Patent · US Expired

Target acquisition and tracking system

US5341142A · kind A · utility

221Cited by
8References
59Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 28, 1990
Grant dateAug 23, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 28, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF41G7/2293
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An automatic target acquisition and tracking system has been developed for a focal plane array seeker. The automatic target acquisition is achieved by three independent target acquisition algorithms, viz., the maximum likelihood classification, the video spatial clustering, and the target-to-interference ratio. Each algorithm operates asynchronously and provides independent target detection results. Target information is then combined hierarchically in a probabilistic fashion and prioritized. The highest priority target is handed off to a dual mode tracker consisting of a minimum absolute difference correlation tracker and a centroid tracker. The dual mode tracker subsequently provides a feedback signal to a proportional navigation system or other guidance/control system for directing the flight path of a munition.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.