DE3119773A1 - Method for warning against enemy laser radiation, and a device for this purpose - Google Patents

Description

- 6 - Ma / Kr / 518

description

Warning procedure for opposing laser radiation and device for this

The invention relates to a warning method for your own weapon systems before the laser radiation of enemy targets, that uses a laser transmitter and a laser receiver, which receives radiation through an input lens and supplies it to evaluation electronics and a device to carry out this procedure.

Such a device treats the DE-OS 24 53 265. It is used in addition to determining the direction of incidence of electromagnetic radiation primarily as a challenge / response system as found identifier enemy use in practice to carry out a \ friend /. From the DE-AS

J 28 52 224 a warning device is known, the internal

\ · Half of a large solid angle range of IR headlights and \ 15 laser radiation is detected and the direction and type % of the laser radiation is displayed.

The present invention is based on the object an early warning of incident laser radiation from the enemy within the largest possible image field and, if possible, to initiate effective countermeasures at the same time. This object is achieved according to the invention solved by a combination of the following measures

25th

a) in your own weapon system is a laser receiver with one - radiation from the entire field of view of the

- 7 - Ma / Kr / 518

Lens receiving and a central aperture having - sensor arrangement used,

b) that before being illuminated by the opposing target

Already roughly aligned weapon systems are then - as a result of an opposing distance measurement or other lighting - finely adjusted and
10

c) that is illuminated due to its laser radiation or by • its own laser target illuminator perceived target is selected as most threatening for the first fight. ■ 'It is based on the idea that with an illumination by an opposing laser rangefinder (LEM for short) immediately after the distance measurement of the Shot takes place, so that countermeasures only have a chance of success if the enemy and his or her opponent are discovered Combat with your own weapon within a few seconds. Is this guaranteed that the laser radiation does not come from a friendly object, counterreactions can automatically be made to the beam detection. . . ■

functions are coupled, for example in such a way that when multiple targets - e.g. in a concentrated attack by an entire tank formation - one target is selected for immediate combat, as a result of a distance measurement carried out by him or lighting for the use of laser-guided weapons poses an immediate danger.

In connection with your own LEM, a first effective measure against the enemy threat is "" in it.

■ j U.: ": = -;,:.": 1 3119771

- 8 - Ma / Kr / 518

; seen that at one exactly in the optical axis

· ■ of the visor incident through the aperture

j opposing radiation triggers its own laser distance measurement and / or a frequency doubler

05 Module is swiveled in to make the opponent more visible

^; To dazzle laser radiation. The use of a fre-

] frequency doubler module is advantageous because one warrants

] it must be ensured that the shining opponent has a

: jump if you use your own weapons that

10 a time of several seconds to bypass the

I need a distance to the goal. If that

\ * Target only within the field of view of your own sight

\ facility is located in this way in extreme

I react effectively for a short time.

! 15 "

I In the above context, for reasons of

j speed makes sense if fine readjustment of the

■ I own weapons system manually or automatically and that

j - pivoting of the frequency doubler module is carried out automatically 20. For manual alignment of the weapon system, the position of the opposing laser source can be displayed as a luminous point in the field of view of the sight, or the storage coordinates of the opposing laser source can be used from the weapon axis via a fire control computer to track the weapon system for automatic alignment. A Nd: YAG laser is expediently used as the laser transmitter and a LiNiobate crystal is used as the frequency doubler module. This allows the laser radiation emitted by the laser transmitter in the 30 µm wavelength range to be converted into a nm wavelength range. In other words, the invisible and held by corresponding interference elimination filter at the opponent 1.06 ^um-1 Laserstrah ung is converted to 530 nm laser radiation 35 which is in the range of maximum sensitivity

- MiHr / 518

ability of the human eye and thus the highest transmission of the opponent's optical sight Gunner lies. This measure has the advantage that it moves in a straight line at the speed of light and a high-power laser pulse that spreads sharply in a focused manner and immediately blinds the enemy gunner or damages, so that he is no longer able to complete the control process. After a further inventive ideas are provided, not one Single pulse, but, if the LEM allows this, a sequence of laser pulses with the smallest possible time intervals ^ to send out, whereby the effect on the opponent is increased.

