EP0082445A2 - Device for controlling and/or monitoring the operation of a projectile's fuzing - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to be able to set and / or monitor the mode of operation of a projectile detonator, the detonator (5) is equipped with an electronic circuit and the gun firing the projectile (4) is equipped with a programming device (2). The programming device (2) supplies an energy signal (6) for the energy supply to the circuit at the detonator (5) and a suitable data signal with which the projectile detonator is programmed. The circuit on the igniter (5) reports on the function and correct programming via a response device (7). The programming device (2) is arranged on the gun or in its vicinity in such a way that the signals are transmitted before or when the projectile (4) is loaded. State of the art: DE-OS 29 44 115 DE-OS 29 19 753 (Mp.No. 558 79) DE-PS 25 08 201 (Mp.No. 523 75) DE-OS 29 20 853 US-PS 41 44 815 U.S. Patent 36 70 652 U.S. Patent 38 44 217

Description

The invention relates to a device for setting and / or monitoring the operation of an electronic detonator for projectiles by transmitting a microwave data signal and a microwave energy signal from a device outside to a device inside the detonator, the device inside the detonator comprising an energy receiver Rectifier for generating a supply voltage, a data receiver, a data processing unit and a detonator electronics, the device outside the detonator consists of an energy transmitter, an input / output unit and a data transmitter.

Such a device is known from US-PS 41 44 815. The setting values for the projectile detonator calculated by a fire control computer are modulated onto a microwave signal and emitted by an antenna which is seated in a bore in the gun barrel. The gun barrel itself serves as a microwave conductor. A receiving antenna on the igniter picks up the radiated microwave signal and passes it via a switch either to a rectifier device, which generates and stores a DC supply voltage from it, or to a filter acting as a demodulator, which filters the data from the incoming signal.

To set the detonator, an energy signal of high power is first transmitted, so that a sufficiently high DC voltage for supplying the data and detonator electronics is available during the subsequent data transmission and detonator programming. The data is transmitted by means of a low-power, amplitude-modulated microwave signal.

A disadvantage of the known solution is the fact that the gun barrel must be drilled in order to be able to use the microwave antenna; pressures of over 3000 bar and temperatures between 2000 and 3000 ⁰ C occur in the gun barrel, the tube temperature itself being between 60 and 600 ⁰ C. Another disadvantage is that the duration of the data transmission is limited by the storage capacity of the rectifier circuit. This storage capacity also limits the time between the data transmission and the launch of the projectile. Otherwise the memory of the igniter electronics would lose the stored data. For this reason, data transmission is only possible immediately before firing and only once.

It is therefore not possible to check the correct transmission of the igniter setting data; it is also not possible to check the igniter electronics for errors.

A similar device is also known from DE-A 29 44 115. It is a magnetic induction device with at least two independent magnetic control circuits, one of which is used for the transmission of the energy signal and the other for the transmission of a data signal. This known device allows the detonator to transmit the required energy and the various information signals individually after the projectile has been fired. It is of course absolutely necessary to provide means for adjusting the angle of the transmitting part in relation to the receiving part so that the different transmission windings come to lie in the correct position relative to the assigned reception windings. The known device may enable the information transmitted to the detonator to be read in again for checking and possible change. The data transmitted to the detonator are, for example, the target time to trigger, the time delay between the detection of a specific event and the actual triggering, the distance to the target object to be triggered, the response threshold of sensors, the time and method of the Disassembly of cluster munitions etc.

In practice, the use of the known device brings with it almost insoluble difficulties. So it is very difficult to ensure the correct position of the transmitting and receiving coils to each other. Another difficulty arises from the fact that the transmitter coils have to be arranged at the outlet end of the gun or launcher tube, since a mutual movement between the transmitter and receiver coils is required for the function, as a result of which the transmitter coils are exposed to high pressures and temperatures and, if appropriate, to enemy fire .

