KR102220776B1 - laser transceiver of aircraft for target - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a laser transceiving device for an aircraft target, which combines the configuration required for the laser transmitting device with the configuration required for the receiving device and the configuration which can be provided in common to the laser transmitting device and receiving device, to create a configuration with no overlap as a whole. Even in such a combined state, a receiving unit driving device and a transmitting unit driving device are installed so that the orientation direction of the receiving device and the transmitting device can be separately aligned, and a configuration which is easy to adjust so that the direction of laser transmission and reception coincide is provided. According to the present invention, through the integrated installation of the transmitting device and the receiving device in the laser transceiving device for an aircraft target, it is possible to solve the problem of an increase in the erroneous measurement rate due to the mismatch of the orientation direction when the transmitting device and the receiving device are separately installed, on the other hand, it is possible to reduce the installation size and weight by simplifying the overall configuration of the laser transceiving device for the aircraft target. According to one aspect of the invention, it is possible to arbitrarily automatically check the orientation direction of the transmitting device and the receiving device to avoid misalignment and perform an accurate function.

Description

Laser transceiver of aircraft for target}

The present invention relates to a laser transmission/reception device capable of measuring a distance to an object using laser light, and more particularly, to allow easy measurement of the distance to an object even at a long distance where the distance to the object is far beyond the visible distance. It relates to a laser transceiver for aircraft targets having an internal optical structure capable of automatically correcting misalignment.

As an optical device for aircraft targets, a laser transceiver is mounted on an aircraft, and it is a high-tech avionics device that detects and tracks targets in daytime and night situations, acquires distance information to targets with lasers, and interlocks laser guided bombs.

In detail, the optical device for an aircraft target is a key aiming device of a precision guided armament that detects a ground target in an aircraft, performs precise aiming, and fires a laser so that the laser guided bomb can accurately hit the target. The air combat system of an aircraft is generally composed of a mission control system, a sensor/communication system, a survival system, and an armament system, and the existing air combat system provides functions to perform air-to-air, air-to-ground and air-to-sea missions. Pilots must perform missions against threats or targets while determining tactical situations from external sources such as control rooms, control centers, reconnaissance aircraft, controllers, satellites, and sensors/communication systems mounted on the aircraft and detecting, capturing, and tracking targets. An optical device for a target is an essential device for an aircraft to perform this task.

In order to transmit a laser, which is a core function of an optical device for a target, and collect light scattered from a target, a laser transmission/reception device, which is a configuration of an optical system with excellent transmission performance, is required.

1 is a comparative explanatory diagram conceptually illustrating a problem in the related art that arises from a difference in alignment between a laser transmitting device and a receiving device.

Conventionally, the transmitting unit and the receiving unit of the laser range finder are separated from each other. However, if the lines of sight (directing direction) of the transmitter and receiver separated from each other as shown in Fig. 1 do not match, an erroneous measurement rate for some distance measurement occurs, and when distance measurement to a distant target (about 10 km or more) is not performed. Occurs. For example, when the gaze angle is 0.1 mrad, a position error of 0.1 m per 1 km occurs, resulting in an increase in the false measurement rate.

On the one hand, in the case of components used in aircraft equipment, miniaturization and weight reduction are very important items. To implement this, a common optical system using one optical system in common is presented.

Recently developed optical devices for targets adopt a common optical system in the trend of miniaturization and weight reduction. The advantage of the common optical system is that it is possible to reduce the size and weight compared to the targeting device in which the multi-sensor is disposed, and has excellent optical performance. In addition, the separation of the sensor and optical system enables efficient arrangement.

In this common optical system, optical devices such as a laser transmitting device and a laser receiving device must be aligned in the same line of sight. However, during the operation of the common optical system, due to various causes such as climate change, the eyes of each optical device may not be aligned and may have different views. Therefore, there is a need for a means to align the line of sight of the common optical system in the same direction.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication 10-2012-0096941 Korean patent application 10-2014-44273 Korean patent registration 10-1522210

An object of the present invention is to provide a laser transmission/reception device for an aircraft target capable of solving the existing problems in the above-described optical device for an aircraft target.

