Seeker head for target tracking missiles

US6179246A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Bodenseewerk Gerätetechnik GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Herbert Fisel · Owingen, DE
• Ulrich Hartmann · Überlingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 20, 1998
• Grant date: Jan 30, 2001
• Expiry date: Nov 20, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F41G7/2293
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to a seeker head for target tracking missiles having an image resolving seeker being gimbal suspended in a seeker gimbal assembly and adapted to be aligned to a target by target deviation signals, and inertial sensors. A virtual inertially stabilized reference coordinate system is adapted to be defined from signals from the image resolving seeker and from the seeker gimbal assembly, said stabilized reference coordinate system having an axis aligned to said target. The stabilized reference coordinate system is adapted to be aligned to predicted target positions in case of deterioration of the tracking function of the seeker to the target in accordance with the line of sight information (e.g. direction, angular rate, angular acceleration) of the reference coordinate system then present. The seeker is adapted to be aligned to the axis of the reference coordinate system when the deterioration ceases, the signals from the seeker taking over the tracking function of the seeker again.