Ejection fuze

Claim 2

An ordnance fuze adapted to function at a predetermined time interval in advance of predicted missile-target intercept, said fuze comprising: means for sensing missile-to-target distance; means for initiating the generation of a first waveform voltage when the missile reaches a first predetermined distance from the target; means for initiating the generation of a second waveform voltage when the missile reaches a second and shorter predetermined distance from the target; comparator means for comparing two voltages and producing a comparator output signal when the two voltages being compared become equal; a source of constant direct-current offset voltage interposed between one of said first and second waveform voltages and said comparator means; means for applying the other of said first and second waveform voltages to said comparator means; and means for utilizing said output signal from said comparator means to function the fuze.

Claim 3

An ordnance fuze adapted to function at a predetermined time interval in advance of missile-target intercept, said fuze comprising: radar means for periodically transmitting a main pulse and for receiving, after a time interval proportional to missile-target distance, a returned pulse reflected from the target; first and second coincidence circuits; means for applying said returned pulse to said coincidence circuits; first and second delayed gate generators adapted to apply gating pulses to said first and second coincidence circuits respectively at predetermined time intervals after said main pulse, so that said first coincidence circuit produces a first output pulse when the missile reaches a first predetermined distance from the target and so that said second coincidence circuit produces a second output pulse when the missile reaches a second and shorter predetermined distance from the target; a first waveform generator adapted to initiate the generation of a first exponential waveform voltage upon receiving said first output pulse; a second waveform generator adapted to initiate the generation of a second exponential waveform voltage upon receiving said second output pulse; voltage comparator means for comparing two voltages and producing a comparator output signal when the two voltages being compared become equal; a source of constant direct-current offset voltage interposed between one of said first and second exponential waveform voltages and said voltage comparator means; means for applying the other of said first and second waveform voltages to said comparator means; and utilization means adapted to function upon receiving said comparator output signal.

Claim 4

An ordnance fuze adapted to function at a predetermined time interval in advance of missile-target intercept, said fuze comprising: radar means for periodically transmitting a main pulse and for receiving, after a time interval proportional to missile-target distance, a returned pulse reflected from the target; first and second coincidence circuits; means for applying said returned pulse to said coincidence circuits; first and second delayed gate generators adapted to apply gating pulses to said first and second coincidence circuits respectively at predetermined time intervals after said main pulse, so that said first coincidence circuit produces a first output pulse when the missile reaches a first predetermined distance from the target and so that said second coincidence circuit produces a second output pulse when the missile reaches a second and shorter predetermined distance from the target; a first waveform generator adapted to initiate the generation of a first exponential waveform voltage upon receiving said first output pulse; a second waveform generator adapted to initiate the generation of a second exponential waveform voltage upon receiving said second output pulse; voltage comparator means for comparing two voltages and producing a comparator output signal when the two voltages being compared become equal; a source of constant direct-current offset voltage interposed between one of said first and second exponential waveform voltages and said voltage comparator means; means for applying the other of said first and second waveform voltages to said comparator means; and utilization means adapted to function upon receiving said comparator output signal.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 2, the functioning of said utilization means causing the ejection of bomblets from the missile.

Claim 6

An ordnance fuze adapted to function at a predetermined time interval in advance of missile-target intercept, said fuze comprising: radar means for periodically transmitting a main pulse and for receiving, after a time interval proportional to missile-target distance, a returned pulse reflected from a target; first and second coincidence circuits; means for applying said returned pulse to said coincidence circuits; first and second delayed gate generators adapted to apply gating pulses to said first and second coincidence circuits respectively at predetermined time intervals after said main pulse, so that the first coincidence circuit produces a first output pulse when the missile at a time t 1 reaches a first predetermined distance r 1 from the target and so that the second coincidence circuit produces a second output pulse when the missile at a later time t 2 reaches a second and shorter predetermined distance r 2 from the target; generator means triggered by said first and second pulses respectively for generating first and second signals having first and second unidirectionally changing waveforms respectively, said waveforms being of generally similar types; fixed offset voltage means for giving said second signal an initial bias ΔV in the direction of equality with said first signal; and a firing circuit actuated by the attainment by said second signal of equality with said first signal; said waveforms being such that such equality is attained at the time ##EQU10## τ being a constant dependent upon ΔV and independent of missile-target approach velocity.