A further development of the invention can be seen in the fact that the laser receiver - one after the other and centrically arranged to the optical axis - from the input lens, a pinhole with the central aperture and that surrounding this opening on the beam entry side Sensor arrangement, a receiver diode and an amplifier for the laser rangefinder, the individual elements of the sensor arrangement via separate Amplifier channels are electrically connected to the evaluation electronics, via the mapping through the input

Objectively, the sensors are discrete, contiguous Monitoring angle ranges assigned, with only the area of the pinhole of the laser receiver own LEM is excluded from the monitoring, as this is the area in which an immediate target attack can be done, provided the weapon is precisely aligned. Of course, the laser receiver can be used in the Warning process can be switched on if it detects laser radiation without its own laser transmitter radiation sends out. Separation of natural and extraneous radiation is easy in this case, since the distance

* W ν ν Η

_ "1O -" "" "" "Mä / Kr / 518

* <r ■ ν *

measuring process when the laser beam is emitted, a receiver triggering takes place, which triggers the distance measurement. Through electronic signal processing, can be achieved that a distinction is made between continuous wave laser signal, 05 single pulse, laser pulse train and thus

the enemy laser source and possibly the associated weapon system can be inferred.

A great advantage is that all laser receivers 10 groups of a LEM with the exception of the receiver aperture required for target selection I without modification.

\ , can be applied. This receiver diaphragm, designed as a pinhole diaphragm, is located in the image plane of the input lens and has an angular extent of

] 15 0.2 mrad to 0.5 and is harmon.isiert on the line of sight of the optically i tables or optronic visor. the

I Receiver diode for the LEM is with or without

I light-collecting additional elements - immediately behind the

I usually circular aperture.

] ²⁰

I For the design of the sensor field in the field of view

I. area of the input lens around the aperture

j there are two fundamentally different arrangements

I nungen: The design of the sensor arrangement can vary

'"2

ι; 25 either from square η arranged in the focal plane Assemble individual elements or it consists of one arranged outside the focal plane Quadrant receiver, with its surface then round or can be formed angularly or consist of several concentrically arranged round or angular surfaces composed, which are divided into sectors. In the first case, determine the size of the sensitive Area of the individual elements and the focal length of the lens, the individual surveillance sectors. To the exact 35 Determining the direction of incidence is a major one here

- 11 "■" "" Mä "/ Kr / 518

Number of individual elements required, e.g. through an electronic multiplex process is continuously queried will. In the second case, sensor groups are arranged in front of the focal plane. The one to be assumed as punctiform The laser source is represented as a spot that is distributed over several neighboring sensors and the respective Direction of incidence by comparing the signals from neighboring ones Sensors detected. A smaller number of individual elements is sufficient here, with the smallest gaps between them need to connect and are designed to be larger. The serial processing is difficult in the first case the discrimination of single pulse and pulse train, while the parallel processing of the single channels den The disadvantage is that extensive electronics and high linearity of the amplification channels are required to determine the direction.

Another feature of the invention provides that the input lens with a 90 ° opposite the optical Axis-inclined spectral splitter layer that allows visible radiation to pass into the optical sight and the laser radiation is optically connected downstream in the prism system reflecting the laser receiver, both the surface of the prism system facing away from the objective and associated with the visible radiation as also the surface, which runs perpendicular to it and is assigned to the laser radiation, in each case with the focal plane of the objective coincides. It is useful if

ρ
the sensor arrangement with the η square individual elements and the diaphragm opening is arranged directly behind the surface provided with a corresponding opening for the laser radiation.

