RU2608963C1 - Optical unit for target detection - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: weapons and ammunition.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to weapons and can be used in proximity fuses of various ammunition. Optical unit for detecting a target has series-arranged along the radiation: a source of optical radiation, a beam splitter made in the form of two unalignable flat reflecting mirrors, a collimating lens, a focusing lens, a light filter and photodetectors. Collimating lens is placed at the optical radiation output from the optical radiation unit for protection against ambient environment effects.

EFFECT: invention allows reducing overall dimensions, simplifying the design and increasing the reliability.

1 cl, 3 dwg

Description

The invention relates to the field of armaments and can be used in non-contact fuses of various ammunition.

Known optical remote fuse (German patent No. 2949521, priority from 10.21.1982, IPC F42C 13/02), consisting of an optical radiation source, collimating and focusing lenses, and a photodetector. The photodetector is installed in such a way that the axis of the radiation pattern of the optical radiation source intersects the axis of the sensitivity diagram of the photodetector at a certain distance from the munition, as a result of which the remote fuse only fires when there is a target at a given distance. The radiation from the source passes through the collimating lens, is reflected from the surface of the target and, if it is at a predetermined distance from the ammunition, the reflected radiation through the focusing lens is incident on the photodetector, which converts the optical signal into an electric signal for further processing.

A disadvantage of the known device is the low probability of detecting small targets, insufficient protection from optical interference and the low accuracy of setting the target detection distance.

Known optical unit for target detection (patent RU No. 2151372, priority from 06/26/1998. Optical unit for target detection. Authors Balashova P.Yu., Dunkovich SS, Ivonin AN, Fomina MR, MPK7 : F42C 13/02, published on 06/20/2000, Bulletin No. 17), including an optical radiation source, a collimating lens, a beam-splitting system located behind the collimating lens, a protective glass and a focusing lens, a light filter and photodetectors.

The beam splitting system is made in the form of at least two flat reflective mirrors mounted with the possibility of angular movement in space (alignment) independently of each other. The radiation of the source passes through a collimating lens, the beam splitting system is divided into two beams, each of which is directed by an adjustable mirror of the beam splitting system so that the axis of its radiation pattern intersects the axis of the sensitivity diagram of the corresponding photodetector at the required distance. Further, the optical radiation passes through the protective glass, is reflected from the target’s surface and, if it is at a predetermined distance from the ammunition, the reflected radiation is transmitted through the focusing lens and the filter to photodetectors, which convert the optical signal into an electric signal for further processing.

This device is the closest analogue in technical essence to the claimed device.

A disadvantage of the known device is its relatively large length, which, in particular, is determined by the focal length of the collimating lens. Another disadvantage is the relative complexity of the design, due to the presence in the beam splitting system of mirrors requiring adjustment. This not only increases the length of the block, but also complicates its design and, accordingly, increases the complexity of manufacturing and reduces the reliability of the device.

The objective of the invention is to provide a compact and reliable optical unit for detecting targets.

The technical results to which the claimed invention is directed are to reduce overall dimensions, simplify the design and increase the reliability of the device.

These technical results are achieved in that in an optical unit for detecting a target containing an optical radiation source, a collimating lens, a beam splitter made in the form of two flat reflecting mirrors, a focusing lens, a light filter and photodetectors, it is new that the beam splitter is located between the optical radiation source and a collimating lens, wherein the collimating lens is mounted at the output of the optical radiation from the optical unit to detect a target.

Installing a beam splitter between the collimating lens and the optical radiation source allows them to be brought closer together and shorten the total length of the optical unit to detect the target. In addition, the installation of a collimating lens at the place of exit of optical radiation from the optical unit to detect the target allows it to be used as a protective glass. Also, with a similar arrangement of the elements of the optical unit for detecting the target, the change in the angle of inclination of the probe beam after the collimating lens is much less dependent on the change in the angle of inclination of the beam splitter than in the closest analogue, where a collimated beam is incident on the beam splitter, which allows the beam splitter unadjustable. All of the above together reduces the overall dimensions, simplifies the design of the device and increases reliability. In this case, the setting of a predetermined target detection distance can be provided by adjusting the sensitivity of the photodetectors of the optical unit.

