FR2485746A1 - METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING THE OPERATION OF A TRACKING DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION, A RADIATION SOURCE OR ITS IMAGE 10 SYMBOLIZING A FLYING OBJECT IS REFLECTED IN THE FORM OF A NOMINAL POSITION IN THE ENTRY OBJECTIVE 2 OF A TRACKING DEVICE, AND COMPARED WITH A REAL POSITION RESULTING FROM THE FIELD RESTRICTED VISUAL, ANY DEVIATION BETWEEN THE NOMINAL POSITION AND THE ACTUAL POSITION BEING INDICATED ON AN INDICATOR 9.

Description

4835r46

  Method and apparatus for testing the operation of a device

tif of repép'e

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus

  operation test of a tracking device, comprising a goniometer intended to determine the value of the

  derives from a flying object, and which has an objective of -

visual fields to interpret the optical radiation coming from the flying object as well as visual fields which can track the flying object, and which can be

optically or electronically narrowed to eliminate ar-

background.

  The Federal Republic of Germany Patent Application

  mande DE-OS 27 22 018 describes an observation device in which, using a screen produced in the form of a

  liquid crystal matrix, the visual field can be

  shrunk or completely obscured from a target. A

  such a screen lets through only the optical radiation

  hated for observation and / or guidance operations

  projectiles, while eliminating unwanted radiation

corn.

The Federal Republic of Germany Patent Application

request DE-OS 26 28 117 illustrates and describes a simulator of

  sipnals operating electronically, intended for sys-

rocket arms. Due to the high costs asso-

  ciés, this device does not allow any exercise of shooting. For this purpose, as well as for the control of operation, it is possible in this arrangement to simulate the variations of intensity by means of a first chain of frequency dividers and the amplitude and the phase of the representation.

  vector of the target by means of a second diagonal

frequency finders.

  -'invention aims to offer a possibility

  functional test of tracking devices of the pre-

cited, in the absence of real flying objects. According to the invention

  tion, this result is obtained by the fact that a source of radiation symbolizing the flying object, or its image, is

  reflected as a nominal position in the object

tif input, and compared with an actual position resulting

  both of the restricted visual field, ur difference between the value

  nominal value and the actual value being indicated on a

tor. i It is thus possible to know the operating faults, which are for example caused by the Goniometer or the continuation of the reduced visual field, in real time, that is to say taking into account only the time constants specific to the system; the test operations can therefore be carried out automatically. It is right to

  mechanically produce the simulated movement of the target

  that, optical, electronic or combined.

  According to an advantageous development of the invention, the nominal position is predetermined statically 1: J or dynamically. By this fact, the maximum possible tracking speed can be established. In this regard, it is advantageous

that the result of the comparison between the nominal position

  nale and the actual position is displayed as a

  indication YES / NO and / or in the form of an effective deviation.

  In this way, it is possible to represent practical-

at the same time the execution of the actual test

  as well as the last interesting result.

  A device that is equally suitable for

  identifies its price as the number of elements of achievement

  for implementing the method according to the invention

  characterized by the fact that the entry objective of the device

tif locating is preceded in order by a provision-

  deflection point and a target point collimator, which are linked with the position of the reduced visual field by a first electronic device intended for determining

of position of the light point of own radiation, thus

  if by another electronic device intended for the

determination of comparison and tolerance, the disposi-

  tif locating being further connected directly to the dispo-

electronic tool for determining comparison and tolerance. the price is reduced by the fact that it is possible to use a commercially available collimator which,

  jointly with the diversion device and the

electronic posers, can be combined in a simple way

with the tracking device.

  Regarding the use of the deflection device, it can be advantageous that with its help, the position of the emitted light point is changed inside

  of the visual field and that the position change is effected

killed with variable speed.

  Generally, the deflection device can consist of an optical or electro-optical system

  refracting or reflecting, or producing trajectories

  corresponding roofs, for example a mirror, a prism, a screen, a rotating prism or several rotating prisms, the screen possibly being a matrix of liquid crystals. he

furthermore suitable that two rotating prisms or their elements

  individual elements are made in such a way that they can

  place together or individually with a relationship of

phase set between them.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the target point collimator is supplemented by another

mobile screen.

  Other features and advantages of the invention

  tion will appear during the description which follows

  of an exemplary embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a schematic sketch, and Figure 2 is a simplified diagram of an apparatus

according to the invention.

  In the two figures, the corresponding elements

are designated by the same references.

