Digital panoramic telescope

Abstract

The invention relates to a weapon‐mounted digital panoramic telescope comprising at least one control device (110) comprising a processor (10) that calculates the Azimute Of Orienting Angle (AOA) between the weapon coordinates and the Orienting Angle (OA) after the target coordinates are entered, the chart essentials (Chart deflection, Chart range and Vertical interval) between the Weapon altitude and the Target altitude, the Fire essentials (Azimute of the Line of Fire, quadrant elevation (QE) and fuze time) by the Metro+Muzzle Velocity Difference (MVD) method after entering the metro report and Muzzle Velocity Difference correction, the Orienting Angle (OA) between the Azimute of Line Of fire (ALOF) and (AOA), the instantaneous angular separation between the barrel axis and the sight axis from data coming from the servo motor (3) that turns the sight head (8) and the encoder, and the Orienting Angle (OA) angle between ALOF and AOA, directs the sight head (8) to the OA angle by sending data according to rotation information from the encoder (30) and horizontal and vertical reduction, and orients the vertical line of the reticle on the screen to be perpendicular to the ground plane based on inclination information from the inclinometer and an interface (120) that performs and directs all firing control activities and firing essentials, and having a software capable of calculating the firing essentials by entering the target coordinate End of The Orienting Line (EOL) coordinate and weapon coordinate information either manually or from GPS (60) which controls the camera (40) image and rotation operations, and calculating the coordinates of visible targets with an onboard laser rangefinder (70), finding its own coordinates by back‐azimuthing at known points, tracking balloons to obtain low‐altitude metro reports.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] DIGITAL PANORAMIC TELESCOPE

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The invention relates to a weapon-mounted Digital Panoramic Telescope that, in the defense industry, calculates firing parameters for a designated target of artillery, mortar, multi-barrel rocket launchers and missile weapon systems to direct the gun / mortar barrel and / or rocket / missile mounts to the target.

[0005] The invention particularly relates to a weapon-mounted digital panoramic telescope comprising at least one control device comprising a processor that calculates the Azimute Of Orienting Angle (AOA) between the weapon coordinates and the Orienting Angle (OA) after the target coordinates are entered, the chart essentials (Chart deflection, Chart range and Vertical interval) between the Weapon altitude and the Target altitude, the Fire essentials (Azimute of the Line of Fire, quadrant elevation (QE) and fuze time) by the Metro+Muzzle Velocity Difference (MVD) method after entering the metro report and Muzzle Velocity Difference correction, the Orienting Angle (OA) between the Azimute of Line Of fire (ALOF) and (AOA), the instantaneous angular separation between the barrel axis and the sight axis from data coming from the servo motor that turns the sight head and the encoder, and the Orienting Angle (OA) angle between ALOF and AOA, directs the sight head to the OA angle by sending data according to rotation information from the encoder and horizontal and vertical reduction, and orients the vertical line of the reticle on the screen to be perpendicular to the ground plane based on inclination information from the inclinometer and / or an interface that performs and directs all firing control activities and firing essentials, and having a software capable of calculating the firing essentials by entering the target coordinate End of The Orienting Line (EOL) coordinate and weapon coordinate information either manually or from GPS which controls the camera image and rotation operations, and calculating the coordinates of visible targets with an onboard laser rangefinder, finding its own coordinates by back-azimuthing at known points, tracking balloons to obtain low-altitude metro reports.

[0006] STATE OF THE ART

[0007] Mechanical panoramic sights are used in weapon systems today for azimuth and quadrant elevation orientation. These sights are manual optical devices specially designed and manufactured to provide the capability of finding and directing a direction by being hand-pointed to a given direction. These sights are used, particularly in classic weapon systems lacking automatic guidance systems, at observation posts (battery sight), in military applications (in ground surveying operations, aiming with an aiming circle, target detection) (or for security purposes, after certain manual calculations are performed and connected to the sights, in applications that take a long time and have a high likelihood of error.

[0008] Mechanical panoramic sights used in the present art direct weapon barrels sequentially with an aiming circle set to a predetermined direction (Firing Line), and this process can take a long time in the context of modern combat.

