Compound Eye Laser Tracking Device with Multiaperture Optics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current semi-active laser (SAL) spot-tracking missile seekers have limited field-of-view and suffer from high ambient noise, particularly in bright sunlight conditions, making them inefficient for precision guidance and image sensing.
Innovation Solution
A wide field-of-view compound eye optics system using a multiaperture compound receiver optics (MACRO) with spectral and angle filters, biometrically inspired lens arrays, and holographic optical elements to track laser-illuminated targets without moving parts, providing accurate azimuth and elevation corrections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If single aperture optics is used in SAL seekers, then the device structure is simple, but the field-of-view is limited (about 10°) which is insufficient for target search and acquisition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single aperture into multiple apertures (lens array) to simultaneously achieve wide field-of-view and maintain manageable device complexity. Each lens in the array handles a specific angular sector, collectively providing >10° FOV while keeping individual lens requirements simple
2Device complexity
If single aperture optics is used in SAL seekers, then the device structure is simple, but the ambient noise is relatively high making them inefficient in blocking bright sunlight
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the aperture into multiple lenses with associated light guides and filters, the system achieves superior sunlight rejection. Each aperture-lens-filter combination can be optimized independently, allowing complex noise filtering without requiring a completely complex overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different optical properties to different parts of the system - specific lenses have specific field-of-view limitations, light guides have specific transmission properties, and filters have specific spectral characteristics. This local optimization enables effective sunlight blocking while maintaining manageable overall device complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If wide field-of-view compound eye optics is used, then the field-of-view is wide (>10°) enabling target search and acquisition, but the device complexity increases with multiple apertures and filtering components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into integrated components - lens arrays are combined with light guide arrays, spectral filters are integrated with angle filters, and detector arrays process signals from multiple apertures simultaneously. This merging achieves wide FOV capability while managing device complexity through functional integration
Solution Approach 2:
The compound eye optics system performs multiple functions simultaneously - target search, target acquisition, tracking, and sunlight rejection - all through the same multi-aperture structure with integrated filters and light guides, eliminating the need for separate systems for each function
4Object-affected harmful factors
If compound eye optics with spectral and angle filters is used, then the ambient noise is reduced and sunlight blocking is improved, but the device complexity increases with multiple filtering components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines spectral filtering and angular filtering into an integrated optical path for each aperture. The light guide itself provides angular selection while transmissive filters provide spectral selection, merging multiple filtering functions into a unified component arrangement rather than separate filtering stages
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise tracking and sensing of laser-illuminated targets with a wide field-of-view (>10°) and reduced noise, allowing for efficient operation even in the presence of bright sunlight, and can be used for various applications including missile guidance and vehicle convoy management.
Implementation Method 1
a lens array aligned with a light-guide array
Implementation Method 2
a light-guide array... directs the target laser beam to the detectors
Implementation Method 3
The angle and spectral filters, combined with light guides, fiber optic bundles, and/or holographic optical elements, directs the target laser beam to the detectors
Implementation Method 4
filtering the signal to limit the angular field of view of each lens
Implementation Method 5
a set of detectors (typically four), and electronics
Implementation Method 6
holographic optical elements to track laser-illuminated targets
Data Source
AI summary
The Compound Eye Laser Illumination Seeker (CELIS) is a tracking system used to guide items to point at a laser-illuminated target, with the illumination being either pulsed or modulated at either a specific rate or within a range of rates. The CELIS, comprising a multiaperture compound receiver optics (MACRO) to collect the signal, a set of light guides to combine the received light into light representing individual angular sectors and redirect it to detectors whose output represents the illumination signal in that quadrant, a spectral filter, an angle filter, the set of detectors, and processing electronics. The output is an electronic signal indicating the angular difference between the pointing direction of the signal and the pointing direction of the tracking device.