Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6202532
-
Patent Number
6,202,532
-
Date Filed
Friday, October 30, 199826 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 20, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Jordan; Charles T.
- Thomson; Michelle
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 089 6
- 089 65
- 102 265
- 102 270
- 102 472
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
In a weapons system of the type in which a round having a case is fired from a gun, the round including a fuze processor, the round further made up of a firing circuit having a resistor and also having two contacts in the case of the round, the gun having two contacts which contact the two contacts of the round when the round is in the gun and ready to fire, the gun being fired by applying a voltage in excess of a certain threshold to the contacts of the round via the contacts of the gun, the weapons system including a fire control system outside the gun. A data exchange system for exchanging data between the fuze processor and the fire control system is made up of an electrical connection, within the round, between the contacts of the round and the fuze processor, the resistor being thereby connected in parallel with the fuze processor and a data exchange link, between the fire control system and the contacts of the gun, for applying, to the contacts of the gun, electrical signals representative of data transferred from the fire control system to the fuze processor.
Description
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system and method for exchanging data between a round of ammunition and a fire control system and, more particularly, to a system and method for doing so after the round has been loaded into a gun and is ready for firing.
Some modern “smart” ordinance including warheads and projectiles incorporate processor-based fuzes, sensors and similar devices which allow the behavior or the warheads and projectiles subsequent to launch to be programmed to behave according to instructions and data loaded into the processors before launch. For example, an explosive projectile can be programmed to explode at various times after launch, at various distances from the gun, or, if the fuze is provided with an appropriate proximity sensor, at various distances from the target. In the case of a round that is fired from a gun, this programming usually is done before the round is loaded into the gun for firing, by entering the appropriate data into the memory of the fuze. This data entry step is inconvenient in the heat of battle. In addition, if a reset is required, the round must be unloaded, reset, and reloaded.
There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, a system and method for exchanging data between a fire control system of a gun and a “smart” round after the round has been loaded in the gun and is ready to fire, without unloading the round.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided, in a weapons system of the type in which a round having a case is fired from a gun, the round including a fuze processor, the round further including a firing circuit having a resistor and also having two contacts in the case of the round, the gun having two contacts which contact the two contacts of the round when the round is in the gun and ready to fire, the gun being fired by applying a voltage in excess of a certain threshold to the contacts of the round via the contacts of the gun, the weapons system including a fire control system outside the gun: a data exchange system for exchanging data between the fuze processor and the fire control system, including: (a) an electrical connection, within the round, between the contacts of the round and the fuze processor, the resistor being thereby connected in parallel with the fuze processor; and (b) a data exchange link, between the fire control system and the contacts of the gun, for applying, to the contacts of the gun, electrical signals representative of data transferred from the fire control system to the fuze processor.
According to the present invention there is provided, in a weapons system of the type in which a round having a case is fired from a gun, the round including a fuze processor, the round further including a firing circuit having a resistor and also having two contacts in the case of the round, the gun having two contacts which contact the two contacts of the round when the round is in the gun and ready to fire, the gun being fired by applying a voltage in excess of a certain threshold to the contacts of the round via the contacts of the gun, the weapons system including a fire control system outside the gun: a method for exchanging data between the fuze processor and the fire control system while the round is inside the gun and before firing the gun, including the steps of: (a) providing a data exchange system including: (i) an electrical connection, within the round, between the contacts of the round and the fuze processor, the resistor being thereby connected in parallel with the fuze processor; and (ii) a data exchange link, between the fire control system and the contacts of the gun, for applying, to the contacts of the gun, electrical signals representative of data to be transferred from the fire control system to the fuze processor, and (b) transferring the data via the data exchange system.
