System for searching for, detecting and tracking flying targets
US5964432A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 22, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 12, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 22, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S3/786
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An infrared seeker head for a missile includes a viewing lens system and a focal plane array on which the visual field of the lens system is focussed. The image acquired by the focal plane array is displayed on a video display unit. Mounted on the missile launch tube in the beam path of the seeker head viewing lens system is a wide angle lens, which can be retracted to remove it from the seeker head beam path. The wide angle lens enables the gunner to view a large visual field initially. Then, when a "suspicious" object is detected, it can be removed to allow a positive identification of the type of target. A pair of rotating optical wedges are disposed in the beam path of the seeker head, so that its relatively smaller visual field can be diverted to compensate for maneuvering of the target.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.