In the event that the position of the laser source is displayed According to a further concept of the invention, there is the surface of the prism system in the image plane of the visor

Γ τ - * m

w *

- "ί2" - "" "" '"Mtf / Kr / 518

for the visible radiation, i.e. the target mark, from a liquid crystal display unit designed in this way is that it fills the entire image field and, thanks to an electronic target marker generator, not just the line combinations the target mark can be generated, but a laser warning symbol at every point in the image field (Dot or cross symbol) that indicates the presence of a laser source. To display a single laser pulse To enable, according to a further inventive idea, the laser warning symbol should have a defined Time after the detection are displayed in the target mark field, whereby it is possible without great effort by Switching on and off to generate a flashing signal that is more noticeable to the gunner. An audible warning is also possible.

In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to a drawing, the in parts corresponding to one another in the individual figures have the same reference numbers. It shows

Fig. 1 is a battle tank of your own side, at

ι that in the gunner's field of view there are three

nerische battle tanks act, one of which

% 25 your own vehicle with a laser beam

$. ■. lights up, which is illuminated by the laser warning receiver in the

f gunner sights are received,

2 shows a schematic representation of the optical beam path of the laser receiving channel of a

conventional LEM (a) and a laser receiving channel with the warning sensor arrangement (b) integrated according to the invention,

35. Fig. 3 examples of the design of the warning sensor arrangement in the focal plane of the input lens (a) or in front of the focal plane (b), (c) and (d),

χ 1

- 13 - Ma / Kr / 518

4 shows the schematic representation of the warning sensor arrangement and the target mark projection device with laser position display when using a common input lens for laser receiver and optical sight as well as separation of the laser radiation from the visible or sighting radiation,

5 shows a possibility for the configuration of a liquid crystal display unit for target mark projection and position information of the opposing laser source and

6 shows the schematic representation of its own laser transmitter with a frequency doubler module outside of the beam (a) or within the beam (b).

In Fig. 1, three armored vehicles 1 to 3 are in the field of view angle range 4 of the gunner of the main battle tank

shown, of which the vehicle 1, the battle tank 5 with - a laser beam 6 illuminated by the schematically The warning sensor arrangement 7 shown is received and for determining the position of 1 in relation to the line of sight of 7 is used to show the gunner that the vehicle 1 is the most threatening target.

2a shows the optical beam path of a conventional laser receiver 8 with the input lens 9, the pinhole 10 in the focal plane of the lens, the receiver diode 11 and the downstream amplifier 12, which amplifies the electrical signals. The one emitted by the laser transmitter 34 (FIG. 6) and reflected from the target Laser radiation is indicated by the arrow 13 and enters the parallel to the optical axis 14

- 14 - Ma / Kr / 518

Lens and falls through the aperture 15 on • ■ the receiver diode 11. A penetration through the lens 9

\ tender laser beam from a foreign transmitter 16 is on

i · the impermeable part of the diaphragm 10 and

: 05 not indicated, which is a particular danger.

In Fig. 2b, the embodiment according to the invention is the j Orifice 10 shown in section, in which the entrance

The side facing \ pupil next to the aperture 15

10 has a sensor arrangement, which 'also for the ^laser: is radiation sensitive and provides .Electrical signals,

j which the presence and the position of the obliquely

] indicates falling laser radiation in the focal plane. These

j The sensor arrangement is shown as a hatched layer 17

15 and explained in more detail below in FIG. 3. In

Fig. 2b is also shown that the incident in the optical axis 14 laser radiation 13, 1-6 * - in which it is I own radiation reflected by the target or a

those of a foreign broadcaster can act - through the

'20 aperture 15 hits the receiver diode 11. Equal-I early it is shown that obliquely incident laser

I - radiation 16 on the surface of the sensor arrangement 17 I is focused and provides an electrical signal,

das.in further processed in the evaluation electronics 18 25 is that the position of the opposing laser source in the image field of the lens 9 is prepared for further processing will.