Many modern artillery pieces are fired electrically. Contacts on the surface of the case of the round are connected in series with a resistor, termed herein the “firing resistor”, inside the round. The case of the round is defined herein as that part of the round that contains the propellant and an electrical igniter of the propellant. The term “case” as used herein thus includes partial or “perishing” cases. When the round is loaded into the gun, these contacts are in contact with matching contacts in the breech of the gun. The gun is fired by applying a voltage to the contacts of the gun that is sufficiently high to heat the firing resistor to a temperature high enough to set off the charge that propels the shell out of the barrel of the gun. According to the present invention, an electrical circuit, called herein a “data exchange link”, parallel to, and using the same contact points as, the firing circuit, is provided to exchange data between the fire control system and the round via the contacts of the gun. This electrical circuit includes a mechanism for ensuring that electrical signals, sent from the fire control system to the round and representative of data being transferred from the fire control system to the round, have a voltage less than a “no-fire” threshold voltage that is low enough to ensure that the gun does not fire. The microprocessor of the fuze or similar device inside the round, that controls the behavior of the round subsequent to firing, and which is referred to herein as the “fuze processor”, is connected electrically in parallel with the firing resistor. It is to be understood that the term “fuse processor” includes within its scope any processor coupled to a sensor or similar device that is used to sense the environment of the round subsequent to launch.
The fuze processor interfaces with this parallel electrical connection via a communications control unit which requires an independent power supply. In one embodiment of the present invention, this power supply is based on batteries. In another embodiment of the present invention, this power supply includes a capacitor, a diode rectifier, and a transformer. The transformer is connected in parallel with the firing resistor, just as the communications control unit is connected in parallel with the firing resistor. The capacitor is charged, before data exchange, by applying an AC voltage less than the “no fire” threshold voltage to the contacts of the gun. A series of switches is used to sequentially charge the power supply, exchange data between the fire control system and the fuze processor, and then fire the gun.
The scope of the present invention includes all rounds, shells and projectiles, of whatever size, that are capable of being fired electrically from a gun.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1
is a schematic illustration of a weapons system incorporating the data exchange system of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a schematic diagram of the data exchange system of the present invention;
FIG. 3
is a schematic diagram of a power supply.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention is of a system and method for exchanging data between a fire control system and an electrically fired “smart” round of ammunition after the round has been loaded in a gun and is ready for firing.
The principles and operation of a smart weapons system according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.
Referring now to the drawings,
FIG. 1
is a schematic overall depiction of an illustrative weapons system incorporating the data exchange system of the present invention. An ammunition round
20
has been loaded in the breech
12
of a gun
10
. Breech
12
includes electrical contacts
14
. Round
20
includes electrical contacts
22
that are in contact with contacts
14
when round
20
has been loaded into gun
10
and is ready for firing. A firing resistor
24
is connected electrically to contacts
22
. (A typical embodiment of firing resistor
24
is the bridgewire of an initiator cartridge.) An artillery round communications/control system
26
also is connected electrically to contacts
22
, in parallel with firing resistor
24
.
Two electrical circuits, outside of gun
10
, are shown connected, in parallel, to contacts
14
. One of these circuits is a firing circuit
30
that includes a voltage source
32
in series with a trigger switch
34
. When trigger switch
34
is closed, voltage source
32
supplies a voltage across resistor
24
that exceeds the threshold needed to heat resistor
24
to a temperature sufficiently high to set off the propulsive charge inside round
20
. In other words, gun
10
is fired by closing switch
34
. The other circuit includes a fire control system
38
, a data exchange link
36
for exchanging data between fire control system
38
and artillery round communications/control system
26
, and a data exchange switch S
2
. When data exchange switch S
2
is closed, data are exchanged between fire control system
38
and artillery round communications/control system
26
, as described below. Preferably, these data are in the form of electrical pulses compatible with a standard digital communications system.
Because the firing circuit is in parallel with the second circuit, a weapons system that includes the data exchange system of the present invention can be used to fire either “smart” rounds or “dumb” rounds for which no data exchange is required.
