Instantaneous passive range finding

摘要

A method and apparatus for use in determining the range in a single time sample from a platform to a target are disclosed. The method includes receiving radiation emanating from the target at two points on the platform in a common time sample; detecting the received radiation and generating a signal representative thereof; and processing the signal. The signal is processed to determine a respective angle to target from two points on the platform by using a correlation between received signal amplitude and respective angle; and determine the range from the platform to the target from the respective angles and the separation distance between said two points in a single signal-to-noise sufficient sample. The apparatus includes a plurality of optical channels through which the apparatus can receive radiation emanating from the target, the optical channels and a plurality of electronics. The optical channels include a windowing system through which the radiation is received; a sensor capable of detecting the received radiation and generating a signal representative thereof; and a light tube between the windowing system and the detector. The electronics are capable of processing the signal in accordance with the method set forth above.