From DE-A 29 20 853 a transport container with a plurality of chambers is known, each of which serves to receive a projectile which has an electrically adjustable detonator. An igniter adjustment cap is provided in each chamber and is attached to the respective igniter. Electrical signals reach the detonator via the detonator adjustment cap in order to set it before it is removed from the chamber. A network connects each adjustment cap to input circuits that receive coded signals from a source, e.g. a fire control computer.

With this solution, the setting of the electronic detonators takes place by wire and contact, whereby special ammunition boxes must be used. It is very cumbersome and also susceptible to malfunctions in rough operation. In addition, it is expensive, since all previously used transport boxes would have to be replaced with new ones.

The US-PS 36 70 652 shows an electronic detonator, the ignition characteristics of which can be set via radio. The igniter contains its own power source. A microwave transmitter is used for the remote transmission of the data. The antenna on the projectile detonator is a slot antenna. executed.

The US-PS 38 44 217 shows an electronic detonator whose time base is set mechanically before starting. The set data can be changed during the flight using a radar transmitter. An inertia generator and / or a battery is used to power the igniter. The latter two US patents also disclose electrical circuit details of the data signal receiver, data processing unit and the actual detonator electronics. In both cases, however, there is no possibility of checking the correct function and the correct transmission of the igniter settings.

It is also known to program projectile detonators by mechanically rotating rings provided on the outside of the detonator. As a result, however, the amount of information to be transmitted is very limited, only an optical control is possible and, due to the mechanical programming, it takes a relatively long time.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a device of the type mentioned at the outset which makes it possible to establish an information connection with the projectile detonator, which enables secure data transmission and allows the data of the projectile detonator to be checked, with fault diagnosis possibly being carried out, which can be repeated at any time. The device should only need a small volume and weight and work without its own electrical energy supply and be quick and cheap.

This object is achieved in that the device is arranged outside the detonator in such a way that the microwave signals are transmitted before or during loading of the projectile carrying the detonator into the gun, that the energy signal and data signal are transmitted together and simultaneously, that the device inside the detonator additionally contains a response signal transmitter, that the device outside the detonator additionally has a response signal receiver, that information is transmitted and exchanged in both directions by means of data signal and response signal, and that only one antenna is provided to the detonator and one device outside the detonator for receiving or transmitting energy, data and response signals.

In the context of this application, the term "gun" should be understood to mean both barrel weapons and launcher devices. The term "projectile" should be understood to mean any type of ammunition which is capable of carrying an electronic data processing device and detonator electronics and an antenna.

This results in the advantages that the gun barrel does not have to be changed, that the data transmission in both directions can take practically any length of time, since the energy signal, data signal and, if appropriate, response signal are transmitted simultaneously, so that no energy storage is required for the supply voltage in the detonator electronics that the safety when firing a projectile is guaranteed, that no changes to the projectile, gun, transport boxes, etc. are required, that an information exchange from the fire control computer, which is also used to control the detonator function, is possible to the detonator and vice versa, and that this information exchange can take place at any time and as often as required and that a function check of the detonator between the time of its manufacture and the time of its use, for example in the ammunition depot, is possible at any time.

The invention makes use of the devices described in DE-A 25 08 201 and in particular DE-A 29 19 753. These are systems that consist of a stationary interrogation device and a mobile answering device. The interrogator has an energy transmitter and an opening code transmitter, which in an opening code memory and possibly one Opening code additional memory sends stored opening code, as well as a license plate receiver and a data processing unit. The responder contains an energy receiver which converts the radiated energy into the power supply for the electronics of the responder. Furthermore, the answering device contains an opening code receiver with a downstream opening code comparator, which compares the code stored in an opening code memory and, if applicable, additional opening code memory with the code received via the radio path. The output signal of the opening code comparator controls a license plate transmitter via an opening code processor. The number plate to be sent by the number plate transmitter via a further radio path to the interrogation device is stored in a number plate memory and possibly in one or more additional number plate memories. With the help of an additional license plate coding receiver in the answering device, the license plate part stored in the additional license plate memory can be changed as desired via radio. Since the radiated energy is naturally small, but the number plate transmitter should emit a response signal that is as high in energy as possible in order to achieve a long range, the signal carrier to be emitted by the number plate transmitter can be generated in the stationary interrogation device and with the energy beam and the opening code to the mobile answering device are transmitted where the response signal carrier is only modulated by the license plate transmitter before it is re-emitted.