[0009] Mechanical panoramic sights used in the present art perform azimuth and quadrant elevation calculations to be applied to the weapon barrel using an existing fire-control computer or a manual firing chart after a target is determined, and these data are transmitted to each weapon. Weapon personnel manually connect this information to the mechanical panoramic sight and manually adjust the azimuth and quadrant elevation settings on the barrel. This takes time, slows down the rate of fire and leads to increased personnel errors. As a result, the need for an economical, fast, safe, and convenient new digital panoramic telescope to solve the above-mentioned problems of the present art, and the inadequacy of the existing solutions have made it necessary to make a development in the relevant technical field.

[0010] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention relates to a weapon-mounted digital panoramic telescope developed to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages and to provide new advantages to the relevant technical field, which calculates the firing parameters for a designated target of artillery, mortar, multi-barrel rocket launcher and missile weapon systems and enables the orientation of the gun / mortar barrel and / or rocket / missile launchers toward the target.

[0012] The primary objective of the invention is to calculate the firing parameters for the target by the Metro+ MVD technique using the target coordinates entered into the control device together with the previously entered EOL coordinates, the metro report and the muzzle velocity difference values of the ammunition used, and to automatically rotate the sight head to the calculated Orienting Angle so that when the EOL is acquired with the onboard camera the weapon is directed to the target in a very short time and without error.

[0013] Another advantage of the invention is that, in weapons with a barrel guidance system, the End of The Orienting Line (EOL) can be aimed by remotely rotating the sight through the control device or the display of the fire control computer in the vehicle. An aiming point or a marker plate attached to aiming rods can be automatically targeted by the sight using image processing. Additionally, by integrating with the launcher management computer, automatic rotation of the launcher toward the target with integrated sight and quadrant elevation coupling can be provided. Another advantage of the invention is that, in accordance with an entered or calculated quadrant elevation value, the sight can be rotated downward and then the barrel raised to bring the sight to the ground-level zero line, thereby enabling the barrel to be coupled to the quadrant elevation.

[0014] Another advantage of the invention is that, when aiming at an aiming point on the barrel or a pod, the encoders can be zeroed and the aiming-line processing can be completed rapidly (1—2 minutes).

[0015] Another advantage of the invention is that it can lock onto a target image stored in its memory and perform automatic aiming by image processing and can track moving targets.

[0016] Another advantage of the invention is that, when integrated with the launcher and barrel orientation system, it is capable of determining the target's speed and trajectory to perform lead calculations and execute automatic firing.

[0017] Another advantage of the invention is that it enables determination of target coordinates by forward triangulation method using another launcher's sight nearby or a digital sight mounted on a tripod.

[0018] Another advantage of the invention is that, with the integrated Laser Rangefinder (LRF) mounted on the sight, target coordinates can be determined using a single sight.

[0019] Another advantage of the invention is that, when FCI or AAC data related to the weapon and ammunition are entered into the onboard fire-control software, the firing parameters (azimuth, quadrant elevation, fuze time, propellant allowance, and OA) can be calculated using the previously entered Metro and MVD values. Another advantage of the invention is that, by using image processing technology to track a balloon, it can obtain low-altitude and ground metro reports.

[0020] The structural and characteristic features of the invention and all advantages thereof will be understood more clearly with the figures given below and the detailed written description provided with reference to these figures. Therefore, evaluation must be made by taking these figures and detailed description into account.

[0021] FIGURES THAT HELP UNDERSTANDING THE INVENTION

[0022] FIG. -1 is a drawing showing the digital panoramic telescope of the invention.

[0023] FIG. -2 is a drawing showing the tablet and interface of the digital panoramic telescope of the invention.

[0024] REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0025] 10. Processor

[0026] 20. Horizontal Vertical Inclinometer

[0027] 30. Horizontal and Vertical Reduction and Encoder

[0028] 40. Camera

[0029] 50. Ethernet Card

[0030] 60. Global Positioning System / GPS

[0031] 70. Laser Range Finder

[0032] 80. Pantel Head

[0033] 90. Digital Compass

[0034] 100. Connection Interface

[0035] 110. Control Device

[0036] 120. Interface DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the digital panoramic telescope are described only for a better understanding of the subject and without any limiting effect.