FIG. 2
is a high level schematic diagram of the data exchange system of the present invention. Data exchange link
36
includes a communications control unit
40
, including a standard communications microcontroller such as the
8051
, which is available from Advanced Micro Devices of Sunnyvale Calif., inter alia, and associated circuitry to prevent voltages in excess of the “no fire” threshold from reaching round
20
. This associated circuitry includes an amplifier
46
in parallel with an attenuator
48
and a resistor
50
. High voltage signals from communications control unit
40
to round
20
are attenuated by attenuator
48
and resistor
50
. Low voltage signals from round
20
to communications control unit
40
are amplified by amplifier
46
. The associated circuitry further includes parallel grounded diodes
52
and
54
to protect data exchange link
36
from the high voltage supplied across resistor
24
when switch
34
is closed. Communications control unit
40
exchanges data with fire control system
38
over a serial data line
42
. Fire control system
38
also supplies power to communications control unit
40
via a power line
44
.
Inside round
20
, artillery round communications control system
26
includes a fuze processor
70
. In some embodiments of round
20
, for example tank ammunition, round
20
consists of a projectile, which is launched from gun
10
, and a separate case, which contains the propulsive charge and which remains behind in gun
10
when the projectile is launched. In these embodiments, fuze processor
70
is part of the projectile, and controls the performance and activation (e.g., detonation) of the projectile after the projectile has been launched from gun
10
. The remaining components of the system of the present invention that are inside round
20
are operative only before gun
20
is fired and therefore are expendable. Therefore, in embodiments of round
20
with separate projectiles and cases, these remaining components may be included in the case, to minimize the weight of the projectile.
Fuze processor
70
includes a microcontroller
72
and a grounded EEPROM
68
. Fuze processor
70
is connected electrically to a communications control system
60
, identical to communications control system
40
, across a resistor
66
. Firing resistor
24
is protected from the voltage level required by communications control system
60
by an amplifier
62
that amplifies low voltage signals from data exchange link
36
to the voltage level required by communications control unit
60
and by an attenuator
64
that attenuates signals, from communications control unit
60
to data exchange link
36
, to a voltage level below the “no fire” threshold.
Note that communications control units
40
and
60
both generate signals at voltages that may be above the “no fire” threshold; but the intervening circuitry ensures that the electrical signals that actually cross contacts
14
and
22
and pass through the wires inside the round are below the “no fire” threshold voltage. The purpose of the present invention is to transfer data from fire control system
38
to fuze processor
70
, and also to transfer data in the opposite direction, for example, for verification of the type of round
20
and verification that data has been transferred accurately to fuze processor
70
.
Communications control unit
60
is powered by a power supply
80
which also is inside round
20
. In one embodiment of the present invention, power supply
80
is based on internal batteries, connected in series, to supply the required power to communications control unit
60
. An illustrative example of such batteries is the 3 volt lithium batteries commonly used in wristwatches. Such batteries typically have shelf lives of 10 years or more, and can be replaced as necessary.
In another embodiment of the present invention, power supply
80
is as illustrated schematically in FIG.
3
. Power supply
80
is connected to contacts
22
in the same way as artillery round communications control system
26
. Power supply
80
includes a step-up transformer
82
, a diode rectifier
84
and a capacitor
86
. One side of diode rectifier
84
is connected to the secondary winding of transformer
82
. The other side of diode rectifier
84
is connected to a capacitor
86
via a switch S
3
. Capacitor
86
is connected to communications control unit
60
via a switch S
4
. The primary winding of transformer
82
is connected to a switch S
3
′ that is in parallel with firing resistor
24
.
Outside of gun
10
is a source
90
of alternating voltage in parallel with two diodes
92
and
94
, all in series with a switch S
1
. When switches S
1
, S
3
and S
3
′ are closed, source
90
provides an alternating voltage that is stepped up by transformer
82
and rectified by diode rectifier
84
to charge capacitor
86
. Diodes
92
and
94
ensure that the alternating voltage remains lower than the “no fire” threshold voltage. An amplifier
96
represents a monitor that enables fire control system
38
to verify the signals that cross contacts
14
and
22
when switch S
1
is closed. These signals, having been attenuated to ensure that their voltages are below the “no fire” threshold, must be amplified to be monitored by fire control system
38
.
In this embodiment of the present invention, after round
20
has been loaded into gun
10
, gun
10
is fired in three steps:
Step 1: Charge capacitor
86
.
Step 2: Program fuze processor
70
while discharging capacitor
86
to power communications control unit
60
.
