Laser beam transmitter system for laser beam rider guidance systems

Claim 2

A laser beam rider guidance system comprising: (a) a launcher based electro-optical subsystem having a laser beam transmitter assembly operatively connected to an electro-optical sighting system for guiding an object to a point in space along a boresight axis, said laser beam transmitter assembly being operative for producing x and y scan beams and a synchronization beam in a preselected sequence along a common line of sight, said electro-optical sighting system comprising means for reflecting a portion of the x and y scanning beams, a sighting means for receiving the reflected portion of the x and y scanning beams, said sighting means including a means for determining line of sight, and an electrical signal producing means for producing electrical signals in response to the portions of the x and y scanning beams crossing the means for determining line of sight, said electrical signal producing means connected to the laser beam transmitting assembly for triggering the synchronization beam; and (b) a laser beam receiver subsystem for mounting on a carrier, said laser beam receiver subsystem including means operative in response to x-y scanning beams and synchronization beams for producing x-y guidance signals in response to the time difference between the receipt of x-y scanning beams and corresponding synchronization beams and rate of scan for guiding the carrier to a destination corresponding to a point in space along the boresight axis.

Claim 3

A laser beam rider guidance system according to claim 1 wherein the means for reflecting a portion of the x and y scanning beams to a sighting means includes a beamsplitter positioned with its reflector portion positioned partially in the optical path common to the x and y scanning beams for reflecting portions of the x and y scanning beams to the sighting means.

Claim 4

A laser beam rider guidance system according to claim 2 wherein the sighting means comprises a telescope sight for establishing a line of sight and a detector means having an optical path parallel to the telescope line of sight, said detector means including a reflector means for reflecting the reflected portions of the x and y scanning beams received from the beamsplitter, an apertured means in the telescope, and a detector in the optical path of the reflected portions of the x and y scanning beams, the aperture of said apertured means being positioned to admit to the detector the portion of the x and y scanning beams when they cross the boresight axis.

Claim 5

A laser beam rider guidance system according to claim 2 wherein the sighting means of the electro-optical sighting system comprises a telescope means, a beamsplitter disposed in the optical path of the means for reflecting portions of the x and y scanning beams, said beamsplitter reflecting the portions of the x and y scanning beams to the telescope means, said telescope means being in a fixed position parallel to the x and y scan beams common optical path whereby the centerlines of the x and y scan beams parallel the line of sight of the telescope means.

Claim 6

A laser beam rider guidance system according to claim 4 wherein the telescope means comprises telescope tube, a reticle mounted in the telescope tube for sighting a target, reflector means positioned in the center of the reticle for reflecting the portions of the x and y scan beams when they cross the center of the reticle, and a light detector means producing an electrical signal responsively to x and y scan beam light reflected from the reticle reflector means for actuating the synchronization beam producing laser.

Claim 7

A laser beam rider guidance system according to claim 5 wherein said reticle mounted in the telescope tube includes a light filter shield for shielding the observer's eyes from the portion of the x and y laser scan beams.

Claim 8

A laser beam rider guidance system according to claim 5 wherein a beamsplitter is mounted within the telescope tube in front of the reticle to reflect the x and y laser beams reflected by the light reflector means mounted at the center of the reticle to the light detector means.

