Optical proximity fuse

US5601024A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG · DE

Inventors

• Gunther Sepp · Ottobrunn, DE
• Walter Hermann · Neuenbürg, DE
• Richard Benedikter · Putzbrunn, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 1, 1990
• Grant date: Feb 11, 1997
• Expiry date: Nov 1, 2010

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S17/46
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an optical proximity fuse for missiles with laser transmitters and optical receivers, whose optically bundled beam paths are oriented in such a way at a small angle to the direction of flight that they intersect in predetermined measuring segments, wherein the radiation reflected from objects in these measuring segments is utilized for deriving the firing pulse, wherein at least two laser transmitters oriented at angles different from each other and a common optical receiver are arranged at different points of the front side of the missile. The measuring segments where the transmitter beam paths intersect the receiver beam path lie at different distances from the missile and at differing side spacings from the longitudinal axis of the missile, wherein the measuring segment lying closer to the missile corresponds to the predetermined target segment. The laser transmitters are modulated at identification response codes differing from each other. Means for discriminating between these identification response codes are provided in the receiver circuit. A firing signal is generated only if both the transmitter response codes are present at the receiv…