! Fig. 3 shows four examples of the design options

I 30 possibility of the sensor arrangement 17, in which not shown in I posed as self-contained areas

j illustrated individual elements isolated from one another

j can deliver separate signals. All sensor arrangements

j have the pinhole 15 of the LEM in the center. For example

j ³⁵ · of FIG. 3a, the sensor arrangement consists of η quadrati-! see individual elements 19. The position of a stranger

f · »ft«

- 15 Ma / Kr / 518:

The laser source is shown as a point source 20 in the focal plane, the position of which is x, y relative to the optical axis 14 is represented in a known manner by the position of the irradiated element in the checkerboard pattern. The sensor arrangements 3b to 3d differ from that of FIG. 3a in that the sensor surfaces are arranged outside the focal plane and thus point sources as surface radiators (circular areas 21) ■ are displayed, the center of which defines the position of the point source in relation to the optical axis. By Sum / difference formation of the electrical signals from the Individual elements exposed to the laser radiation this focus can easily be determined. Fig. 3b shows the quadrant receiver known per se, the e.g. as a seeker head version for end-phase guided projectiles with laser target lighting. Figures 3c and 3d represent variants with a finer subdivision, both radial and sector-shaped, which have a higher measurement accuracy enable.

Fig. 4 shows an optronic arrangement in which the lens 9 common to the laser receiver 8 and the optical Gunner's sight 27 is used. The separation of these two channels takes place via the convergent one Beam path of the input lens 9 arranged prism system 22 with the help of a spectral splitter layer 23, which reflects the laser radiation and lets the visible radiation through. The prism is designed so that the surfaces 24 for the laser channel and 25 for the sighting channel coincide with the focal plane of the lens. The sensor arrangement 17 shown in Fig. 3a with the aperture 15 closes directly on the Surface 24, so that the laser radiation shown by the dashed arrow 16 from an external laser source on the surface of the sensor array at the point

_ 16 - * "'" Mä * / Kr / 518

is focused. The position of the laser source is calculated in a known and therefore not described in detail in the evaluation electronics 18 'and converted into control signals for the symbol generator 28, which superimposes a laser warning symbol 31 (FIG. 5) on the signal of the target mark generator 29, which in the selected example is a \ Liquid crystal display unit drives and target mark

■ and correctly positioned laser source symbol 31

j testifies.

'10'

] In Fig. 5, the target mark symbol 32 and the laser warning

] symbol 31 on the liquid crystal display unit 30

shown schematically. Fig. 6b shows schematically the generation of a frequency-doubled laser radiation 15 pivoting a LiNiobate crystal 33 into the laser beam of the laser transmitter 34, which in the selected example of the Nd: YAG laser in addition to the typical 1064 nm radiation also the hatched 530 n radiation.36 with the same focus is generated and emitted in the same direction. In Fig. 6a, however, is the LiNiobate crystal 33 shown in the state swiveled out of the beam path.

Claims (19)

