Emitter tracking system

Abstract

An improved emitter tracking system. In aspects of the present teachings, the presence of a desired emitter may be established by a relatively low-power emitter detection module, before images of the emitter and / or its surroundings are captured with a relatively high-power imaging module. Capturing images of the emitter may be synchronized with flashes of the emitter, to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the captured images.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE[0001]This application is based upon and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 076,049, filed Jun. 26, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.INTRODUCTION[0002]Satellites, missiles, and other self-propelled or independently propagating devices often are tracked remotely for various purposes. For example, in the case of a communications satellite, it may be desirable to send and receive narrow directional signals to and from the satellite, and, to do so efficiently, the position of the satellite must be known with precision. Similarly, in the case of a global-positioning satellite, the position of the satellite must be known precisely if it is to serve its purpose as a precision locator of ground-based objects. In the case of a guided missile, such as a tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided (TOW) missile, knowing the position of the missile precisely may allow desi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0002]Satellites, missiles, and other self-propelled or independently propagating devices often are tracked remotely for various purposes. For example, in the case of a communications satellite, it may be desirable to send and receive narrow directional signals to and from the satellite, and, to do so efficiently, the position of the satellite must be known with precision. Similarly, in the case of a global-positioning satellite, the position of the satellite must be known precisely if it is to serve its purpose as a precision locator of ground-based objects. In the case of a guided missile, such as a tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided (TOW) missile, knowing the position of the missile precisely may allow desirable in-flight course corrections.

[0003]To facilitate precision measurements of the position of objects such as those described above, the object may be equipped with a beacon that emits a signal having known properties. Using these properties, a “signal detection system” or non-imaging system may be configured to detect the particular signature of the beacon, and to activate an imaging system to determine the position of the beacon with a desired amount of precision. The position information obtained in this manner may be used to direct signals to and / or from the moving object, to correct the trajectory of the object as needed, and / or for any other purpose. Furthermore, the imaging system employed for tracking also may be used to obtain more general images of the moving object and its surroundings, such as images of an intended target area. This can provide desirable situational awareness beyond mere tracking information.

[0005]The present disclosure relates to an improved emitter tracking system. In aspects of the present teachings, the presence of a desired emitter may be established by a relatively low-power emitter detection module, before images of the emitter and / or its surroundings are captured with a relatively high-power imaging module. Capturing images of the emitter may be synchronized with flashes of the emitter, to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the captured images.

Problems solved by technology

However, existing beacon tracking systems, such as the system of Wells et al., as well as those relying on various scanning techniques, may suffer from a number of shortcomings.

These include, for example, poor image quality, inherent latencies leading to time-delayed images, relatively high power consumption, and / or moving parts that may require maintenance and / or have a propensity for malfunction.

Images