More specifically, the present invention can solve the problem of an increase in erroneous measurement rate due to misalignment in orientation when the transmission device and the reception device are separately installed in the laser transmission/reception device for an aircraft target, while the overall laser transmission/reception device for aircraft targets It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser transmission/reception device for an aircraft target that can reduce the installation size and weight by simplifying the configuration.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a laser transmission/reception device for an aircraft target having a configuration capable of automating the alignment process and thus increasing alignment efficiency.

The laser transceiving device for an aircraft target of the present invention for achieving the above object is a combination of the configuration required for the transmitting device and the configuration required for the receiving device in a configuration that can be provided in common with the laser transmitting device and the receiving device. It has a structure that does not overlap as a whole, and even in such a combined state, the orientation direction of the receiver and the transmitter can be aligned separately, so that it is easy to adjust so that the orientation direction when transmitting and receiving the laser coincide with each other. Is made to do.

More specifically, the laser transmission/reception device for an aircraft target of the present invention is a laser transmission/reception device for an aircraft target having a laser transmission unit that emits a laser light and a laser reception unit that receives and detects the laser reflected light, the laser light from the laser transmission unit in the first direction. The beam splitter that receives the received and sends to the outside and sends the reflected laser light from the outside to the laser receiving unit in the second direction, the laser transmission unit driving device in charge of aligning the direction of the laser light between the laser transmission unit and the beam splitter, passing through the beam splitter and going to the outside. It characterized in that it comprises a lens system for adjusting the focusing state of the laser light in the optical path.

The apparatus of the present invention includes a receiving unit driving device that receives laser light from the beam splitter and sends it to the outside and sends the reflected laser light from the outside to the beam splitter, and includes a receiving unit driving device for aligning the laser receiving unit, and the receiving unit driving unit includes a reflector and a reflector. It may be provided with a driving device for driving so that the direction of the reflector can be adjusted.

At this time, in the apparatus of the present invention, the beam splitter is a first polarized light beam splitter having a polarization beam splitting function, and a half-wave retardation plate and a second polarized beam splitter are installed in the optical path between the laser transmitter and the beam splitter. A quarter (1/4) retardation plate may be further provided on the optical path going to.

The laser transmission unit driving device may be made of a Risley prism.

In the apparatus of the present invention, a light source for alignment is installed in the laser receiving unit, and a collimator for aligning the light source and the laser reflected light is further provided, and the alignment light source and the collimator are operated, and the signal detected by the collimator or the result image obtained from the collimator are displayed. It is also possible to perform signal processing or image processing by inputting it to a computer or processor equipped with an automatic alignment program to generate a processed signal by the program, and to automatically drive the receiving unit driving device and the transmitting unit driving unit according to the processed signal to perform alignment. .

On the other hand, the alignment method using the laser transmission and reception device for an aircraft target of the present invention is an alignment method using a laser transmission and reception device for an aircraft target having a laser receiver light source and a collimator,

A laser receiving unit alignment step comprising the step of operating a light source of the laser receiving unit, receiving the reflected light of the light source, and driving the receiving unit driving device so that the reflected light of the light source is aligned to the correct position of the collimator according to the position of the laser receiving unit,

A laser transmission unit alignment step comprising the step of activating the laser light in the laser transmission unit, receiving the laser reflected light from the laser receiving unit and driving the transmission unit driving device so that the laser reflected light is aligned to the correct position of the collimator according to the position. It is done.

In this alignment method, the alignment of the laser receiver and the alignment of the laser transmission unit inputs the received signal or image of the collimator to a computer including an automatic alignment program, and processes the input signal to provide the necessary signals for the laser receiving unit driving unit and the laser transmitting unit driving unit. It may be to automatically drive by sending.

According to the present invention, it is possible to solve the problem of an increase in erroneous measurement rate due to misalignment of orientation when the transmission device and the reception device are separately installed through the integrated installation of the transmission device and the reception device in the laser transmission/reception device for an aircraft target. By simplifying the overall configuration of the laser transmission and reception device, the installation size and weight can be reduced.

In addition, according to an aspect of the present invention including a light source of a receiver and a collimator together in the present invention, it is possible to perform an accurate function out of misalignment at all times by randomly checking the direction of the transmitter and the receiver.