Step 3: Close trigger switch
34
.
The following table shows the positions of switches S
1
, S
2
, S
3
, S
3
′ and S
4
during these three steps:
|
S1
S2
S3, S3'
S4
|
|
|
Step 1
closed
open
closed
open
|
Step 2
closed
closed
open
closed
|
Step 3
open
X
X
X
|
|
“X” means that the switch may be either open or closed.
The advantage of the second embodiment of power supply
80
over the first embodiment is that in the second embodiment there are no batteries to replace. The disadvantage of the second embodiment of power supply
80
is that it is more complicated than the first embodiment.
In a variant of the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 3
, the role of source
90
is played by fire control unit
38
, which generates a signal that consists of a binary sequence of 0's and 1's. This square wave signal is used to charge capacitor
86
via transformer
82
and diode rectifier
84
.
Some typical parameters of the illustrated system of the present invention are as follows:
|
Resistance of resistor 66
1 Ω
|
Maximum voltage applied across contacts 14 and 22
0.5 V
|
Voltage supplied via power line 44
5 V
|
Capacitance of capacitor 86
1000 μF
|
|
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.
Claims
- 1. In a weapons system in which a round having a case is fired from a gun, the round including a fuze processor, the round further including a firing circuit having a resistor and also having two contacts in the case of the round, the gun having two contacts which contact the two contacts of the round when the round is in the gun and ready to fire, the gun being fired by applying a voltage in excess of a certain threshold to the contacts of the round via the contacts of the gun, the weapons system including a fire control system outside the gun:a data exchange system for exchanging data between the fuze processor and the fire control system, comprising: (a) an electrical connection, within the round, between the contacts of the round and the fuze processor, the resistor being thereby connected in parallel with the fuze processor; and (b) a data exchange link, between the fire control system and the contacts of the gun, for applying, to the contacts of the gun, electrical signals representative of data transferred from the fire control system to the fuze processor and for receiving, from the contacts of the gun, electrical signals representative of data transferred from the fuze processor to the fire control system.
- 2. The data exchange system of claim 1, wherein said data exchange link includes a mechanism for ensuring that said electrical signals, that are applied to the contacts of the gun, have a voltage less than the threshold.
- 3. The data exchange system of claim 2, wherein said mechanism includes grounded diodes.
- 4. The data exchange system of claim 2, wherein said mechanism includes an amplifier and an attenuator in parallel.
- 5. The data exchange system of claim 1, wherein said electrical connection includes a communications control unit.
- 6. The data exchange system of claim 5, wherein said electrical connection includes an amplifier, for amplifying said signals from the fire control system, and an attenuator, for attenuating electrical signals, from the fuze processor to the fire control system, to a voltage less than the threshold.
- 7. The data exchange system of claim 5, further comprising:(c) a power supply, within the round, for said communications control unit.
- 8. The data exchange system of claim 7, wherein said power supply includes at least one battery.
- 9. The data exchange system of claim 7, wherein said power supply includes:(i) a capacitor; (ii) a transformer; and (iii) a diode rectifier between said transformer and said capacitor; said transformer being connected in parallel with the resistor.
- 10. The data exchange system of claim 9, further comprising:(d) an source of alternating voltage, external to the gun, for providing said alternating voltage to the contacts of the gun, thereby charging said capacitor, said alternating voltage being lower than the threshold.
- 11. The data exchange system of claim 10, further comprising:(e) a mechanism for ensuring that said alternating voltage is lower than the threshold.
- 12. The data exchange system of claim 11, wherein said mechanism for ensuring that said alternating voltage is lower than the threshold includes grounded diodes.