  According to Figure 1, at input objective 2 of the

a positive tracking device 1 is fixed a deviation device 3 consisting essentially of two rotating prisms 4,, and on which is further fixed the target point collimator 6. The latter signals the infinite point of light from a radiation source. This device

  deflection and the collimator are associated with disposi-

electronic devices 7, 8 which control them and which are either integrated or constituted by separate units as in the present embodiment. Alternatively, although this is not shown in the present embodiment, the deflection device can consist of a mirror, a prism, a screen or also a single rotating prism, without departing from the scope of the invention. He would

  also conceivable to remove the deviation device

  tion and make the collimator 6 so that it is

  itself mobile, or supplement it with a mobile screen.

  Figure 2 shows the signal circuits required

  for comparison of data. The flying object is represented by a radiation source or its image O10 projected into the input objective 2 (Figure 1). by means of a corresponding command of the deflection device 3 which, in the present case, is assembled in the form of

"target point simulator" 3,), all trajectories

desired res of a target can be simulated in the visual field of the tracking device 1. For this purpose, the rotating prisms 4 and 5 are driven with a relation

  phase defined between them either together or individually-

  lement. This flying object, which represents the so-called nominal position, is detected in coordinates by the electronic device 7. When testing the device, this position must conform to position information obtained by a goniometer, not shown, or from the field.

  reduced visual, and called actual position.

The agreement between the nominal position and the actual position occurs when the screen controlled by

tracking by the goniometer with an electronic device

  as appropriate lets through without weakening the ray-

ment of the object flying towards this goniometer. consistency

  between the nominal position and the actual position is

  blie by the electronic device, and displayed by the

indicator 9. If on the other hand a tolerance is noted, this means that the reduced visual field of the radiation source o its image does not impeccably effect the

  pursuit, mechanically, optically or electronically.

  The actual display is done either by an image,

  either in the form of a Yes / No indication on the indication-

  9. All of the test operations described can take place automatically. They can consise in

dynamic or static tests.

  Overall, a possibility is given of

  v in a simple way, by the combination of a tracking device

  rage with an existing collimator and a de-icing device

viation, to set up for a test purpose a static light point otherwise, at any point in the visual field of the tracking device. The installation

  at all times remains ready to operate -

apart from the short moments of coupling with the

target point simulator.

DEVETDICATIOS

  1 - Method for testing the operation of a tracking device comprising a Goniometer intended to determine the value of the drift of a flying object, and which comprises an input objective and visual fields for interpreting the optical radiation coming from the flying object as well as

  visual fields that can track the flying object and

  before being narrowed optically or electronically to eli-

undermining the back: re-plan, process characterized in that a source

that of radiation or its image (10) symbolizing the object vo-

  lant is reflected as a nominal position in the input objective (2) and compared with an actual position

resulting from the restricted field of vision, a difference between the posi-

  nominal position and the actual position being indicated on an in-

guide (9).

2 - Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the nominal position is predetermined so

static or dynamic.

  3 - Method according to claim 1 or 2, character-

  in that the result of the comparison between the nominal position and the actual position is displayed in the form

  a Yes / No indication or in the form of an effective deviation

tif, or both.

  4 - Device intended for implementing the process

  according to any one of claims 1 to 3, character-

  2) in that the input lens (2) of the retrieval device

  perare (1) is preceded in order by a de-

  viation (3) and a target point collimator (o), which are linked with the position of the visual field reduced by a

  first electronic device (7) for determining

  position nation of the light point of own radiation, as well as by another electronic device (8) intended

  in determining comparisons and tolerances, The dis-

  positive location being further connected directly to the

  positive electronic comparison determination and

tolerance (Figure 2).

  - Method of using a deflection device according to claim 4, characterized in that, with its assistance, the position of the emitted light point is modified within the visual field, the change of position

  being performed with variable speed.

  6 - Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the deflection device (3) consists of an optical or electro-optical system refractive or reflecting

  or producing corresponding trajectories.

  7 - Apparatus according to claim 4 or 6, charac-

  characterized in that the deflection device (3) consists of a mirror, a prism, a screen or one or more prisms

turning (4, 5).

  R - Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized

  in that the screen consists of a matrix of crystal li-

  quides. 9 - Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that two rotating prisms (4, 5) or their individual elements are made so as to be able to move

  together or individually with a defined phase relationship

finished between them.

  10 - Apparatus according to any one of the claims

  tions 4, 6 to 9, characterized in that the collimator of

  target point (6) is made so that it is mobile.

  11 - Apparatus according to any one of the claims

  tions 4, 6 to 10, characterized in that the collimator of

  target point (6) is completed by another mobile screen.