1 is a conceptual explanatory diagram for explaining the difficulty of measuring an object distance due to a mismatch in orientation when a conventional transmitting unit and a receiving unit are separately installed;
2 is a conceptual diagram showing the components and arrangements in an embodiment of the present invention;
3 shows a situation in which a discrepancy appears when the position of the maximum value of the reflected light of the light source light or the reflected light of the laser transmission light in the collimator (if the reflected light signal is a spot type, just the reflected light position) is out of the center of the image, that is, an accurately aligned position. Conceptual explanatory diagram,
4 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a process of aligning the position of the reflected light to the correct position through trial and error after the detection sensor receives the reflected light from the collimator.
5 is a schematic flowchart showing a method or process in which the transmission unit driving device and the receiving unit driving device are aligned in the same device as an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail through specific embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

2 is a conceptual diagram schematically showing components and arrangements of a laser transmission/reception device constituting an embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, in the laser transmission/reception device for an aircraft target having a laser transmission unit 20 for emitting laser light and a laser reception unit 10 for receiving and sensing the reflected laser light, the laser light is received from the laser transmission unit 20 in the first direction. Between the first polarized light beam splitter 30 as a beam splitter that sends to the outside and receives the reflected laser light received from the outside and sends it to the laser receiver 10 in the second direction, the laser transmitter and the first polarized beam splitter (30: beam splitter) The Rizzly prism 71 and the prism driving device 72 as the laser transmission unit driving device 70 in charge of directional alignment of the laser light, the alignment light source 101 installed in the laser receiving unit 10, the light source light and the laser reflected light are aligned. It is disclosed that a lens system for adjusting a focusing state of laser light is provided in an optical path that passes through the collimator for and the first polarized light beam splitter 30 and goes to the outside.

Alignment target 105 that reflects the laser light or light source light emitted through the lens system for the collimator configuration at a position separated by a certain distance, and is installed on the side of the laser receiver to detect optical signals coming from the outside, and the orientation direction is twisted. A detection sensor 103 capable of detecting a signal may be provided. Although the detection sensor 103 may be a simple intensity detection method, the position with the highest signal intensity within a certain area is displayed as an image, and may be configured to place the position with the highest detection intensity in the center of the image when the alignment is complete. .

The Risley prism (71) used as the laser transmission unit driving device (70) is a combination of two thin prisms having the same shape in a state in which they are rotated in opposite directions. If so, the light passing through the first prism passes through the second prism, and the deviation occurs once more.

The deviation due to one thin prism can be obtained by an equation based on a well-established theory, and the final deviation obtained by synthesizing these deviations by two thin prisms can also be calculated through a well-known equation. The Risley prism can be usefully used for beam steering or binocular accommadation as in the present embodiment by adjusting the field of view (FOV) using prism characteristics.

In addition, in this embodiment, the receiving unit driving device that receives the laser light from the first polarization beam splitter 30, sends it to the outside, and sends the reflected laser light received from the outside to the first polarization beam splitter, and is in charge of aligning the laser receiver ( 60)) is also provided. Here, the receiving unit driving device 60 includes a reflecting mirror 61 and a reflecting mirror driving device 63 for rotatingly driving the reflecting mirror so that the direction of the reflecting mirror can be adjusted. As the reflector driving device, various mechanical driving devices such as a step motor and a gear system used for rotational drive of the reflector, which is a driving object, and a piezoelectric element for fine angle change may be used.

In this embodiment, a half-wavelength retardation plate 90 and a second polarization beam splitter 80 are installed in the optical path between the first polarization beam splitter 30 and the laser transmitter 20, and the first polarization beam splitter 30 A quarter retardation plate or a quarter wavelength retardation plate 40 is further provided on the optical path from) to the outside.

In addition, in this case, the lens system is divided into a first lens unit 51 and a second lens unit 53 before and after the reflector.

Looking at the operation or function of the laser transmission unit 20 and the laser reception unit 20 in the configuration of the aircraft target laser transmission/reception apparatus integrated with such a transmission/reception device, first, the laser transmission unit is operated to emit laser light. The laser light is incident to the Risley prism 71 of the laser transmission unit driving device 70 through the half-wave retardation plate 90 and the second polarization beam splitter 80, passes through the Risley prism, and a separate first polarization beam splitter. It is incident at 30, and is reflected so as to achieve 90 degrees with the incident angle, and is incident on the 1/4 wavelength retardation plate 40, the first lens unit 51, and the reflecting mirror 61, and then 90 degrees from the reflecting mirror 61. It is reflected so as to achieve a, and is emitted toward an external object or target 105 through the second lens unit 53.