- 13. In a weapons system in which a round having a case is fired from a gun, the round including a fuze processor, the round further including a firing circuit having a resistor and also having two contacts in the case of the round, the gun having two contacts which contact the two contacts of the round when the round is in the gun and ready to fire, the gun being fired by applying a voltage in excess of a certain threshold to the contacts of the round via the contacts of the gun, the weapons system including a fire control system outside the gun:a method for exchanging data between the fuze processor and the fire control system while the round is inside the gun and before firing the gun, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a data exchange system including: (i) an electrical connection, within the round, between the contacts of the round and the fuze processor, the resistor being thereby connected in parallel with the fuze processor; and (ii) a data exchange link, between the fire control system and the contacts of the gun, for applying, to the contacts of the gun, electrical signals representative of data to be transferred from the fire control system to the fuze processor; (b) transferring said data via said data exchange system; and (c) transferring data from the fuze processor to the fire control system via said data exchange system.
- 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said data exchange link includes a mechanism for ensuring that said electrical signals have a voltage less than the threshold.
- 15. The method of claim 13, wherein said electrical connection includes a communications control unit, and wherein said data exchange system further includes:(iii) a power supply, within the round, for powering the communications control unit, said power supply including a capacitor; the method further comprising the step of:(c) charging said capacitor.
- 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said capacitor is connected to the contacts of the round via a transformer and a diode rectifier, said charging being effected by applying an alternating voltage less than the threshold to the contacts of the gun.
- 17. In a weapons system in which a round having a case is fired from a gun, the round including a fuze processor, the round further including a firing circuit having a resistor and also having two contacts in the case of the round, the gun having two contacts which contact the two contacts of the round when the round is in the gun and ready to fire, the gun being fired by applying a voltage in excess of a certain threshold to the contacts of the round via the contacts of the gun, the weapons system including a fire control system outside the gun:a data exchange system for exchanging data between the fuze processor and the fire control system, comprising: (a) an electrical connection, within the round, between the contacts of the round and the fuze processor, the resistor being thereby connected in parallel with the fuze processor; and (b) a data exchange link, between the fire control system and the contacts of the gun, for applying, to the contacts of the gun, electrical signals representative of data transferred from the fire control system to the fuze processor, said data exchange link including a mechanism for ensuring that said electrical signals have a voltage less than the threshold, said mechanism including an amplifier and an attenuator in parallel.
- 18. In a weapons system in which a round having a case is fired from a gun, the round including a fuze processor, the round further including a firing circuit having a resistor and also having two contacts in the case of the round, the gun having two contacts which contact the two contacts of the round when the round is in the gun and ready to fire, the gun being fired by applying a voltage in excess of a certain threshold to the contacts of the round via the contacts of the gun, the weapons system including a fire control system outside the gun:a data exchange system for exchanging data between the fuze processor and the fire control system, comprising: (a) an electrical connection, within the round, between the contacts of the round and the fuze processor, the resistor being thereby connected in parallel with the fuze processor said electrical connection including: (i) a communications control unit, (ii) an amplifier, for amplifying said signals from the fire control system, and (iii) an attenuator, for attenuating electrical signals, from the fuze processor to the fire control system, to a voltage less than the threshold; and (b) a data exchange link, between the fire control system and the contacts of the gun, for applying, to the contacts of the gun, electrical signals representative of data transferred from the fire control system to the fuze processor.
- 19. In a weapons system in which a round having a case is fired from a gun, the round including a fuze processor, the round further including a firing circuit having a resistor and also having two contacts in the case of the round, the gun having two contacts which contact the two contacts of the round when the round is in the gun and ready to fire, the gun being fired by applying a voltage in excess of a certain threshold to the contacts of the round via the contacts of the gun, the weapons system including a fire control system outside the gun:a data exchange system for exchanging data between the fuze processor and the fire control system, comprising: (a) an electrical connection, within the round, between the contacts of the round and the fuze processor, the resistor being thereby connected in parallel with the fuze processor, said electrical connection including a communications control unit: (b) a data exchange link, between the fire control system and the contacts of the gun, for applying, to the contacts of the gun, electrical signals representative of data transferred from the fire control system to the fuze processor; and (c) a power supply, within the round, for said communications control unit, said power supply including: (i) a capacitor, (ii) a transformer, and (iii) a diode rectifier between said transformer and said capacitor, said transformer being connected in parallel with the resistor.
