Integrated Optical Seeker Head for Missile Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passive infrared seekers for missiles provide imprecise information about the state of motion, distance, and three-dimensional shape of targets, limiting hit accuracy, especially for dynamic targets, and existing solutions like radar sensors are bulky and difficult to integrate.
Innovation Solution
An optical device with multiple pixels, a light source, and a detection device, where the light source illuminates a predefined area of the optical sensor, allowing for precise distance and speed measurements through modulation methods and Doppler evaluation, enabling sub-pixel accuracy and compact integration into a seeker head.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If radar sensors are used to improve target information, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light source and optical sensor into a single integrated optical device that can be mounted on the missile. This merging eliminates the need for separate radar sensors, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through the integrated illumination-detection system.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical device serves multiple functions: illumination of the target, detection of reflected light, distance measurement, and target identification. This multi-functionality replaces what would traditionally require separate radar and optical systems, reducing overall system complexity while improving measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If external sensors are used to improve target detection, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light source and optical sensor are merged into a single integrated unit that is directly mountable on the missile. This eliminates the need for external sensors and complex integration mechanisms, reducing device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision through the unified optical path.
3Device complexity
If passive infrared seekers are used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The light source performs preliminary illumination of the target before detection occurs. This active illumination enables the optical sensor to capture sufficient reflected light for precise measurements of target state, distance, and motion, improving measurement precision while maintaining the simplicity of the seeker structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses modulated light sources and periodic detection cycles to extract precise target information. The modulation allows for accurate distance and velocity measurements through time-resolved detection, improving measurement precision without significantly increasing device complexity.
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
The optical device provides reliable and detailed target information, enhancing hit accuracy and enabling precise guidance of missiles by determining distance, speed, and distinguishing between targets and false targets, while being cost-effective and compact.
Implementation Method 1
the detection device is set up to detect the light emitted by the light source and reflected by the object
Implementation Method 2
an optical system which is set up to guide light from the light source to the optical sensor
Implementation Method 3
This optical (axis) harmonization is preferably implemented by a retroreflector, via which the light source can illuminate the optical sensor with a suitable wavelength
Implementation Method 4
the optical device makes it possible to determine the speed and/or the speed profile of the object by means of a Doppler evaluation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The device (1) has an optical sensor (3) provided with pixels. A light source (4) e.g. infrared-laser source, illuminates an object by an optical system (6), where the object is imaged by the optical system on a subarea of the predefined pixels of the sensor. A detection device (5) detects a light, which is emitted from the source and reflected by the object. The optical system includes a dichroic beam splitter (7), which separates optical radiations to the sensor or the detection device from a common beam path (8), or integrates the light of the source into the common beam path. An independent claim is also included for a method for operating a seeker head of a missile.