| Guided missile with distributed guidance mechanism -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Guided missile with distributed guidance mechanismRelated Patent Categories: Aeronautics And Astronautics, Missile Stabilization Or Trajectory Control, Automatic GuidanceGuided missile with distributed guidance mechanism description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080006735, Guided missile with distributed guidance mechanism. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to guided-missile-based weapons systems and, more particularly, to a weapons system that includes a guided missile and a separate guidance mechanism for steering the guided missile towards a target. [0002] FIG. 1 illustrates, schematically, a prior art guided missile 10. Guided missile 10 includes a seeker head 12 that acquires an indication of the position of a target towards which guided missile 10 is to be steered. Typical examples of such indications include an image of the target, a laser reflection from the target and a radar reflection from the target. [0003] Guided missile 10 also includes a guidance computer 14, a propulsion mechanism represented by a rocket motor 16, and a steering mechanism represented by fins 18. Seeker head 12 sends to guidance computer 14 signals that represent the indication of the position of the target. Guidance computer 14 processes these signals to obtain estimates of the position and velocity of the target. Guidance computer 14 then combines these estimates with estimates of the position, velocity and attitude of guided missile 10 to generate control commands that are sent to propulsion mechanism 16 and steering mechanism 18 to propel and steer guided missile 10 towards the target. [0004] This guidance mechanism suffers from drawbacks including the high cost and high weight of guidance computer 14 that is destroyed along with the rest of guided missile 10 when guided missile 10 strikes the target. Guidance computer 14 typically has a high power requirement that must be satisfied by a bulky and expensive power supply. Updating the algorithms used to guide guided missile 10 often entails replacing guidance computer 14 with a more powerful guidance computer 14, which replacement must be done for every guided missile 10 separately. Furthermore, despite continuing advances in electronic miniaturization, guidance computer 14 typically is too bulky to be installed in a small missile such as a rocket-propelled grenade. [0005] There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, a guided-missile-based weapons system that would overcome the disadvantages of presently known systems as described above. In particular, although seeker heads 12 and servomechanisms for activating fins 18 are available that are small enough to be mounted in rocket-propelled grenades, no such guidance computer 14 is presently known. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] According to the present invention there is provided a weapons system including: (a) a guided missile including: (i) a seeker for producing signals indicative of a position of a target, and (ii) a steering mechanism for steering the guided missile; and (b) a guidance mechanism, separate from the guided missile, for controlling the steering mechanism, based on the signals, so as to steer the guided missile towards the target. [0007] Preferably, the guided missile is a rocket-propelled grenade, a rifle grenade or a mortar shell. [0008] Optionally, the signals are either digital signals or analog signals. [0009] Preferably, the weapons system also includes a communication mechanism for sending the signals from the guided missile to the guidance mechanism and for sending control commands from the guidance mechanism to the guided missile. Preferably, the communication mechanism is wireless. Alternatively, the communication mechanism includes a transmission medium for conveying the signals from the guided missile to the guidance mechanism and for conveying the control commands from the guidance mechanism to the guided missile. In one embodiment of the present invention, the transmission medium includes an optical fiber. In another embodiment of the present invention, the transmission medium includes an electrically conductive wire. [0010] Preferably, the guidance mechanism includes an authentication mechanism for restricting use of the guidance mechanism to authorized users. Most preferably, the authentication mechanism includes a biosensing mechanism. [0011] Preferably, the guidance mechanism is operative to provide battlefield damage assessment. [0012] Preferably, the guidance mechanism processes the signals produced by the seeker, and controls the steering mechanism based on results of that processing. Most preferably, the processing of the signals produced by the seeker includes image processing and/or signal processing. [0013] Preferably, the guidance mechanism includes an input mechanism with which an operator of the guidance mechanism controls the steering mechanism. [0014] Preferably, the weapons system of the present invention includes a plurality of the guided missiles. [0015] More preferably, the weapons system of the present invention includes, in addition to the plurality of guided missiles, a communication system for sending the signals from each guided missile to the guidance mechanism and for sending the control commands from the guidance mechanism to each guided missile. Most preferably, the communication system is wireless. Each guided missile includes a respective transceiver for sending the guided missile's signals to the guidance mechanism and for receiving the missile's control commands from the guidance mechanism. In one most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the guidance mechanism is operationally connected to a single transceiver for receiving the signals from all the guided missiles and for sending the control commands to the guided missiles. In another most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the guidance mechanism is operationally connected to a plurality of dedicated transceivers, each transceiver for receiving the signals from a respective one of the guided missiles and for sending that guided missile's control commands to that guided missile. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a prior art guided missile; [0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a weapons system of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0019] The present invention is of a guided-missile-based weapons system with distributed guidance. Specifically, the present invention can be used to provide automatic guidance of small missiles, such as rocket-propelled grenades, rifle grenades and mortar shells, that conventionally are not thought of as "guided" missiles. [0020] The principles and operation of a weapons system according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description. Continue reading about Guided missile with distributed guidance mechanism... Full patent description for Guided missile with distributed guidance mechanism Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Guided missile with distributed guidance mechanism patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Guided missile with distributed guidance mechanism or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Long endurance hydrogen powered vehicle Next Patent Application: Aircraft Industry Class: Aeronautics ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Guided missile with distributed guidance mechanism patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.93511 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Electronics: Semiconductor , Audio , Illumination , Connectors , Crypto , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