If the invention is used, the entire ammunition is equipped with one responder, if appropriate. Since the answering device essentially consists of a transmitting and receiving antenna, a rectifier circuit, a code memory and comparator circuit, an igniter electronic circuit and a return device exists, which is designed as an integrated semiconductor circuit, and a battery is not required for the power supply, the spatial dimensions of the answering device can be kept very small by a suitable choice of the transmission and reception frequencies.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, after a suitable data signal has been transmitted, the proper functioning of the igniter electronics can be carried out at any time, i.e. not only when loading the gun, checked and reported back. In this way, faulty detonators can be retired before they are fired.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the antenna on the igniter is circularly polarized. The positional dependence of the data transmission that is normally present is reliably prevented as a result of a linear polarization of both antennas. Although it would be possible to apply several linearly polarized antennas to the detonator, this results in the need to go to extremely high frequencies, since the space on the detonator tip or on the outside of the detonator is generally limited. When moving to extremely high frequencies in the gigahertz range, small antenna dimensions can be achieved, but the power flow is limited by the effective antenna area. Small antenna areas result in a small power flow. However, this contradicts the need to transmit as much power as possible in order to be able to supply the device within the igniter with a sufficient supply voltage. It has proven to be advantageous to make the antenna at the igniter circularly polar.

Preferably the antenna is mounted on the flat front end of the igniter. This arrangement facilitates it for the operating personnel to ensure that the antennas are oriented towards one another for the correct transmission of energy and data; the tip of the projectile must be held in a simple manner in the direction of the setting device next to the gun.

According to an advantageous development, the connection line between the antenna on the detonator tip and the electronic device inside the detonator is at high accelerations, i.e. when firing the projectile, destructible. This prevents the detonator setting data from being changed by electronic countermeasures by the enemy after the projectile has been fired.

Advantageously, the device contains an identifier memory within the igniter, which is loaded with an individual identifier when the igniter setting data is transmitted. While it has hitherto been customary to provide electronic response devices such as radar transponders, etc. with an individual license plate address ex works, in order to be able to address them individually at any time later, this is not absolutely provided in the present invention. Rather, all detonators are preferably "nameless" ex works. When programming the detonator, a consecutive number is assigned as an individual address, so that each detonator can then be addressed, programmed, checked and fired individually. Since usually a programmed detonator is fired within a relatively short time, the number of digits required for the number plate memory is very small, whereas according to the conventional method the number of digits would have to be kept very large, since the number of detonators produced is naturally very large. If, for practical reasons, an already named and programmed detonator is not fired, it is entirely possible to rename or reprogram it.

Advantageously, the device contains a filter within the detonator which continuously filters the data signal out of the received signal mixture of energy signal and data signal. Such devices are known in principle from the prior art described at the outset.

According to a special embodiment of the invention which improves the safety of the fore-pipe and the security against overflights, only the data receiver, the data processing unit and the response signal transmitter, but not the actual ignition circuit, are supplied with the supply voltage obtained from the energy signal. This measure is not always fulfilled in the prior art described at the outset.

It need not be particularly emphasized that the data exchange between the interrogation device and the answering device of the device used according to the invention for the automatic identification of objects and / or living beings must be secured by suitable measures against opposing location and reprogramming. The opening code memories and comparators provided in the device for the automatic identification of objects and / or living beings and the freely programmable additional memories serve well here.

Further features essential to the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

Based on the drawing, the invention will be explained in more detail in the form of an embodiment.

• Fig. 1 eine schematische Anordnung von Zünder und Zünder-Programmiergerät,
• Fig. 2 einen Querschnitt durch einen Geschoßzünder,
• Fig. 3 ein Blockschaltbild einer Vorrichtung außerhalb und einer Vorrichtung innerhalb des Zünders,
• Fig. 4 eine Draufsicht auf eine Mikrowellen-Empfangs-und -Sendeschaltung und
• Fig. 5 das elektrische Ersatz-Schaltbild der Empfangsschaltung.