[0038] Fig. 1-2 shows the digital panoramic telescope of the invention and the details thereof. In the invention, a point whose coordinate or destination is known on the battlefield (End of The Orienting Line (EOL)) is entered into the control device (110) via the interface (120). The control device (110) calculates the Azimute Of Orienting Angle (AOA) between the weapon coordinate and the End of The Orienting Line (EOL). Then, the Azimute of Line Of Fire (ALOF) between the Aiming Direction Angle or Coordinate entered into the control device (110) interface (120) and the weapon coordinate is calculated by the control device (110). These calculations are performed by the processor (10). After the target coordinate is entered, the chart parameters (Chart Deflection, Chart Range, and Vertical Interval) between the weapon coordinate and the target are calculated. After the Metro Report and the Muzzle Velocity Difference correction are entered, the metro and MVD corrections are applied and the Firing parameters (Azimute of the Line of Fire, Quadrant Elevation (QE), and Fuze Time) are calculated. It calculates the Orienting Angle (OA) between the Azimute of the Line of Fire (ALOF) and AOA.

[0039] By issuing a command via the shooter interface (120), the sight head (80) is caused to rotate automatically to the calculated O Orienting Angle according to the commands received from the processor (10) by the horizontal and vertical reduction and the encoder (30). The processor (10) completes the rotation operation based on instantaneous rotation information received from the horizontal and vertical reduction and encoder (30). Thus, OA is automatically coupled to the sight. Meanwhile, the camera (40) on the interface (120) corrects the reticle on the interface (120) by calculating, based on the inclination information detected by the horizontal inclinometer (20), the perpendicularity of the reticle to the ground plane (wheel camber correction). When the shooter sights the EOL using the reticle on the interface (120) with the lateral handwheel on the weapon, the weapon is oriented to the desired direction.

[0040] After target information is entered into the interface (120) on the tablet (110), the system calculates the target's ALOF, its range, and the vertical interval between the weapon and the target. The fire-control software present on the control device (110) uses the above calculations and utilizes the previously entered METCM / METB3 metro report and the Muzzle Velocity Difference (MVD) corrections related to the propellant used. These corrections are added to the metro and MDVcalculations and the firing parameters including ALOF, quadrant elevation and fuze time for the target are determined.

[0041] After the control device (110) has calculated the firing parameters, it calculates the OA angle using the AOA and ALOF values and displays it on the interface (120). By pressing the ORIENT button on the interface (120), the sight head (80) is caused to rotate automatically to the OA angle by the horizontal and vertical reduction and encoder (30). The shooter focuses on the reticle image on the interface (120) using the lateral handwheel and sights on the EOL. This operation causes the weapon barrel to be turned toward the target direction. At the same time, the reticle on the interface is rotated to a position perpendicular to the ground plane according to the inclination information from the vertical line inclinometer (20), thereby automatically performing the sight roll angle correction.

[0042] After ALOF is set, when the ORIENT button is pressed on the interface (120) to couple elevation from the firing parameters, the sight body rotates by the quadrant elevation angle calculated by the horizontal and vertical reduction and encoder (30). The assistant shooter centers the quadrant elevation spirit on the interface (120) by giving quadrant elevation to the barrel using the elevation handwheel. Thus, elevation is successfully coupled to the barrel.

[0043] Using the laser rangefinder (LRF) (70) on the sight head, by aiming at a point with unknown position the coordinates of the target can be calculated. All aiming and angular correction operations can be performed remotely controlled with the camera (40) image transmitted to the control device (110) system via the Ethernet card (50) and the inclinometer (20) on the sight.

[0044] By manually entering the needle deviation angle on the digital compass (90), the weapon's grid direction angle orientation can be set without using a control point. In addition, the sight's position can be determined via an internal or externally connected Global Positioning System (GPS) (60). The needle deviation angle and approach angle required for the digital compass can be calculated

[0045] By attaching the mechanical interface of the desired weapon to the weapon connection interface (100), it can be made usable on any type of weapon.