The reflected laser light hitting and reflected by an external object is passed through the second lens unit 53, the reflector 61, the first lens unit 51, and the 1/4 wavelength retardation plate 40 in the reverse order, and then the first polarized light beam splitter 30. ), this time passes through the first polarized light beam splitter 30 and goes straight to enter the laser receiver 10.

When the directing directions of the laser transmission unit 20 and the laser reception unit 10 are correctly oriented, the laser reception unit can obtain a sufficient reflected light signal, and necessary information by comparing and analyzing the previously known laser light and reflected light signals of the laser transmission unit. Can be obtained. For example, in a state in which the laser transmitting unit and the laser receiving unit are interlocked with each other in time, the time between the emission point of the laser light and the acquisition point of the laser reflected light may be detected, and the distance to the object may be measured.

Acquisition of information using such laser light and laser reception light is well known in the art, and detailed descriptions of the types and processing methods of the information thus obtained will be omitted.

In such a laser receiving/receiving device, if the direction of direction is changed, sufficient laser reflected light cannot be received, and thus it is difficult to obtain information by signal comparison. In this case, it is necessary to align the direction of the transmission unit and the direction of the reception unit so that they are identical.

Looking at a method in which the LED light source 101 having excellent linearity of the laser receiving unit is installed and alignment is performed on the assumption that the collimator is prepared, first, the LED light source 101 of the laser receiving unit is driven to emit light from the light source. This LED light passes through the first polarization beam splitter 30, passes through the 1/4 wavelength retardation plate 40, the first lens unit 51, the reflector 61, and the second lens unit 53 at a certain distance. The reflected light is reflected from the spaced-apart alignment target 105, and the reflected light is in reverse order, through a second lens system, a reflector, a first lens system, a 1/4 wavelength retardation plate, a first polarization beam splitter, and a laser receiver and a collimator detection sensor 103 ).

The reflected light image 105a obtained by processing by the collimator detection sensor forming the screen as shown in Fig. 3 is shifted to the left and upper left from the center of the screen 103b indicating the crosshair 103a where the vertical line and the horizontal line intersect. This image signal is input to the computer 110 connected to the collimator, and the computer detects that the direction of the optical system is misaligned by image processing, and the reflected light signal or the reflected light image 105a is adjusted by a preset program so that it is located in the center of the screen. Generate a signal.

The control signal drives the reflector driving device 63 such as a step motor or piezoelectric device coupled to the reflector 61 constituting the laser receiving unit driving device 60 so that the maximum position of the reflected light signal is brought to the center of the screen. Of course, such adjustment may be made at once, but by repeating the above process, the receiver unit is in a try and error method so that the maximum value of the reflected light signal is accurately brought to the center of the screen until it reaches the correct position, that is, a position within the specified error range. Position movement through the driving device 60 may be repeatedly performed. 4 is a flowchart schematically showing the alignment process through such trial and error.

In this way, when the direction of the optical system of the receiving unit is aligned through the driving device of the receiving unit, a process of aligning the direction of the optical system of the transmitting unit is now performed.

To this end, the laser transmission unit 20 is driven so that the laser is emitted. As in the case of directing the laser to a general target for distance confirmation, the half-wave retardation plate 90, the second polarization beam splitter 80, the Rizzley prism of the laser transmission unit driving device 70, and the first polarization beam splitter 30 ), and reflected so as to form a 90 degree angle of incidence, and the target for alignment through the 1/4 wavelength retardation plate 40, the first lens unit 51, the reflector 61, and the second lens unit 53 ( 105). A separate optical system for condensing the laser reflected light scattered and reflected from the alignment target may be provided around the alignment target.

The reflected laser light passes through the second lens unit, the reflector, the first lens unit, and the 1/4 wavelength phase difference plate in the reverse order, and then enters the first polarization beam splitter, and this time passes through the first polarization beam splitter and goes straight to the laser receiver ( 10) And it is incident to the detection sensor 103 of the collimator.

