Filing Information

Inventor(s)	Raphael Miron ·
Assignee(s)	Rafael-Armament Development Authority Ltd. ·  View assignee updates
Attorney/Agent(s)	Reed Smith LLP · William H. Dippert ·
Primary Examiner	Bernarr E. Gregory ·
Application Number	US10436309
Filing date	05/12/2003
Issue date	04/13/2004
Predicted expiration date	05/12/2023
U.S. Classifications	342/52  · 342/62  · 342/55  · 342/58  · 342/60  · 342/61  · 342/54  · 342/104  · 342/118  · 342/175  · 342/195  · 342/59  · 342/53  ·
International Classifications	--
Kind Code	B1
International Classifications	244 31- 33 · 356 301- 515 · 342 53- 67 · 342 73- 81 · 342 94-103 · 342192-197 · 342104-115 · 356 3 · 342 27 · 342 28 · 342 52 · 342 89 · 342118 · 342146 · 342147 · 342157 · 342158 · 342175 · 342119 · 342126 · 342127 · 342145 · 89 111 · 701300 · 701301 · 701302 ·
Foreign Priority	IL149683 - 05/15/2002 ·

Patent Family

Abstract

A system for the detection and determination of the success of interception of incoming missiles, used in conjunction with a defense weapon system capable of identifying and tracking incoming missiles and interceptors. The system comprises at least one of a plurality of sensing units. Each sensing unit comprises: an optical sensor for detecting optical signals within a predetermined range; tracking means coupled to the optical sensor for tracking an intercepting missile or an incoming missile; processing means for processing optical input detected by the optical sensor and analyzing the optical input to identify an optical signature and determine detonation of interceptor or incoming missile; communicating means for communicating data between the sensing unit and the defense weapon system; and control means for controlling the tracking means, the processing means and the communicating data.

Independent Claims | See all claims (22)

1. 1. A system for the detection and determination of the success of interception of incoming missiles, used in conjunction with a defense weapon system capable of identifying and tracking incoming missiles and interceptors, the system comprising at least one of a plurality of sensing units, each unit comprising: an optical sensor for detecting optical signals within a predetermined range; tracking means coupled to the optical sensor for tracking an intercepting missile or an incoming missile; processing means for processing optical input detected by the optical sensor and analyzing the optical input to identify an optical signature and determine detonation of interceptor or incoming missile; communicating means for communicating data between the sensing unit and the defense weapon system; control means for controlling the tracking means, the processing means and the communicating data.
2. 15. A method for the detection and determination of the success of interception of incoming missiles, used in conjunction with a defense weapon system capable of identifying and tracking incoming missiles and interceptors, the method comprising: providing at least one of a plurality of sensing units, each unit comprising: an optical sensor capable of detecting optical signals within a predetermined range; tracking means coupled to the optical sensor capable of tracking an intercepting missile or an incoming missile; processing means for processing optical input detected by the optical sensor and analyzing the optical input to identify an optical signature and determine detonation of interceptor or incoming missile; communicating means for communicating data between the sensing unit and the defense weapon system; control means for controlling the tracking means, the processing means and the communicating data; tracking an interceptor or an incoming missile; identifying optical signature of a suspected interception event; determining the occurrence of a successful interception in the existence of a predefined set of criteria.