Show it:

• 1 shows a schematic arrangement of igniter and igniter programming device,
• 2 shows a cross section through a projectile fuse,
• 3 is a block diagram of a device outside and a device inside the igniter,
• Fig. 4 is a plan view of a microwave receiving and transmitting circuit and
• Fig. 5 shows the electrical equivalent circuit diagram of the receiving circuit.

1 shows a spatial assignment of an igniter 5 to an igniter programming device 2. This device 2 essentially contains an input / output unit, an energy transmitter, a data transmitter, a response signal receiver and a data processing unit. The wireless information connection from the device 2 to the detonator 5, which is screwed onto a floor 4, takes place via a first radio path 6. The response signals from the detonator 5 to the programming device 2 are reported back via a second radio path 7.

2 shows a cross section through the detonator 5. A metal part 10 tapering towards the front can be seen, at the rear end of which a thread 11 is provided, by means of which the detonator 5 can be screwed onto the projectile 4. Inside the igniter 5 there are various cavities 12, 13, 14, which can be used, among other things, to hold the usual igniter components, such as powder charge, fuse, battery, inertia generator, etc., and an electronic circuit 15, for example in the form of a, at a suitable location Integrated semiconductor circuit, which as a signal receiver, ger, data receiver, data processing unit, igniter electronics, license plate memory and response signal transmitter is connected. From the electronic circuit 15, an antenna line 16 leads to an antenna 18 mounted on the flat front end of the igniter 5. This antenna 18 is a microwave antenna which is applied in stripline technology to an insulating substrate 17 or is designed as a dielectric style radiator.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the antenna 18 is designed as a circularly polarized antenna in order to ensure a perfect radio connection without minima of the reception field strength, regardless of the rotational orientation of the igniter to the programming device 2.

By a suitable design of the antenna line 16 it can be achieved that it breaks off when the projectile is fired, so that the proper functioning, in particular of the detonator electronics, cannot be influenced by electronic measures by the enemy.

Fig. 3 shows in the form of a block diagram the internal structure of the programming device 2 and the electronic circuit 15 in the igniter. The programming device 2 contains an energy transmitter 21 which emits an energy beam 6.1. A data signal transmitter 25, which is modulated by a data signal generator 24, is also located in the interrogation device 2. The data signal generator receives its information, inter alia, from a label memory 27 and from a monitoring device 26. It also provides its information to a data processing unit 23. The data processing unit 23 also receives information from a response signal receiver 22 which receives response signals from the detonator circuit 15 via the radio path 7. The signals received by the response signal receiver 22 will be in data processing 23 evaluated, compared with the data from the code generator 24 and displayed if necessary. If the data processing unit 23 detects an error, this is evaluated in the monitoring device 26 and, for example, a repetition of the programming process is triggered.

In the electronic circuit 15 inside the igniter there is essentially an energy receiver 151 which converts the energy radiated by the energy transmitter 21 into a supply voltage for the other modules. The data signal transmitted via radio path 6.2 is received by a data signal receiver 152, demodulated and sent to a data processing unit 153. Depending on which signal was received, this causes the ignition electronics 154 to be set, the functionality to be checked and the determined data to be retransmitted. For this purpose, a response signal generator 155 is used, which modulates a response signal transmitter 157 accordingly. A central clock generator 156 obtains the clock for all data processing operations from the signals received by the data signal receiver 152 and distributes this to the individual modules.

The radio paths 6.1, 6.2 and 7 shown separately in the drawing for clarity can be used in practice with the help of only one _; single antenna are respectively broadcast or received in the programming device 2 or at the igniter 5. By transmitting information in both directions, it is possible to check the high-frequency transmission, to transmit and check the programmed data back and to check the proper functioning of the detonator logic (eg timer).