In this way, the treatment of the reflected laser light incident on the detection sensor can be similar to the treatment of the reflected light of the LED light source described above. That is, similar to Fig. 3, the position where the maximum value of the laser reflected light obtained by processing by the collimator detection sensor is placed is shifted from the center of the screen where the vertical line and the horizontal line are replaced, and this image signal is input to a computer connected to the collimator, The computer detects that the direction of the optical system is misaligned by image processing, and generates a control signal by a program set in advance so that the reflected light signal is placed in the center of the screen. However, at this time, instead of the receiving unit driving unit, the prism driving unit 72 coupled to the transmitting unit driving unit, the Rizzley prism 71, performs driving such as rotating the prism, and the position where the maximum value of the laser reflected light signal is placed is displayed on the screen. Adjust to match the center.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the collimator is integrally formed with the laser light transmitting/receiving device, but in reality it may be installed detachably with other parts in a separate space of the aircraft. In this case, more accurate alignment by utilizing the space sufficiently You can also let this happen.

FIG. 5 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method or process of aligning the transmitting unit and the receiving unit in the same apparatus as the embodiment shown in Fig. 2. In this flowchart, the laser receiver alignment step (S10) is performed first, followed by the racer transmitter alignment step (S20).

And, in the step of aligning the laser receiver (S10), the step of operating the LED light source of the laser receiver (S11), the reflected light of the LED light source is received by the laser receiver, and the reflected light of the light source is at the correct position of the screen made by the collimator detection sensor. It comprises a step (S20) of driving the receiving unit driving device so as to be aligned.

In addition, the laser transmission unit alignment step (S20) is a step of activating a laser light source in the laser transmission unit to emit laser light (S21). It is made with a step (S21) of driving the transmission unit driving device so as to be aligned.

In the above, the present invention has been described through limited embodiments, but this has been illustratively described to aid understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments.

Therefore, those of ordinary skill in the field to which the present invention belongs may implement various changes or application examples based on the present invention, and it is natural that such modifications or application examples fall within the scope of the appended claims.

10: laser receiving unit 20: laser transmitting unit
30: first polarized light beam splitter 40: 1/4 wavelength retardation plate
51: first lens unit 53: second lens unit
60: receiver driving device 61: reflector
63: reflector driving device 70: transmitting unit driving device
71: Risley prism 72: prism drive
80: second polarized light beam splitter 90: half-wave retardation plate
101: light source 103: detection sensor
105: target 110: computer

Claims (5)

In the aircraft target laser transmission and reception device having a laser transmitter that emits laser light and a laser receiver that receives and senses the laser reflected light,
A beam splitter that receives and reflects laser light from the laser transmitting unit in the first direction, sends it to the outside, receives and transmits the reflected laser light obtained from the outside, and sends it to the laser receiving unit in the second direction,
A laser transmission unit driving device for aligning the direction of laser light between the laser transmission unit and the beam splitter,
A laser receiving unit driving device that receives laser light from the beam splitter, sends it to the outside, and is located in a path that sends the reflected laser light obtained from the outside to the beam splitter, and is responsible for aligning the laser receiving unit,
A laser transceiving device for an aircraft target comprising a lens system for adjusting a focusing state of laser light in an optical path going outside through a beam splitter. The method of claim 1,
The laser receiving unit driving device includes a reflecting mirror and a reflecting mirror driving device for driving the reflecting mirror so as to adjust the direction of the reflecting mirror,
The laser transmission unit driving device includes a Rizzly prism and a prism driving device that drives a thin prism constituting the Rizzly prism to control the direction of laser light. The method of claim 2,
The beam splitter is a first polarized light beam splitter,
A half-wavelength retardation plate and a second polarization beam splitter are installed in the optical path between the laser transmitter and the beam splitter,
A laser transceiving device for an aircraft target comprising a quarter-wavelength retardation plate in the optical path from the beam splitter to the outside. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The laser receiving unit is provided with a light source for alignment and a detection sensor,
A laser transmission/reception device for an aircraft target comprising an alignment target capable of reflecting light emitted from the light source at a predetermined distance past the laser transmission unit driving device and the lens system, The method of claim 4,
The detection sensor sends a reflected light signal coming from the alignment target or an image obtained by the reflected light signal to a computer, and the computer processes the reflected light signal or the image by an automatic alignment program to drive the transmission unit driving device and the reception unit. A laser transmitting and receiving device for an aircraft target, characterized in that configured to generate a signal for driving the device.

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