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US4021662A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Laser target simulator

Assignee: United States Department of the Air Force
•
Filing: 1975-07-09
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Granted: 1977-05-03
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Expires: 1995-07-09
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Abstract

Abstract The laser target simulator of the invention comprises two point sources of light energy (LEDs) aimed at a section of concave spherical mirror which collimates the light energy and projects it across the full aperture of a laser seeker. One of the point sources of light energy is positioned on the laser seeker boresight at the mirror focal point. The other is positioned in spaced adjacent relationship to it and is rotatable about the laser seeker boresight. A CW light source is positioned coaxially to the boresight point source of light. The simulator also includes light source control circuits that make it possible to test the various operational modes of the laser seeker including tracking rates and accuracies, acquisition logic, laser pulse coding, and false target rejection.

Inventors

  • 👤 Vernon Mimms

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 13:00
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/48; G01S7/497; F; F41; F41G; F41G7/00; F41G7/001; F41G7/002

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 130 words
In combination with a laser seeker system having a light receiving aperture a laser target simulator comprising a segment of concave spherical mirror having a radius of curvature r c positioned to reflect light energy along the laser seeker system boresight toward said light receiving aperture, a first point source of light energy positioned on said laser seeker system boresight a distance r c/2 from said mirror and oriented to project light energy toward said mirror in the direction of the mirror radius intercepted thereby, and a second point source of light energy positioned in spaced adjacent relationship to said first source of light energy a distance r c/2 from said mirror and oriented to project light energy toward said mirror in the direction of the mirror radius intercepted thereby.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 130 words
In combination with a laser seeker system having a light receiving aperture a laser target simulator comprising a segment of concave spherical mirror having a radius of curvature r c positioned to reflect light energy along the laser seeker system boresight toward said light receiving aperture, a first point source of light energy positioned on said laser seeker system boresight a distance r c/2 from said mirror and oriented to project light energy toward said mirror in the direction of the mirror radius intercepted thereby, and a second point source of light energy positioned in spaced adjacent relationship to said first source of light energy a distance r c/2 from said mirror and oriented to project light energy toward said mirror in the direction of the mirror radius intercepted thereby.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
A laser target simulator as defined in claim 1 including means for rotating said second source of light energy around said first source of light energy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 45 words
A laser target simulator as defined in claim 2 including a CW light source disposed in coaxial relationship with said first point source of light energy positioned at a distance substantially r c/2 from said mirror and oriented to project light energy toward said mirror.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
A laser target simulator as defined in claim 3 wherein said first and second point sources of light energy are Gallium-Indium-Arsenide light emitting diodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
A laser target simulator as defined in claim 4 including means for providing coded operation of said first and second point sources of light energy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 26 words
A laser target simulator as defined in claim 5 including means for controlling the power levels of said first and second point sources of light energy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 34 words
A laser target simulator as defined in claim 6 wherein said mirror is positioned a distance from said laser seeker that provides total illumination of said light receiving aperture by light energy reflected thereby.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE1914250A1 Cited
US3907433A 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

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