Patent ID: 6396233
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: G05B,H01Q,Y10T

Abstract:
A ball joint gimbal system for use with a seeker of a missile to track a target comprising:a gimballed mirror positioned within the seeker of said missile for receiving image forming light from said target and then directing said image forming light along a first light path; a fixed mirror positioned on said first light path to receive said image forming light from said gimballed mirror and then direct said image forming light along a second light path; focusing optics positioned on said second light path to receive said image forming light from said fixed mirror, said focusing optics focusing said image forming light on a fixed imager positioned on said second light path; a ball joint rotatably coupled to said gimballed mirror to allow for rotational movement said gimballed mirror about said ball joint; first, second, third and fourth braided lines, each of said first, second, third and fourth braided lines having one end thereof connected to said gimballed mirror; servo motor means connected to an other end of said first, second, third and fourth braided lines; and digital signal processor means for receiving steering signals from an external steering device, said digital signal processing means processing said steering signals to generate mirror position commands and provide said mirror position commands to said servo motor means; said servo motor means, responsive to said mirror position commands, continuously adjusting a length for each of said first, second, third and fourth braided lines to steer said gimballed mirror and maintain a line of sight to said target to continuously track said target.