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of a receiving circuit for energy signal and data signal in the microwave area. A carrier plate made of dielectric 42 suitable for high frequency, e.g. made of aluminum oxide, polytetrafluoroethylene, etc. with a full-surface rear metallization 43. The flat front end of the igniter itself can serve as the rear metallization 43, for example. A receiving antenna 45 in the form of a square metal surface is located on the dielectric 42. Two diodes 46 are connected from antenna 45 to further metal surfaces 47. The metal surfaces 47 are connected via conductor connections 48 to further metal surfaces 49, from which connecting wires 410 are led to a semiconductor circuit 44.

The two metal surfaces 47, 49 and the connecting conductor 48 form a CLC circuit which acts as a sieve circuit and sieves and smoothes the microwave energy received by the receiving antenna 45 and rectified in the diodes 46, so that it is suitable as an operating voltage for the semiconductor circuit 44 .

A coupling arrangement 411 in the form of an LC series circuit can also be seen. With the aid of this coupling arrangement 411, a modulation energy transmitted with the microwaves and received by the receiving antenna 45 is coupled out at the output of the diodes 46 and is fed directly to the semiconductor circuit 44 as a data signal.

While the receiving antenna, rectifier circuit and semiconductor circuit are arranged on a single carrier substrate in FIG. 4, the antennas are advantageously arranged in the case of an igniter on the igniter tip, while the other components are arranged in a protected manner inside the igniter. As already described, the connection is made via the Antenna feed line.

FIG. 5 shows the electrical circuit diagram of the receiving circuit shown in FIG. 4. One of the two connections of the receiving antenna 55 acts as an electrical center and the two diodes 56.1, 56.2 are connected to the other connection in a voltage doubler circuit. At the output of the two diodes, charging capacitors 57.1, 57.2 are connected to the electrical center, while the electrical current flows through the filter chokes 58.1, 58.2 and further filter chokes 510.1, 510.2 to the voltage supply connections of the semiconductor circuit. This creates a DC supply voltage U =. Coupling arrangement 511 is also coupled to the output of diode 56.2, which couples out the modulation received with the microwaves from the signal mixture present at filter capacitor 57.2 and leads it to semiconductor circuit 44 as a data signal ui _nf .

Claims (10)

1. Device for setting and / or monitoring the operation of an electronic detonator for projectiles by transmitting a microwave data signal and a microwave energy signal (6) from a device (2) outside to a device (15) inside the detonator (5), the device (15) inside the igniter (5) comprising an energy receiver with a rectifier for generating a supply voltage, a data receiver, a data processing unit and igniter electronics, the device (2) outside the igniter comprising an energy transmitter, an input / output unit and a data transmitter Is characterized in that the device (2) is arranged outside the detonator (5) so that the transmission of the microwave signals (6,7) before or when loading the projectile (4) carrying the detonator (5) in the gun (1) that energy signal and data signal (6) are transmitted together and simultaneously that the device (15) within the ignition rs (5) additionally contains a response signal transmitter that the device (2) outside the igniter (5) additionally has a response signal receiver, that information is transmitted and exchanged in both directions by means of data signal (6) and response signal (7), and that for receiving or sending energy, data and response signals, only one antenna (18) is provided to the igniter (5) and one device outside the igniter. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has circuit means which, after transmitting a suitable data signal, the pre-pro Check and report the programmed and set detonator data as well as the correct function of the detonator electronics. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the antenna (18) on the igniter (5) is circularly polarized. 4. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the antenna (18) is designed as a dielectric style radiator. 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the antenna (18) on the flat front end of the igniter (5) is attached. 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the connecting line (16) between the antenna (18) on the igniter (5) and the electronic device (15) within the igniter (5) can be destroyed at high accelerations. 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (15) within the detonator (5) contains a number plate memory which is loaded with an individual number plate when transmitting the detonator setting data. ; 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (15) within the igniter (5) contains a filter which continuously filters out the data signal from the received signal mixture. 9. Device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that only the data receiver, the data processing unit and the response signal transmitter are supplied with the supply voltage obtained from the energy signal. 10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the antenna (18) is a microwave antenna which is applied as a strip conductor on an insulating substrate (17).

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