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Missile time-space-position-information unit test softwareMissile time-space-position-information unit test software description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070052582, Missile time-space-position-information unit test software. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to the testing of tracking equipment used in missiles, or targets. More particularly, the present invention relates to the testing of a missile or target's time-space-position information unit using multiple hardware configurations and a computer software program developed for the information unit. [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0004] The Joint Advanced Missile Instrumentation (JAMI) Time-Space-Position Information (TSPI) Unit (JTU) is a relatively small, high dynamic, airborne component that provides Global Positioning System (GPS) and Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) measurements that are processed on the ground for the tracking of missiles and targets. The JTU consists of five primary internal components (1) an internal GPS sensor; (2) an Inertial Measurement Unit; (3) a Data Acquisition System; (4) a Digital Interface processor; and (5) a Power System. [0005] The internal GPS sensor accepts external RF antenna input that may or may not (depending upon the platform) be conditioned by an external filter/limiter/amplifier. The GPS sensor can monitor and time tag three external event discrete items for incorporation into its outer data stream. The Inertial Measurement Unit generates signals from internal tri-axially mounted accelerometers and rate sensors which are combined with burst-mode GPS/Event data and formatted for output by an internal processor. [0006] The JTU Data Acquisition System outputs a data stream formatted for telemetry transmission via a serial port. This data is sent to the external missile telemetry system for transmittal to a JAMI TSPI Ground Unit. The Digital Interface processor functions as an internal communications controller hub. The processor formats GPS serial port programming data before forwarding it to the GPS sensor. The processor merges GPS/Event data with IMU data, monitors mode selection inputs, and converts output data to a selected format (RS-232, RS-422, or parallel) for inclusion in the data stream. [0007] The power system operates over a voltage range from +24 to +32 volts DC consuming less than 5 watts of power. The JTU filters this external power and feeds internal DC/DC converters which power the GPS sensor; Inertial Measurement Unit; Data Acquisition System; and Digital Interface processor within the JTU. [0008] There is currently no testing device available to the military to test the Joint Advanced Missile Instrumentation Time-Space-Position Information Unit. There is, however, a need for a testing device to insure that the JTU is providing accurate and reliable information when it is being used to test the performance of a missile or other projectile during flight. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention comprises a Time-Space-Position-Information Unit Message Structure (TUMS) Data Real-Time Comparator (TDRC) which is a computer software program that is used to test the performance of the JTU. This program includes three support files and is designed to run in a Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system environment hosted on a standard 750 MHz or faster desktop PC. Prior to using the program the user must check a JTU_Test.ini initialization file to ensure that the initialization values are set appropriately for the JTU under test. [0010] The computer software program utilizes three serial interfaces. The three serial interfaces are used to control a Test Set and/or to communicate with a Reference Receiver and/or to receive data from the JTU under test. When the test set is used the interfaces are implemented via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port. When the Test Set is not used the Reference Receiver and JTU interfaces may be implemented via the RS-232 ports of a test computer. [0011] The three serial interfaces allow the user to perform the following four tests using the computer software program of the present invention. The first test is a test of the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) component of the JTU. IMU data is received from the JTU in a TUMS format. This data is displayed and compared with IMU test criteria established by the user. At the beginning of the test the user has the option of saving the JTU TUMS data stream to a file (filename.imu) for later playback and analysis. This provides the capability of performing a quick test of the three accelerometers and the three rate sensors comprising the JTU IMU. [0012] The second test is a functional test of both the GPS and IMU components of the JTU. The GPS and IMU data comes from the JTU in a TUMS format. The data stream from a Reference Receiver is used to provide GPS and ephemeris information to the test computer for comparison and processing of the JTU GPS data. The resulting JTU GPS and IMU data is displayed on the test computer's display screen and compared with the GPS and IMU test criteria established by the user. The user has the option of documenting the test by storing the results in a test summary text file (filename.txt). [0013] The third test is an acceptance test of both the GPS and IMU components of the JTU. This test is comprised of seven parts. The first part is the successful completion of a Functional Test. The remaining six parts, one for each of the three accelerometers and one for each of the three rate sensors, is a detailed evaluation of the IMU biases. The measured biases are displayed and compared with test criteria established by the user. The data streams from the Reference Receiver and the JTU under test are saved to individual files (filename.ref and filename.jtu respectively) for each part of the test for later playback and analysis by the user. The user has the option of documenting this test by storing the results, as well as a list of all the files that were generated during the test, to a text file (filename.txt). [0014] The fourth test is a qualification test of both the IMU and GPS components of the JTU. This test is comprised of two parts. The first part is the successful completion of a Functional Test. The remaining part of the test consists of an evaluation of both the IMU and GPS components over a specified time period and under a variety of environmental conditions. The data streams from the Reference Receiver and the JTU under test are saved to individual files (filename.ref and filename.jtu respectively) for later playback and analysis. A summary text file (filename.txt) is generated documenting the overall results of the test. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] FIG. 1 is an RS-232 test set configuration for testing a JTU Device using a test computer and the software comprising the present invention; [0016] FIG. 2 is a USB test set configuration for testing a JTU Device using a test computer and the software comprising the present invention; [0017] FIG. 3 is a communications flow diagram for the computer software program comprising the present invention; [0018] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram for the opening dialogs routine within the computer software program of FIG. 3; [0019] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram for the reference receiver dialog routine within the computer software program of FIG. 3; [0020] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram for the JTU IMU Test routine within the computer software program of FIG. 3; [0021] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram for the JTU Functional Test routine within the computer software program of FIG. 3; Continue reading about Missile time-space-position-information unit test software... 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