Harmonic shuttered seeker

摘要

A dual-mode, semi-active, laser-based and passive image-based seeker for projectiles, missiles, and other ordnance that persecute targets by detecting and tracking energy scattered from targets. The disclosed embodiments use a single digital imager having a single focal plane array sensor to sense data in both the image-based and laser-based modes of operation. A shuttering technique allows the relatively low frame-rate of the digital imager to detect, decode and localize in the imager's field-of-view a known pulse repetition frequency (PRF) from a known designator in the presence of ambient light and other confusing target designators, each having a different PRF.

主权项

1. A method of detecting and decoding locking pulses having a predetermined PRF, the method comprising:
dividing, by a controller, a pulse interval of the predetermined PRF into a plurality of repeating subintervals; exposing, by an imager, alternating ones of said plurality of repeating subintervals; determining, by said controller, whether two or more received pulses are received in one of said subintervals by said exposing; and identifying, by said controller, said one of said subintervals of said pulse interval, thereby detecting and decoding said received pulses of said one of said subintervals as having the predetermined PRF.