[0046] The scope of protection of this application is set out in the claims and cannot be limited to what is described above strictly for illustrative purposes, it is clear that a person skilled in the art can demonstrate the novelty set forth in the invention by using similar embodiments and / or can apply this embodiment to other fields with similar purposes used in the relevant art. Therefore, it is obvious that such embodiments will lack the criterion of novelty and especially the criterion of exceeding the state of the art.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A weapon-mounted digital panoramic telescope that calculates firing essentials for a designated target of artillery, mortar, multi-barrel rocket launchers and missile weapon systems to direct the gun / mortar barrel and / or rocket / missile mounts to the target, characterized by comprising at least one control device (110) comprising a processor (10) that calculates the Azimute Of Orienting Angle (AOA) between the weapon coordinates and the Orienting Angle (OA) after the target coordinates are entered, the chart essentials (Chart deflection, Chart range and Vertical interval) between the Weapon altitude and the Target altitude, the Fire essentials (Azimute of the Line of Fire, quadrant elevation (QE) and fuze time) by the Metro+Muzzle Velocity Difference (MVD) method after entering the metro report and Muzzle Velocity Difference correction, the Orienting Angle (OA) between the Azimute of Line Of fire (ALOF) and Azimute Of Orienting Angle (AOA), connects the aperture angle between the barrel axis and the sight axis according to the calculated Orienting Angle (OA) by utilizing data from the servo motor (30) that rotates the sight head (80) and from the encoder, directs the sight head (80) to the OA angle by sending data according to rotation information from the encoder (30) and horizontal and vertical reduction, and orients the vertical line of the reticle on the screen to be perpendicular to the ground plane based on inclination information from the inclinometer and / or an interface (120) that performs and directs all firing control activities and firing essentials, and having a software capable of calculating the firing essentials by entering the target coordinate End of The Orienting Line (EOL) coordinate and weapon coordinate information either manually or from GPS (60) which controls the camera (40) image and rotation operations, and calculating the coordinates of visible targets with an onboard laser rangefinder (70), finding its own coordinates by back-azimuthing at known points, tracking balloons to obtain low- altitude metro reports.

2. Digital panoramic telescope according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a horizontal and vertical reduction and encoder (30) that rotates the sight head (80) horizontally and vertically with high precision according to commands from the processor, sends the amount of rotation to the processor via the encoder on the reduction, and when the orientation buttons are pressed according to azimuth and quadrant elevation values entered manually or calculated on the screen, automatically orients the azimuth and quadrant elevation values by rotating the sight head (80) and tilting the azimuth and sight body forward to perform the quadrant elevation coupling operation.

3. Digital panoramic telescope according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a horizontal and vertical inclinometer (20) that measures the horizontal and vertical inclinations of the sight head (80), sends them to the processor (10), and displays the instantaneous inclination on the horizontal and vertical spirit-level indicators located on the interface (120).

4. Digital panoramic telescope according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a camera (40) connected to the sight head (80), which sends the image of the region aimed at with the reticle at two selected zoom levels with high resolution to the Ethernet card (50).

5. Digital panoramic telescope according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a laser rangefinder (70) that measures the distance to the point aimed at by the camera (40) and transmits the measurement to the processor (10).

6. Digital panoramic telescope according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a sight head (80) with camera (40) and laser rangefinder (70) mounted thereon, and being rotatable automatically or manually to the calculated OA angle by means of the horizontal and vertical reduction and encoder (30).

7. Digital panoramic telescope according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a digital compass (90) that, by entering the needle deviation angle between the magnetic direction angle and the grid direction angle, calculates the Grid DA of any point and allows that point to be used as EOL, and that, by reading the DA and Distance of a point with known coordinates, determines its own coordinates.

8. Digital panoramic telescope according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a connection interface (100) that enables the weapons to be connected to the sight interface.

9. Digital panoramic telescope according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a GPS (60) that determines the coordinates of its location and transmits them to the processor (10).

Images