Claim 7

An ordnance fuze adapted to function at a predetermined time interval in advance of missile-target intercept, said fuze comprising: radar means for periodically transmitting a main pulse and for receiving, after a time interval proportional to missile-target distance, a returned pulse reflected from a target; first and second coincidence circuits; means for applying said returned pulse to said coincidence circuits; first and second delayed gate generators adapted to apply gating pulses to said first and second coincidence circuits respectively at predetermined time intervals after said main pulse, so that the first coincidence circuit produces a first output pulse when the missile at a time t 1 reaches a first predetermined distance r 1 from the target and so that the second coincidence circuit produces a second output pulse when the missile at a later time t 2 reaches a second and shorter predetermined distance r 2 from the target; generator means triggered by said first and second pulses respectively for generating first and second signals having first and second unidirectionally changing waveforms respectively, said waveforms being of generally similar types; fixed offset voltage means for giving said second signal an initial bias ΔV in the direction of equality with said first signal; and a firing circuit actuated by the attainment by said second signal of equality with said first signal; said waveforms being such that such equality is attained at the time ##EQU10## τ being a constant dependent upon ΔV and independent of missile-target approach velocity.

Claim 8

The invention according to claim 6, wherein said generator means comprises: a first generator triggered by said first pulse for generating a first signal that at range r 1 and time t 1 begins to rise from zero and increases at a constant rate A; a second generator triggered by said second pulse for generating a second signal that at range r 2 and time t 2 begins to rise from zero at a constant and greater rate B=r 1 A/r 2 ; and wherein said fixed offset voltage means adds to said second signal a constant increment ΔV; said constant τ being equal to ΔV/B-A.

Claim 9

The invention according to claim 6, wherein said generator means comprises: means triggered by said first pulse for generating a first signal that at range r 1 and time t 1 begins to rise from zero and increases at a constant rate A, attaining the value A (t 2 -t 1 ) at range r 2 and time t 2 ; means triggered by said second pulse for generating a second signal that at range r 2 and time t 2 begins to rise from zero at a constant rate B=(r 1 -r 2 )A/r 2 ; and wherein said fixed offset voltage means adds to said second signal a constant increment ΔV; said firing circuit being actuated by the attainment by said second signal of the value A (t 2 -t 1 ) and said constant τ being equal to ΔV/B.

Claim 10

The invention according to claim 6, wherein said generator means comprises: first means triggered by said first pulse for generating a first signal v 1 that at range r 1 and time t 1 begins to change from an initial value E 1 in the direction of an asymptote E 2 in accordance with a first exponential relation v.sub.1 =E.sub.2 -(E.sub.2 -E.sub.1)e.sup.-k.sbsp.1.sup.(t-t.sbsp.1.sup.) ; second means triggered by said second pulse for generating a second signal v 2 that at range r 2 and time t 2 begins to change from an initial value E 1 +ΔV in the direction of the asymptote E 2 in accordance with a second exponential relation v.sub.2 =E.sub.2 -(E.sub.2 -E.sub.1 -ΔV)e.sup.-k.sbsp.2.sup.(t-t.sbsp.2.sup.), where k 1 =a positive constant equal to the reciprocal of the time constant of said first means, k 2 =r 1 k 1 /r 2 =a positive constant equal to the reciprocal of the time constant of said second means, and ΔV=a fixed offset voltage having the same polarity as E 2 -E 1 ; said firing circuit being actuated by the attainment of equality of v 2 with v 1 and said constant τ being equal to ##EQU11##

Claim 11

An electronic circuit adapted to receive a first pulse at a time t 1 and a second pulse at a later time t 2 and to generate an output signal at a still later time t x =t 2 +k(t 2 -t 1 )-τ, where k is a positive constant and τ is a constant <k(t 2 -t 1 ), said circuit comprising: generator means triggered by said first and second pulses respectively for generating first and second signals having first and second unidirectionally changing waveforms respectively, said waveforms being of generally similar types; fixed offset voltage means for giving said second signal an initial bias ΔV; and means responsive to the attainment by said second signal of equality with said first signal; said waveforms being such that said constant is dependent upon said bias ΔV but independent of the time interval t 2 -t 1 .

Claim 12

An electronic circuit adapted to receive a first pulse at a time t 1 and a second pulse at a later time t 2 and to generate an output signal at a still later time t x =t 2 +k(t 2 -t 1 )-τ, where k is a positive constant and τ is a constant <k(t 2 -t 1 ), said circuit comprising: generator means triggered by said first and second pulses respectively for generating first and second signals having first and second unidirectionally changing waveforms respectively, said waveforms being of generally similar types; fixed offset voltage means for giving said second signal an initial bias ΔV; and means responsive to the attainment by said second signal of equality with said first signal; said waveforms being such that said constant is dependent upon said bias ΔV but independent of the time interval t 2 -t 1 .