PmmW Imaging Receiver for Thermal Blooming Immune Target Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Directed energy weapon systems, such as high-energy laser (HEL) and high power microwave (HPM), face challenges with thermal blooming and in-band electromagnetic reflections, which affect target tracking and battle damage assessment due to increased IR signatures and saturation of optical detectors.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a passive millimeter wave (PmmW) imaging receiver with a gimbaled telescope to sense natural electromagnetic radiation, providing immune tracking capabilities distinct from IR bands and reducing interference from HEL or HPM reflections, allowing for real-time target tracking and battle damage assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional optical tracking system is used with HEL, then target tracking is provided, but thermal blooming occurs causing loss of track and saturation of optical detectors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating wavelength parameter from infrared/optical bands to millimeter wave band. This fundamental parameter change allows the tracking system to operate in a spectral region unaffected by thermal blooming, which is an infrared phenomenon. The millimeter wave imaging receiver detects radiation at wavelengths where thermal blooming does not cause signal loss or detector saturation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from detecting reflected laser energy (same dimension/wavelength) to detecting natural millimeter wave emissions (different dimension/wavelength). This dimensional change in the electromagnetic spectrum allows simultaneous operation with HEL without interference from the laser's thermal effects on the target.
2Loss of information
If a TIL in IR wavelengths is used for tracking, then angle and range information is provided, but the HEL reflected power saturates the optical detector
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection wavelength parameter from infrared to millimeter wave. This parameter change fundamentally separates the tracking system's operating band from the HEL laser's wavelength, eliminating detector saturation caused by reflected laser power while maintaining ability to detect target emissions and provide tracking information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces millimeter wave radiation as an intermediary medium for tracking. Instead of directly detecting reflected laser energy, the system uses natural millimeter wave emissions from the target as an intermediary carrier of target position and characteristic information, which is not affected by HEL power levels.
3Loss of time
If optical imaging is used for BDA during HEL engagement, then real-time assessment is possible, but thermal blooming prevents maintaining aimpoint and performing BDA
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the imaging wavelength from optical/infrared to millimeter wave, enabling real-time thermal blooming immune imaging during HEL engagement. This parameter change allows the imaging receiver to see through the thermal blooming effect and maintain aimpoint accuracy and BDA capability throughout the engagement process.
4Reliability
If PmmW imaging receiver is integrated with DE weapon, then immune tracking is achieved, but resolution is lower than traditional optical imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter to millimeter wave, which inherently provides lower spatial resolution compared to optical imaging. However, this parameter change is necessary to achieve reliability under engagement conditions, as millimeter waves are not affected by thermal blooming. The system accepts reduced resolution as a trade-off for maintaining reliable tracking during active HEL engagement.
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 PmmW imaging system effectively maintains target tracking and battle damage assessment capabilities, immune to thermal blooming and in-band electromagnetic reflections, offering a viable alternative for HEL and HPM systems with lower resolution but sufficient for required tracking information, reducing system size, weight, and cost while maintaining performance.
Implementation Method 1
a passive millimeter wave (PmmW) imaging receiver configured to form on an optical detector array, an optical image of a mmW scene within a field of view of the receiver from the mmW signals received
Implementation Method 2
As the HEL engages the target, the spot illuminated by the HEL heats up and causes an effect known as thermal blooming. Thermal blooming is the increase in IR signature due to an increase in temperature
Implementation Method 3
In an HPM system, the microwave source illuminates a broad area in an active prosecution mode
Data Source
AI summary
A DE energy weapon and tracking system includes a passive millimeter wave (PmmW) imaging receiver on a common gimbaled telescope to sense natural electromagnetic radiation from a mmW scene. The PmmW imaging receiver operates in a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum distinct from the IR bands associated with thermal blooming or the HEL laser. In the case of a HPM source, the reflected energy is either in a different RF band and/or of diminished amplitude such as to not interfere with operation of the PmmW imaging receiver. Although lower resolution than traditional optical imaging, PmmW imaging provides a viable alternative for target tracking when the DE weapon is actively prosecuting the target and provides additional tracking information when the DE weapon is not engaged.