for simultaneously viewing a target and a missile launched against said target and providing separate output voltages proportional to the horizontal and vertical coordinates of both said target and said missile, respectively, b. servo means coupled to said television tracking circuit means for retaining the target and missile in the field of view of said television tracking circuit means, c. computer means coupled to said tracking circuit means and to said servo means for providing output voltages proportional to the relative positions of said missile and target, d. and transmitter means coupled to said computer means for transmitting control signals to said missile to correct the flight line of said missile toward intersection with said target.

Claim 3

In an automatic command missile guidance system having tactical target capabilities, the combination comprising: a. an optical imaging system means for generating first and second output signals representing a target and a missile respectively when said target and said missile are in the field of view of said imaging system, b. a target tracking circuit for providing output voltages proportional to the horizontal and vertical coordinates of said target, c. a missile tracking circuit for providing output voltages proportional to the horizontal and vertical coordinates of said missile, d. said imaging system connected to said target and said missile tracking circuits for feeding said first and second output signals to said target and missile tracking circuits respectively, e. computer means coupled to said target and missile tracking circuits for producing an output voltage proportional to the relative positions of said target and said missile, f. servo command means coupled to said imaging system and to said computer for driving said imaging system to retain the missile and target in the field of view of said imaging system, g. and transmitter means coupled to said computer for transmitting command guidance signals to said missile to guide said missile to said target.

Claim 4

In an automatic command missile guidance system having tactical target capabilities, the combination comprising: a. an optical imaging system means for generating first and second output signals representing a target and a missile respectively when said target and said missile are in the field of view of said imaging system, b. a target tracking circuit for providing output voltages proportional to the horizontal and vertical coordinates of said target, c. a missile tracking circuit for providing output voltages proportional to the horizontal and vertical coordinates of said missile, d. said imaging system connected to said target and said missile tracking circuits for feeding said first and second output signals to said target and missile tracking circuits respectively, e. computer means coupled to said target and missile tracking circuits for producing an output voltage proportional to the relative positions of said target and said missile, f. servo command means coupled to said imaging system and to said computer for driving said imaging system to retain the missile and target in the field of view of said imaging system, g. and transmitter means coupled to said computer for transmitting command guidance signals to said missile to guide said missile to said target.

Claim 5

In an automatic command missile guidance system having tactical target capabilities, the combination comprising: a. an optical imaging system means for viewing simultaneously a target and a missile launched against said target and which supplies electronic signals containing information regarding the position of said target and said missile with respect to axes of orientation of said optical imaging system means, b. a target tracking circuit for providing output voltages proportional to the horizontal and vertical coordinates of said target, c. a missile tracking circuit for providing output voltages proportional to the horizontal and vertical coordinates of said missile, d. said optical imaging system means connected to said target and said missile circuits for coupling the electronic signal outputs containing position information of said target and said missile from said imaging system to said target and missile tracking circuits, respectively, e. computer circuit means coupled to said target and said missile tracking circuits for generating relative position signals proportional to the relative positions of said target and said missile respectively, f. servo means coupled to said imaging system means and to said computer and being responsive to the output signals from said computer to rotate said imaging system to retain the missile and target in the field of view of said imaging system, g. and transmitter means coupled to said computer for transmitting control signals to said missile to correct the flight line of said missile toward intersection with said target.

Claim 6

In an automatic command missile guidance system having tactical target capabilities, the combination comprising: a. an optical imaging system means for viewing simultaneously a target and a missile launched against said target and which supplies electronic signals containing information regarding the position of said target and said missile with respect to axes of orientation of said optical imaging system means, b. a target tracking circuit for providing output voltages proportional to the horizontal and vertical coordinates of said target, c. a missile tracking circuit for providing output voltages proportional to the horizontal and vertical coordinates of said missile, d. said optical imaging system means connected to said target and said missile circuits for coupling the electronic signal outputs containing position information of said target and said missile from said imaging system to said target and missile tracking circuits, respectively, e. computer circuit means coupled to said target and said missile tracking circuits for generating relative position signals proportional to the relative positions of said target and said missile respectively, f. servo means coupled to said imaging system means and to said computer and being responsive to the output signals from said computer to rotate said imaging system to retain the missile and target in the field of view of said imaging system, g. and transmitter means coupled to said computer for transmitting control signals to said missile to correct the flight line of said missile toward intersection with said target.

Claim 7

A guidance system as in claim 3 wherein said optical imaging system means comprises at least one television camera scanned with a conventional television-type raster to supply video type electronic signals containing information regarding the position of said target and said missile.

Claim 8

A system as in claim 3 wherein light filter means is provided for filtering light entering said imaging system means and comprising at least two segments, one segment of which is transparent to light radiation other than light transmitted from said missile to allow video signals to be generated relating to target position information and the other segment of which is opaque to colors other than light radiation from said missile to allow video signals to be generated relating to missile position information.

Claim 9

A missile guidance system as in claim 3, wherein said optical imaging system means includes commutator switch means connected to said imaging system and to said target and said missile tracking circuits for alternately coupling the output signals of said imaging system to said target and missile tracking circuits respectively.

Claim 10

A missile guidance system as in claim 3 wherein said optical imaging system means comprises: a. a first imaging system for viewing said target, b. a second imaging system for viewing said missile launched against said target, c. said target tracking circuit coupled to said first imaging system for providing output voltages proportional to the horizontal and vertical coordinates of said target, d. said missile tracking circuit coupled to said second imaging system for providing output voltages proportional to the horizontal and vertical coordinates of said missile, e. said servo means comprising a first servo coupled to said first imaging system and to said target tracking circuit for rotating said first imaging system to retain the target on the center axis of the field of view of said imaging system, and a second servo coupled to said second imaging system and to said missile tracking circuit for rotating said second imaging system to retain the missile on the center axis of the field of view of said imaging system, f. said computer circuit means having inputs coupled to said target and missile tracking circuits.

Claim 11

A guidance system as in claim 3 wherein television-type video signal is derived as a result of scanning said optical image under control of a raster generator means to supply parallel-channel video signals relating to both target scene and to missile scene, respectively, using a multi-aperture image dissector.

Claim 12

A guidance system as in claim 3 wherein said transmitter means is an optical command transmission link using coded light pulses from a pulsed light transmitter, said pulsed light transmitter being gimballed to said imaging system means for keeping a narrow beam of light from said pulsed light transmitter directed toward said missile.