Patent ID: 6568627
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: F41G

Abstract:
A Side-Scatter Beamrider Guidance System for utilizing laser guidance beam that is scattered by atmospheric particles to steer a missile in its flight toward impact on a pre-selected target, said guidance system comprising: a beam projector for producing and emitting said laser guidance beam in the direction of said target, said beam projector comprising a laser source for outputting a laser beam of pre-determined pulse frequency, said beam being directed to move in azimuth and in elevation sufficiently to describe a guidance field of given dimensions, the center of said guidance field coinciding with the line-of-sight to said pre-selected target, said projector further having therein a means for directing said beam to achieve any given azimuth and elevation, said laser source being located at the missile launcher and being activated prior to or simultaneously with the launch of said missile, said beam projector further comprising a first scan mirror and a second scan mirror, said mirrors deflecting incident laser beam in azimuth and in elevation, respectively, wherein said first and second scan mirrors are scannable by pre-chosen scan amplitudes and are driven by first and second scan motors, said first and second scan motors being coupled to said first and second scan mirrors, respectively, said mirrors further being aligned with respect to each other and to said source such that said laser beam from said source is incident on and deflected by both said mirrors in sequence, said laser beam finally being emitted outwardly in the direction of said pre-selected target; a means for detecting guidance beam scattered by said atmospheric particles and producing electrical signals in response thereto, said detecting means being located on the missile; a signal processor coupled to said detecting means, said processor receiving said electrical signals from said detecting means and calculating therefrom position signals indicative of the position of said missile relative to said line-of-sight, said position signals steering said missile to fly toward a more direct impact on said pre-selected target.