The optical circuit of the optical unit for target detection is shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2 shows a beam splitter (view A), FIG. 3 is an optical diagram of a receiving channel of an optical unit for detecting a target (view B).

The optical unit for detecting the target (Fig. 1) contains sequentially installed along the optical radiation source 1 of optical radiation, a beam splitter 2, a collimating lens 3, a focusing lens 4, a light filter 5 and photodetectors 6.

The beam splitter 2 is made in the form of two unadjustable flat reflective mirrors (Fig. 2).

A collimating lens 3 is mounted at the optical output of the optical unit to protect it from external environmental influences (to prevent moisture and dust from entering the device), i.e. acts as a protective glass.

A focusing lens 4, a light filter 5, and photodetectors 6 form a receiving channel of an optical unit for detecting a target (Fig. 3).

As a source of optical radiation 1 can be used a semiconductor laser KEM-1-4, having a wavelength of radiation (0.85-0.91) μm, the power of optical pulses (8-12) W, the duration of the optical pulses at the level of 0.5 - (40-100) ns. KEM-2V photodetector modules can be used as photodetectors. A light filter with a passband of ~ (0.85-0.91) microns is installed in front of the photodetectors.

An optical unit for detecting a target operates as follows. The optical radiation of the source 1 is divided by a beam splitter 2 into two beams that fall on a collimating lens 3, which simultaneously serves as a protective glass. The collimating lens 3 forms two collimated beams of probe radiation, each of which is directed so that the axis of its radiation pattern intersects the axis of the sensitivity diagram formed by the focusing lens 4 and the corresponding photodetector 6 at the required distance. Each beam has its own mirror of beam splitter 2, its own photodetector 6 and, accordingly, its own sensitivity diagram.

If there is a target at the detection distance, the optical radiation is reflected from the target’s surface and, through the focusing lens 4 and the filter 5, reaches the corresponding photodetector 6, which converts the optical signal into an electric signal for further processing.

The optical unit for detecting the target can be multichannel, that is, include several transceiver channels made according to the optical scheme shown in FIG. one.

The number of transceiver channels (probing optical beams and, accordingly, photodetectors) is selected based on the caliber of the ammunition, the characteristic size of the intended targets and the required range of the optical unit.

The probe laser beams are output outward in the direction "forward and sideways" relative to the direction of movement of the ammunition. The angles between the axes of the radiation patterns of the probe beams (and, accordingly, the reception sensitivity diagrams of photodetectors) are set based on the number of these diagrams.

The authors developed and manufactured a mock-up of an optical unit for target detection (in caliber 71 mm). It contains six transceiver channels and, accordingly, forms twelve sensitivity diagrams. Target detection distance - 1.2 meters. Each transceiver channel of the layout implements the optical circuit shown in FIG. one.

Studies conducted with the layout, proved its efficiency and demonstrated the ability to achieve the claimed technical results. The layout of the optical unit for target detection provides identification of the target at a distance of 1.2 m with the necessary accuracy. At the same time, the length of the layout of the optical unit for detecting the target was 51 mm, which is ~ 12% shorter than the length of the closest analogue manufactured in the same caliber (71 mm), with the same number of transceiver channels (six) and tuned to the same target detection distance (1.2 m).

Claims (1)

An optical unit for detecting a target, comprising a source of optical radiation, a collimating lens, a beam splitter made in the form of two flat reflecting mirrors, a focusing lens, a light filter and photodetectors, characterized in that the beam splitter is located along the optical radiation between the optical radiation source and the collimating lens, this collimating lens is installed at the output of the optical radiation from the optical unit to detect the target.

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