- ΐ "-" '* "*" Nia "? Kr / 518 ELTRO GMBH GESELLSCHAFT FÜR RRAHLUNGSTECHNIK 6900 Heidelberg, Kurpfalzring 106 Claims Warning procedure for your own weapon systems before the laser radiation of enemy targets, which a laser transmitter and uses a laser receiver that emits radiation *. receives through an input lens and one Evaluation electronics, marked by the combination of the following features a) in your own weapon system is a laser receiver (8) with a - radiation from the entire field of view. of the lens (9) receiving and a centric Sensor arrangement (17) having a diaphragm opening (15) is used, b) before being illuminated by the opposing target (1) Already roughly aligned weapons system is then - as a result of an enemy range measurement or other lighting - finely adjusted and ' c) the perceived target (1), which is illuminated due to its laser radiation or by its own remote laser target illuminator, is selected as - mostly threatening to the initial combat. • a 1 · * 2 1- · "---" "-.-.:. Ma / Kr / 518 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that at a precisely in opposing radiation incident on the optical axis (14) of the visor (27) through the aperture (15) triggered its own laser distance measurement and / or a frequency doubler module (33) swiveled in will. 3. The method according to claim 1 and 2, characterized characterized that the fine adjustment of your own weapon system, manually or automatically, and swiveling in the frequency doubler module (33) is carried out automatically. 4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the manual alignment of the weapon system Position of the opposing laser source in the image field of the optical sight (27) as a luminous point (20) or for automatic alignment.] the storage coordinates of the opposing laser source - be used by the weapon axis via a fire control computer to track the weapon system. 5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laser transmitter (34) is an ND: YAG laser and the frequency doubler module (33) a LiNiobate crystal is used. 6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - The one from the laser transmitter (34) in the µm wavelength range emitted laser radiation (35) with the help of the frequency doubler module (33) is converted into a nm wavelength range (36). - 3 - Ma / Kr / 518 7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Sequences of laser pulses (37) of the smallest time intervals are emitted. 8. Device for performing the method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the laser receiver (8) - in sequence and centered on the optical Axis (14) arranged - from the input lens (9), a perforated diaphragm (10) with the central diaphragm * opening (15) and this opening on the beam entry side surrounding sensor arrangement (17), a receiver diode (11) and an amplifier (12) for The laser rangefinder consists of the individual elements of the sensor arrangement via separate Amplifier channels are electrically connected to the evaluation electronics (18) (Fig. 2). 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that that the aperture plate (10) has an angular extent of 0.2 to 0.5 mrad and on the optical axis (14) of the visor (27) • is harmonized. 10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor arrangement (17) from in the focal plane 2
arranged η quadrati composed (Fig. 3a). ρ
arranged η square individual elements (19) 11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor arrangement (17) consists of a quadrant receiver arranged outside the focal plane (Fig. 3b). ι ·: Q _p Γ: ξ ::; _: :: - ·; 3113773 ': - 4 - Ma / Kr / 518 12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that - i indicates that the surface of the Quadrant receiver is round or angular j or made up of several concentrically arranged ι 05 composed of round or angular surfaces, the sec- | are divided into a gate (Fig. 3c and 3d). ; 13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, \ characterized in that j 10 the input lens (9) with a 90 ° opposed } over the optical axis (14) inclined spectral j * divider layer (23) provided, the visible beam I treatment into the optical visor (27) \ and the laser radiation (18) into the laser receiver j 15 (8) reflective prism system (22) optically I is switched. i 14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, ] characterized in that .j 20 both those facing away from the input lens (9), the I surface (25) of the surface associated with visible radiation js prism system (22) as well as that perpendicular to it I running surface (24) assigned to the laser radiation, each with the focal plane of the input I 25 lens collapses. '■ . 15. Device according to one of the preceding claims, : 'characterized in that the \ Sensor arrangement (17) with the η square individual I 30 elements (19) and the aperture (15) directly \ bar behind the • see surface (24) for the laser radiation (16) is arranged. - 5 - "Ma / Kr / 518 16. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaluation electronics (18 ¹ ) electrically connected to the surface (24) for the laser radiation emit control signals corresponding to the position of the opposing laser source to a symbol generator (28) which in turn sends a laser warning symbol superimposed on the signal of a target marker generator (29) controlling the surface (25) for visible radiation. 17. The device according to claim 16, characterized in that • k e η ri shows that the surface (25) for visible radiation consists of a liquid crystal display unit (30).
15th 18. Apparatus according to claim 16 and 17, characterized in that the laser warning symbol (31) consists of a point symbol or a cross symbol, which is a defined time after the detection tion of a single laser pulse on the as target mark field formed surface (25) can be displayed (Fig. 5). 19. Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that that the display consists of a visual or acoustic continuous or intermittent Signal exists.