Claim 9

A laser beam rider guidance system comprising: (a) a launcher based electro-optical subsystem having a laser beam transmitter assembly and an electro-optical sighting system, said laser beam transmitter assembly being operative for producing alternately x and y scan beams and periodically a synchronization beam, each along a common optical path, said electro-optical sighting system comprising means for reflecting a portion of the x and y scanning beams to a sighting means, means for producing signals when the portions of the x and y scanning beams cross the boresight of the sighting means, and means responsive to the signals indicating the portions of the x and y scanning beams crossing the boresight for producing signals to trigger the synchronization beam, said means for reflecting a portion of the x and y scanning beams to a sighting means including a beamsplitter positioned with its reflector portion positioned partially in the common optical path of the x and y scanning beams for reflecting portions of the x and y scanning beams to the sighting means, said sighting means comprising a telescope means, a beamsplitter disposed in the optical path of the means for reflecting portions of the x and y scanning beams, said beamsplitter reflecting the portions of the x and y scanning beams to the telescope means, said telescope means being in a fixed position paralled to the x and y scan beams' common optical path whereby the center lines of the x and y scan beams parallel the line of sight of the telescope means, said telescope means comprises a telescope tube, a reticle mounted in the telescope tube for sighting a target, reflector means including a reflector positioned in the center of the reticle for reflecting the portions of the x and y scan beams when they cross the center of the reticle, and a beamsplitter mounted within the telescope tube in front of the reticle to reflect the x and y laser beams reflected by the light reflector means mounted at the center of the reticle, and a light detector means for producing an electrical signal responsively to the x and y scan beam light reflected beams, the reticle reflector means for actuating the synchronization beam producing laser, and the means responsive to the signals indicating the portion of the x and y scanning beams crossing boresight for producing signals to trigger the synchronization beam includes a lead signal and gravitational force signal computing means operatively connected to the detector of the electro-optical sight means and x and y scan beams scanner for adjusting the synchronization signal to provide for leading the carrier to a moving target and compensating for gravitational force on the carrier; and (b) an on-board a carrier laser beam receiver subsystem for producing x-y guidance signals responsively to receive x and y scanning beams in corresponding synchronization beams of the launcher based electro-optical subsystem to guide the carrier to a target.

Claim 10

A laser beam rider guidance system comprising: (a) a launcher based electro-optical subsystem having a laser beam transmitter assembly and an electro-optical sighting system, said laser beam transmitter assembly being operative for producing alternately x and y scan beams and periodically a synchronization beam, each along a common optical path, said electro-optical sighting system comprising means for reflecting a portion of the x and y scanning beams to a sighting means, means for producing signals when the portions of the x and y scanning beams cross the boresight of the sighting means, and means responsive to the signals indicating the portions of the x and y scanning beams crossing the boresight for producing signals to trigger the synchronization beam, said means for reflecting a portion of the x and y scanning beams to a sighting means including a beamsplitter positioned with its reflector portion positioned partially in the common optical path of the x and y scanning beams for reflecting portions of the x and y scanning beams to the sighting means, said sighting means comprising a telescope means, a beamsplitter disposed in the optical path of the means for reflecting portions of the x and y scanning beams, said beamsplitter reflecting the portions of the x and y scanning beams to the telescope means, said telescope means being in a fixed position paralled to the x and y scan beams' common optical path whereby the center lines of the x and y scan beams parallel the line of sight of the telescope means, said telescope means comprises a telescope tube, a reticle mounted in the telescope tube for sighting a target, reflector means including a reflector positioned in the center of the reticle for reflecting the portions of the x and y scan beams when they cross the center of the reticle, and a beamsplitter mounted within the telescope tube in front of the reticle to reflect the x and y laser beams reflected by the light reflector means mounted at the center of the reticle, and a light detector means for producing an electrical signal responsively to the x and y scan beam light reflected beams, the reticle reflector means for actuating the synchronization beam producing laser, and the means responsive to the signals indicating the portion of the x and y scanning beams crossing boresight for producing signals to trigger the synchronization beam includes a lead signal and gravitational force signal computing means operatively connected to the detector of the electro-optical sight means and x and y scan beams scanner for adjusting the synchronization signal to provide for leading the carrier to a moving target and compensating for gravitational force on the carrier; and (b) an on-board a carrier laser beam receiver subsystem for producing x-y guidance signals responsively to receive x and y scanning beams in corresponding synchronization beams of the launcher based electro-optical subsystem to guide the carrier to a target.

Claim 11

A laser beam rider guidance system according to claim 8 wherein the lead and gravitational force correcting means includes a signal processor having inputs coupled to the detector of the electro-optical sight means, x and y scan beam scanning means, and a lead and gravitational force signal computer, and an output coupled to the synchronization beam laser for providing a lead and gravitational force corrected signal to the synchronization beam.