- 20. The data exchange system of claim 19, further comprising:(d) an source of alternating voltage, external to the gun, for providing said alternating voltage to the contacts of the gun, thereby charging said capacitor, said alternating voltage being lower than the threshold.
- 21. In a weapons system in which a round having a case is fired from a gun, the round including a fuze processor, the round further including a firing circuit having a resistor and also having two contacts in the case of the round, the gun having two contacts which contact the two contacts of the round when the round is in the gun and ready to fire, the gun being fired by applying a voltage in excess of a certain threshold to the contacts of the round via the contacts of the gun, the weapons system including a fire control system outside the gun:a method for exchanging data between the fuze processor and the fire control system while the round is inside the gun and before firing the gun, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a data exchange system including: (i) an electrical connection, within the round, between the contacts of the round and the fuze processor, the resistor being thereby connected in parallel with the fuze processor, said electrical connection including a communications control unit; (ii) a data exchange link, between the fire control system and the contacts of the gun, for applying, to the contacts of the gun, electrical signals representative of data to be transferred from the fire control system to the fuze processor, and (iii) a power supply, within the round, for powering the communication control unit, said power supply including a capacitor; (b) transferring said data via said data exchange system; and (c) charging said capacitor.
- 22. The method of claim 21, wherein said capacitor is connected to the contacts of the round via a transformer and a diode rectifier, said charging being effected by applying an alternating voltage less than the threshold to the contacts of the gun.
- 23. In a weapons system in which a round having a case is fired from a gun, the round including a fuze processor, the round further including a firing circuit having a resistor and also having two contacts in the case of the round, the gun having two contacts which contact the two contacts of the round when the round is in the gun and ready to fire, the gun being fired by applying a voltage in excess of a certain threshold to the contacts of the round via the contacts of the gun, the weapons system including a fire control system outside the gun:a data exchange system for exchanging data between the fuze processor and the fire control system, comprising: (a) an electrical connection, within the round, between the contacts of the round and the fuze processor, the resistor being thereby connected in parallel with the fuze processor; and (b) a data exchange link, between the fire control system and the contacts of the gun, for applying, to the contacts of the gun, electrical signals representative of data transferred from the fire control system to the fuze processor, said data exchange link including a mechanism for ensuring that said electrical signals have a voltage less than the threshold.
- 24. In a weapons system in which a round having a case is fired from a gun, the round including a fuze processor, the round further including a firing circuit having a resistor and also having two contacts in the case of the round, the gun having two contacts which contact the two contacts of the round when the round is in the gun and ready to fire, the gun being fired by applying a voltage in excess of a certain threshold to the contacts of the round via the contacts of the gun, the weapons system including a fire control system outside the gun:a data exchange system for exchanging data between the fuze processor and the fire control system, comprising: (a) an electrical connection, within the round, between the contacts of the round and the fuze processor, the resistor being thereby connected in parallel with the fuze processor, said electrical connection including a communications control unit; and (b) a data exchange link, between the fire control system and the contacts of the gun, for applying, to the contacts of the gun, electrical signals representative of data transferred from the fire control system to the fuze processor.
- 25. In a weapons system in which a round having a case is fired from a gun, the round including a fuze processor, the round further including a firing circuit having a resistor and also having two contacts in the case of the round, the gun having two contacts which contact the two contacts of the round when the round is in the gun and ready to fire, the gun being fired by applying a voltage in excess of a certain threshold to the contacts of the round via the contacts of the gun, the weapons system including a fire control system outside the gun:a data exchange system for exchanging data between the fuze processor and the fire control system, comprising: (a) an electrical connection, within the round, between the contacts of the round and the fuze processor, the resistor being thereby connected in parallel with the fuze processor, said electrical connection including: (i) an amplifier, for amplifying said signals from the fire control system, and (ii) an attenuator, for attenuating electrical signals, from the fuze processor to the fire control system, to a voltage less than the threshold; and (b) a data exchange link, between the fire control system and the contacts of the gun, for applying, to the contacts of the gun, electrical signals representative of data transferred from the fire control system to the fuze processor.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
122963 |
Jan 1998 |
IL |
|
US Referenced Citations (7)