US4020739A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fire control system
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1976-07-16
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Granted: 1977-05-03
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Expires: 1996-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A fire control system for aiming a cantilevered adjustably mounted gun indes a flat muzzle mirror fixed to the muzzle of the gun. A light source, disposed within a gunner's periscope, directs a beam of light onto a movable mirror, in the periscope, which reflects the beam normal to the muzzle mirror only in the absence of gun to periscope positioning errors for all positions of the gun. The reflected beam from the muzzle mirror impinges on a charge coupled detector matrix array; and, depending upon the portion of the array impinged upon, provides compensatory azimuth and elevational error signals which are algebraically added to azimuth and elevational range signals produced by a ballistic computer in response to a range finder sighted on a target. The compensated azimuth and elevational signals are employed to position a movable reticle correctly in the periscope to enable the gunner to aim the gun accurately, whereby to increase the first round hit probability.
Inventors
- 👤 Casimir F. Piotrowski
- 👤 Wright H. Scidmore
- 👤 Robert P. O'Shaughnessy
- 👤 Nicholas P. Marasco
- 👤 Louis R. Cerrato
- 👤 Clarence C. Haines, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:21
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41G; F41G3/00; F41G3/32; F41G3/06; F41G3/323
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
266 words
In a fire control system of the type utilizing a periscope for aiming a cantilevered adjustably mounted gun, and having means to move a movable (rotatable) mirror in said periscope cooperatively with said gun, said system including a range finder cooperatively associated with a ballistic computer for supplying lateral (azimuth) and elevational range signals responsive to said range finder for a predetermined target, and means responsive to said range signals to adjust an adjustable reticle in said periscope for aiming said gun at said target, the improvement comprising a flat muzzle mirror fixed to a muzzle of said gun, a light source disposed to direct a beam of light in a path onto said movable mirror, said beam to be reflected from said movable mirror and to impinge upon said muzzle mirror at a normal thereto only in the absence of gun to periscope positioning errors for all positions of said gun, said beam to be reflected back from said muzzle mirror to said movable mirror, and to be reflected from said movable mirror, as a reflected ray, into said periscope, a matrix array of photosensitive means disposed to receive said reflected ray on only a portion of said matrix array, circuit means connected between said matrix array and said computer to provide lateral and elevational error signals in response to said portion of said matrix array receiving said reflected ray, and means to algebraically add said lateral and elevational error signals to said lateral and elevational range signals to adjust said reticle, whereby to compensate for errors due to the cantilevered mounting of said gun.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
266 words
In a fire control system of the type utilizing a periscope for aiming a cantilevered adjustably mounted gun, and having means to move a movable (rotatable) mirror in said periscope cooperatively with said gun, said system including a range finder cooperatively associated with a ballistic computer for supplying lateral (azimuth) and elevational range signals responsive to said range finder for a predetermined target, and means responsive to said range signals to adjust an adjustable reticle in said periscope for aiming said gun at said target, the improvement comprising a flat muzzle mirror fixed to a muzzle of said gun, a light source disposed to direct a beam of light in a path onto said movable mirror, said beam to be reflected from said movable mirror and to impinge upon said muzzle mirror at a normal thereto only in the absence of gun to periscope positioning errors for all positions of said gun, said beam to be reflected back from said muzzle mirror to said movable mirror, and to be reflected from said movable mirror, as a reflected ray, into said periscope, a matrix array of photosensitive means disposed to receive said reflected ray on only a portion of said matrix array, circuit means connected between said matrix array and said computer to provide lateral and elevational error signals in response to said portion of said matrix array receiving said reflected ray, and means to algebraically add said lateral and elevational error signals to said lateral and elevational range signals to adjust said reticle, whereby to compensate for errors due to the cantilevered mounting of said gun.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
115 words
In a fire control system of the type described in claim 1, wherein: said periscope comprises a first and a second beam splitter, and a collimating lens, said light source being within said periscope and disposed to project said beam of light in a path through said collimating lens and said first beam splitter, and onto said movable mirror, said first and said second beam splitters being disposed to receive said reflected ray from said movable mirror and to direct it to said matrix array, an automatic gain control detector disposed adjacent said second beam splitter to receive a portion of said reflected ray, and a filter disposed in the path of said reflected ray.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
In a fire control system of the type described in claim 1, wherein: said adjustably mounted gun is pivoted about a trunnion, and said movable mirror is mechanically slaved to said gun to move therewith to that said beam of light always impinges upon said muzzle mirror at a normal thereto for the full range of the elevation and depression of said gun in the absence of gun to periscope positioning errors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
In a fire control system of the type described in claim 1, wherein: said adjustable reticle is within said periscope and comprises motor means to move it horizontally and/or vertically in response to said signals from said computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
In a fire control system of the type described in claim 1, wherein: said flat muzzle mirror comprises a planar elongated sheet of a light-reflecting material, and said muzzle mirror is rigidly fixed to the muzzle of said gun and disposed to receive and reflect said beam of light for all operable positions of said gun.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a fire control system of the type described in claim 1, wherein: said light source is a light emitting diode in the infra-red range, and said light source is disposed within said periscope.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
In a fire control system of the type described in claim 1, wherein: said matrix array is a charge coupled matrix array detector divided into four quadrants, disposed within said periscope, and said circuit means comprises means for counting and gating positional information in response to said reflected ray on said matrix array; whereby to provide said lateral and elevational error signals as a function of the coordinate position of said reflected ray on said matrix array with respect to a reference position, said reference position being the center of said matrix array.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3684383A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-02 | 1980-11-01 | 1981-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-02 | 1984-11-01 | 1985-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-02 | 1988-11-01 | 1989-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |