United S ta tes Pa tent [ 1 9 1

K r ieg es m a nn
4 , 5 5 8 , 8 3 6
D ec . 1 7 , 1 9 8 5
Pa tent Num ber :
D a te o f Pa tent:
[ 1 1 ]
[ 4 5 ]
[ 5 4 ] S EMI-ACTIVE CONTROL S YS TEM FOR
TRACK ING AND ILLUMINATING A
TARGET
[ 7 5 ] Inv ento r : Peter K r ieg es m a nn, Ul r n, Fed. Rep .
o f Ger m a ny
[ 7 3 ] As s ig nee: Lic entia Pa tent-Ver w a l tung s -Gm bH ,
Fed. Rep . o f Ger m a ny
[ 2 1 ] Ap p l . No . : 5 2 2 , 6 6 4
[ 2 2 ] Fil ed: Aug . 1 2 , 1 9 8 3
[ 3 0 ] Fo r eig n Ap p l ic a tio n Pr io r ity D a ta
Aug . 1 4 , 1 9 8 2 [ D E] Fed. Rep . o f Ger m a ny . . . . . . . 3 2 3 0 2 6 7
[ 5 1 ] Int. ( :1 . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F4 1 G 7 /3 0
[ 5 2 ] U. S . Cl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 4 /3 1 1
[ 5 8 ] Fiel d o f S ea r c h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 4 / 3 . 1 1
[ 5 6 ] Ref er enc es Cited
U. S . PATENT D OCUMENTS
3 , 0 0 1 , 1 8 6 9 /1 9 6 1 Ba l tzer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 4 /3 . l 1
3 , 1 1 6 , 0 3 9 1 2 /1 9 6 3 Go l dber g . . . . 2 4 4 /3 1 1
3 , 3 0 0 , 7 7 7 1 /1 9 6 7 Ta r r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 3 /6
3 , 3 7 1 , 8 8 7 3 /1 9 6 8 Wel ti . . . . . . . . . 2 4 4 /3 . 1 1
3 , 7 9 9 , 6 7 6 3 /1 9 7 4 Cha tter to n 3 5 6 /1 5 2
3 , 9 7 4 , 3 8 3 8 /1 9 7 6 Cha p m a n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 4 /3 . 1 1
4 , 1 4 3 , 8 3 5 3 /1 9 7 9 Jenning s , Jr . et a l . . . . . . . 2 4 4 /3 1 1
4 , 4 0 6 , 4 2 9 9 / 1 9 8 3 Al l en . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 4 / 3 . 1 1
IB* \ ' 1 ?
TARGET TH RGET
TRACK ER Lo em ' o k
FOREIGN PATENT D OCUMENTS
2 1 6 2 9 8 3 6 /1 9 7 3 Fed. Rep . o f Ger m a ny ,
2 9 2 2 5 9 2 1 1 /1 9 8 1 Fed. Rep . o f Ger m a ny .
1 4 5 4 4 5 1 8 /1 9 6 6 Fr a nc e .
2 4 7 0 3 5 7 5 /1 9 8 1 Fr a nc e .
1 0 6 4 1 5 0 4 / 1 9 6 7 United K ing do m .
1 4 0 6 7 0 7 9 / 1 9 7 5 United K ing do m .
OTH ER PUBLICATIONS
S ta ng l , A. ; Op tis c he Fo l g er eg el ung en bei Lenk
f l ug ko r p er n ; Luf tf a hr ttec hnik. Ra um f a hr ttec hnik;
1 9 6 9 , p p . 2 0 8 -2 1 0 .
Pr im a r y Exa m iner -Cha r l es T. Jo r da n
Atto r ney, Ag ent, o r Fir m -Mc Gl ew a nd Tuttl e
[ 5 7 ] ABS TRACT
In a s em i-a c tiv e s ys tem o f m is s il e g uida nc e, s im p l e il l u
m ina ting dev ic es , des ig na ted a s tr a ns m itter s o nl y, a r e
us ed f o r il l um ina ting the ta r g et, ins tea d o f exp ens iv e
ta r g et tr a c king dev ic es . The il l um ina ting dev ic es a r e
dir ec ted a t the ta r g ets by the ta r g et l o c a ting eq uip m ent,
w ithin the p er io ds o f ta r g et inf o r m a tio n r enew a l . As
c o m p a r ed to the ta r g et tr a c king s ys tem s , the ha l f w idth
o f the dir ec tiv e dia g r a m s o f the il l um ina ting dev ic e is
de? nitel y enl a r g ed a nd s o dim ens io ned tha t the il l um i
na ted s o l id a ng l e enc o m p a s s es the m a neuv er ing s p a c e
o f the ta r g et w ithin the p er io d o f inf o r m a tio n r enew a l .
1 2 Cl a im s , 1 D r a w ing Fig ur e
TAR 6 E1
ILLuMi NAr o R
TRANS MWTER
; l b
CONTROL
US . Pa tent
D ec . ' 1 7 , 1 9 8 5
1 2 . 7 1 8 K
. TARGET
TRACK ER
TRRGET
Lo a m -0 R
4 , 5 5 8 , 8 3 6
m y Ml NATOR
TRANS MWTER
CONTROL
j ib
4 , 5 5 8 , 8 3 6
1
S EMI-ACTIV E CONTROL S YS TEM FOR
TRACK ING AND ILLUMINATING A TARGET
FIELD AND BACK GROUND OF TH E
INVENTION
The inv entio n r el a tes to m is s il e g uida nc e a nd in p a r
tic ul a r to a new a nd us ef ul s em i-a c tiv e s ys tem o f tr a c k
ing f o r a ta r g et.
In a s em i-a c tiv e s ys tem o f g uida nc e, s uc h a s dis c l o s ed
in Ger m a n OS No . 2 1 6 2 9 8 3 , f o r exa m p l e, a ta r g et to be
f o ug ht by the m is s il e is ir r a dia ted w ith el ec tr o m a g netic
ener g y thr o ug h a n il l um ina to r w hic h' is deta c hed f r o m
the m is s il e a nd, in g ener a l , is s ta tio na r y. The r a dia tio n
im p ing ing o n the ta r g et is r ef l ec ted, es p ec ia l l y a l s o in
the dir ec tio n o f the m is s il e w hic h thus p a s s iv el y r e
c eiv es inf o r m a tio n o n the dir ec tio n to be ta ken, f r o m the
r el a tiv e dir ec tio n o f inc idenc e o f the r es p ec tiv e p o r tio n
o f r e? ec ted r a dia tio n. S uc h a s em i-a c tiv e m is s il e g uid
a nc e m a y be ef f ec ted dur ing the entir e ? ig ht o r o nl y
dur ing s ho r ter inter v a l s o f the ? ig ht.
A ba s ic r eq uir em ent is to il l um ina te the ta r g et dur ing
s uc h a s em i-a c tiv e p ha s e o f g uida nc e c o ntinuo us l y,
m a ybe w ith the exc ep tio n o f v er y s ho r t inter r up tio ns .
Fo r this p ur p o s e, s ys tem s a r e em p l o yed c o m p r is ing
o n a l l -a r o und s ea r c h r a da r o r a s im il a r dev ic e f o r ini
tia l l y detec ting a ta r g et. S inc e the a ntenna o f a s ur v eil
l a nc e r a da r is dir ec ted a t the ta r g et o nl y f o r a s ho r t tim e
a nd the r a da r s ig na l is us ua l l y p ul s a to r y, a s ur v eil l a nc e
r a da r is no t a s uita bl e dev ic e f o r il l um ina ting the ta r g et.
Af ter a l l , a o nc e detec ted ta r g et is il l um ina ted by a
ta r g et tr a c king r a da r ha v ing a v er y na r r o w p enc il -bea m
dir ec tio na l p a tter n. Fr o m the ec ho p o r tio n r e? ec ted
f r o m a ta r g et to the ta r g et tr a c king r a da r , the ins ta nta
neo us p o s itio n o f the ta r g et c a n be deter m ined a nd this
inf o r m a tio n c a n be us ed f o r p o inting the na r r o w a n
tenna l o be o f the il l um ina to r exa c tl y a t the ta r g et.
S inc e, a s a l r ea dy m entio ned, the ta r g et is to be il l um i
na ted dur ing a s em i-a c tiv e p ha s e c o ntinuo us l y, o nl y a
s ing l e ta r g et c a n be il l um ina ted in ev er y ins ta nc e by
s uc h a ta r g et tr a c king dev ic e. With a s im ul ta neo us
l ig hting o f a p l ur a l ity o f ta r g ets , i. e. a s im ul ta neo us
g uida nc e o f s ev er a l m is s il es , a p l ur a l ity o f ta r g et tr a c k
ing dev ic es o f the s a m e kind m us t be p r es ent. The m ul ti
p l ied c o s ts c o nnec ted ther eto unf a v o r a bl y a f f ec t the
s etting up o f a n ef f ec tiv e s ys tem o f g uida nc e, s inc e the
c o m p l ex, a uto no m o us ta r g et tr a c king dev ic es a r e v er y
exp ens iv e.
S UMMARY OF TH E INVENTION
The p r es ent inv entio n is dir ec ted to a s em i-a c tiv e
a p p a r a tus f o r tr a c king a nd il l um ina ting a ta r g et, w hic h
c a n inexp ens iv el y be s et up p a r tic ul a r l y a l s o f o r a s im ul
ta neo us g uida nc e o f a p l ur a l ity o f m is s il es .
In a c c o r da nc e w ith the inv entio n ther e is p r o v ided a
s em i-a c tiv e c o ntr o l s ys tem f o r a ho m ing g uided m is s il e
w hic h c o m p r is es a t l ea s t o ne ta r g et l o c a ting dev ic e a nd
a t l ea s t o ne ta r g et il l um ina ting tr a ns m itter w ith a s w ing
a bl e dir ec tiv e p a tter n. The a l ig nm ent o f the dir ec tiv e
p a tter n w ith the ta r g et being ef f ec ted in a c c o r da nc e
w ith the l o c a tio n o f the ta r g et is deter m ined by the
ta r g et l o c a ting eq uip m ent. The c o ntr o l is c o nnec ted to
the ta r g et l o c a ting dev ic e a nd to the tr a ns m itter s o a s to
a dj us t the a l ig nm ent if nec es s a r y a t ev er y r enew ed in
f o r m a tio n o n the ta r g et l o c a tio n to es ta bl is h a ta r g et
dir ec tiv e p a tter n. The el ev a tio na l a zim utha l ha l f w idths
o f the dir ec tiv e p a tter n being a t l ea s t s uc h tha t the il l u
m ina ted s o l id a ng l e enc o m p a s s es the m a neo uv er ing
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 5
5 5
6 0
6 5
2
s p a c e o f the ta r g et w ithin the p er io d o f the inf o r m a tio n
r enew a l o f the ta r g et l o c a ting eq uip m ent.
In a c c o r da nc e w ith a m etho d o f c o ntr o l l ing a ho m ing
g uided m is s il e us ing a ta r g et l o c a ting dev ic e a nd a ta r
g et il l um ina ting dev ic e, the il l um ina ting tr a ns m itter is
s w ung in the dir ec tiv e p a tter n o f the ta r g et in a c c o r
da nc e w ith the l o c a tio n o f the ta r g et deter m ined by the
ta r g et l o c a ting eq uip m ent a nd the il l um ina tio n is c o n
tr o l l ed a s to a l ig nm ent ba s ed o n inf o r m a tio n o f the
ta r g et l o c a tio n f r o m the ta r g et l o c a to r , the el ev a tio na l
a nd a zim utha l ha l f w idths o f the dir ec tiv e p a tter n is
m a inta ined s o tha t the il l um ina ted s o l id a ng l e enc o m
p a s s es the m a neo uv er ing s p a c e o f the ta r g et w ithin the
p er io d o f the inf o r m a tio n r enew a l o f the ta r g et l o c a ting
eq uip m ent. .
Wha t is s ubs ta ntia l in the inv entiv e s ys tem is tha t the
il l um ina ting dev ic e is des ig ned o nl y f o r tr a ns m itting
s ig na l s , no t f o r r ec eiv ing the ec ho es , a nd ther ef o r e, it is
no t c a p a bl e o f indep endentl y tr a c king a ta r g et. S uc h a n
il l um ina ting dev ic e w itho ut a r ec eiv ing a nd ev a l ua ting
c a p a bil ity o f its o w n is m uc h s im p l er in c o ns tr uc tio n
a nd ther ef o r e l es s exp ens iv e tha n a n a uto no m o us ta r g et
tr a c king dev ic e. This is p a r tic ul a r l y a dv a nta g eo us if the
s ys tem is to be extended to a p l ur a l ity o f il l um ina ting
dev ic es . S inc e the il l um ina ting dev ic e its el f c a nno t l o
c a te the ta r g et, inf o r m a tio n o n the ta r g et l o c a tio n nec es
s a r y f o r o r ienting the dir ec tiv e p a tter n is ta ken f r o m the
ta r g et l o c a ting dev ic es .
Ac c o r ding l y, it is a n o bj ec t o f the inv entio n to p r o
v ide a n im p r o v ed s em i-a c tiv e c o ntr o l s ys tem f o r a ho m
ing g uided m is s il e.
A f ur ther o bj ec t o f the inv entio n is to p r o v ide a c o n
tr o l s ys tem f o r a g uided m is s il e w hic h is s im p l e in de
s ig n, r ug g ed in c o ns tr uc tio n a nd ec o no m ic a l to m a nu
f a c tur e.
A f ur ther o bj ec t o f the inv entio n is to p r o v ide a
m etho d o f c o ntr o l l ing a ho m ing g uided m is s il e us ing a
ta r g et l o c a ting dev ic e a nd a ta r g et il l um ina ting dev ic e
w her ein the inf o r m a tio n f r o m the ta r g et l o c a ting dev ic e
is us ed to es ta bl is h a n il l um ina tio n w hic h is a t l ea s t s uc h
tha t the il l um ina ted a ng l e enc o m p a s s es the m a neo uv er
ing s p a c e o f the ta r g et w ithin the p er io d o f inf o r m a tio n
r enew a l o f the ta r g et l o c a ting eq uip m ent.
The v a r io us f ea tur es o f no v el ty w hic h c ha r a c ter ize
the inv entio n a r e p o inted o ut w ith p a r tic ul a r ity in the
c l a im s a nnexed to a nd f o r m ing a p a r t o f this dis c l o s ur e.
Fo r a better under s ta nding o f the inv entio n, its o p er a t
ing a dv a nta g es a nd s p ec if ic o bj ec ts a tta ined by its us es ,
r ef er enc e is m a de to the a c c o m p a nying dr a w ing a nd
des c r ip tiv e m a tter in w hic h p r ef er r ed em bo dim ents o f
the inv entio n a r e il l us tr a ted.
BRIEF D ES CRIPTION OF TH E D RAWINGS
In the dr a w ing s :
The o nl y FIGURE o f the dr a w ing is a s c hem a tic
r ep r es enta tio n o f a n a p p a r a tus f o r tr a c king a nd il l um i
na ting a ta r g et a nd c o ns tr uc ted in a c c o r da nc e w ith the
inv entio n.
D ES CRIPTION OF TH E PREFERRED
EMBOD IMENTS
Ref er r ing to the dr a w ing in p a r tic ul a r the inv entio n
em bo died ther ein c o m p r is es a m etho d a nd a p p a r a tus f o r
c o ntr o l l ing a ho m ing g uided m is s il e.
Up o n detec ting a m is s il e o r a ta r g et 1 0 a nd deter m in
ing its l o c a tio n by a ta r g et l o c a ting dev ic e 1 2 , v a l ues f o r
s etting a n il l um ina ting dev ic e 1 4 a r e der iv ed f r o m the
4 , 5 5 8 , 8 3 6
3
inf o r m a tio n o n the ta r g et, a nd tr a ns m itted ther eto
thr o ug h a c o ntr o l 1 6 . The s em i-a c tiv e g uida nc e by il
l um ina tio n o f a m is s il e to the detec ted ta r g et 1 0 is ef
f ec ted by the il l um ina ting dev ic e 1 4 . The ta r g et l o c a ting
dev ic es 1 2 a r e thus f r ee to c o ntinue their w a tc h o f the
entir e s p a c e f o r f ur ther ta r g ets . In a c c o r da nc e w ith the
da ta o f the detec ted ta r g et, o r tho s e tr a ns m itted f o r
s etting , the dir ec tiv e dia g r a m is then a l ig ned by m ea ns
o f us ua l s etting m ea ns .
The entir e s p a c e to be w a tc hed is no r m a l l y p er io di
c a l l y s c a nned by the ta r g et l o c a ting dev ic es 1 2 p a r tic u
l a r l y a n a l l -a r o und s ea r c h r a da r . Ther ef o r e, a f ter a c er
ta in p er io d o f inf o r m a tio n r enew a l , the ta r g et 1 0 il l um i
na ted by the il l um ina ting dev ic e is a g a in p ic ked up by
the ta r g et l o c a ting dev ic es . Ther eby, a new l o c a tio n o f
the ta r g et, w hic h c o ntinues to m o v e in the m ea ntim e, is
detec ted a nd the dir ec tio na l p a tter n o f the il l um ina ting
dev ic e is r ea dj us ted in a c c o r da nc e w ith the new l o c a
tio n o f the ta r g et.
To a v o id a n es c a p e o f the ta r g et f r o m the r a ng e o f the
dir ec tiv e p a tter n o f the il l um ina ting dev ic e dur ing the
p er io d o f inf o r m a tio n r enew a l , s o tha t the m is s il e w o ul d
no l o ng er s ee the ta r g et, the p r o v ided s o l id a ng l e 0
il l um ina ted by the dir ec tiv e dia g r a m , i. e. the a zim utha l
a nd el ev a tio na l w idths o f the dir ec tio na l l o be, is s uc h
tha t it exc eeds o r a t l ea s t eq ua l s the m a neo uv er ing s p a c e
o f the ta r g et w ithin the p er io d o f inf o r m a tio n r enew a l .
The l im its o f this m a neo uv er ing s p a c e dep end o n the
extent o f the p er io d f o r inf o r m a tio n r enew a l , the a c tua l
da ta o f the ta r g et, a nd the p r es um p tiv e m a neo uv er ing
c a p a bil ity o f the ta r g et. The tec hniq ue o f w o r king
w ithin a m a neo uv er ing s p a c e o f the ta r g et is kno w n
f r o m tr a c k f o r m ing r a da r s ys tem s .
S inc e the m a neo uv er ing s p a c e a l s o dep ends o n the
ta r g et s p a c e w hic h, a s a r ul e, v a r ies c o ns ta ntl y, a n a d
v a nta g eo us dev el o p m ent o f the inv entio n p r o v ides to
m a ke the s ha p e, thus the w idth in el ev a tio n a nd a zi
m uth, o f the dir ec tio na l p a tter n o f the il l um ina ting de
v ic e v a r ia bl e, s o a s to be a bl e to a dj us t the s o l id a ng l e
il l um ina ted thr o ug h the dir ec tio na l p a tter n to the a c tua l
da ta o f the ta r g et.
Ev en a p l ur a l ity o f il l um ina ting dev ic es w ith c o m p l e
m enta r y il l um ina tio n s p a c es m a y be p r o v ided f o r il l um i
na ting a n a ng l e s p a c e, then, if a ta r g et p a s s es f r o m o ne
a ng l e s p a c e p o r tio n to the o ther , the new il l um ina ting
dev ic e a s s um es the f unc tio n o f the p r ec eeding o ne.
The inv entio n is p a r tic ul a r l y s uita bl e f o r s up p l em ent
ing o r extending p r io r a r t s ys tem s c o m p r is ing a n a l l
a r o und s ea r c h r a da r f o r m o nito r ing the s p a c e, a nd o ne
o r m o r e ta r g et tr a c king dev ic es ha v ing na r r o w , a p p r o x
im a tel y p enc il -bea m dir ec tiv e dia g r a m s . In a c c o r da nc e
w ith the inv entio n, in s uc h ins ta nc es , the a l l -a r o und
s ea r c h r a da r a nd the ta r g et tr a c king dev ic es s ubs ta n
tia l l y a s s um e the f unc tio n o f the ta r g et tr a c king dev ic es .
In a n a dv a nta g eo us des ig n, it is p r o v ided tha t a f ter
the ta r g et ha s been detec ted by the a l l -a r o und s ea r c h
r a da r 1 2 , a ta r g et tr a c king dev ic e 1 8 is p o inted a t the
ta r g et to deter m ine the exa c t p o s itio n ther eo f . With a
ta r g et tr a c king dev ic e, a l s o the el ev a tio n o f the ta r g et
c a n be deter m ined, w hil e a n a l l -a r o und s ea r c h r a da r
f r eq uentl y a l l o w s o nl y the deter m ina tio n o f the a zi
m uth. At the s a m e tim e, a dv a nta g eo us l y, the ta r g et
tr a c king dev ic e m a y ef f ec t the initia l il l um ina tio n o f the
ta r g et.
In a no ther a dv a nta g eo us em bo dim ent, a f ter exa c tl y
deter m ining the l o c a tio n o f the ta r g et a nd der iv ing
ther ef r o m the r es p ec tiv e v a l ues f o r s etting , the il l um i
na ting dev ic e ta kes o v er the il l um ina tio n o f the ta r g et.
2 0
2 5
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 0
6 5
4
Ther eby ( a f ter the f r eq uenc y c ha ng e) , the ta r g et tr a c k
ing dev ic e bec o m es f r ee f o r a new ta r g et.
S til l a no ther a dv a nta g eo us em bo dim ent p r o v ides tha t
the ta r g et tr a c king dev ic e ef f ec ts the il l um ina tio n o f the
ta r g et until the ta r g et ha s a p p r o a c hed the il l um ina ting
dev ic e to a dis ta nc e w hic h, f o r il l us tr a tio n, m ig ht be
c a l l ed r a ng e o f the il l um ina ting dev ic e. With eq ua l
tr a ns m is s io n p o w er s , if a ta r g et tr a c king dev ic e is us ed
f o r the il l um ina tio n, the ener g y inc ident o n the ta r g et
a nd thus the intens ity o f the s ig na l s r e? ec ted to w a r d the
m is s il e is hig her , s inc e the dir ec tio na l bea m is s ubs ta n
tia l l y m o r e f o c us ed.
Ano ther a dv a nta g eo us em bo dim ent o f the inv entio n
dev el o p s the idea tha t if a s ing l e ta r g et is p r es ent, it is
a dv a nta g eo us to il l um ina te the ta r g et dur ing the entir e
? ig ht p er io d ( o r the s em i-a c tiv e p ha s e) o f the m is s il e
thr o ug h the ta r g et tr a c king dev ic e, a nd o nl y if a no ther
ta r g et a p p ea r s , to tr a ns m it the il l um ina ting f unc tio n to
the il l um ina ting dev ic e a nd us e the ta r g et tr a c king de
v ic e f o r l o c a ting a nd m a ybe il l um ina ting the new ta r g et.
S til l a no ther a dv a nta g eo us em bo dim ent p r o v ides tha t
if a p l ur a l ity o f ta r g ets is p r es ent, ea c h ta r g et is il l um i
na ted thr o ug h o ne il l um ina ting dev ic e 1 4 , a nd the ta r g et
tr a c king dev ic e 1 8 is us ed f o r deter m ining in c yc l ic a l
s eq uenc e the l o c a tio n o f the il l um ina ted ta r g ets , inde
p endentl y o f o ther ta r g et l o c a ting dev ic es 1 2 . The p er
io d f o r inf o r m a tio n r enew a l m a y thus be c o ns ider a bl y
r educ ed.
The indiv idua l o p er a ting m o des a nd the c o o p er a tio n
o f the v a r io us c o m p o nents o f the s ys tem a r e a dv a nta
g eo us l y c o ntr o l l ed thr o ug h a c entr a l c o m p uter o r c o n
tr o l 1 6 . In a m a nner kno w n p er s e, the c o m p uter 1 6
del iv er s the s p ec i? c s etting q ua ntities f o r o p er a ting the
m is s il e, s uc h a s the f r eq uenc y, ins ta nt o f tr a ns m is s io n,
a nd m o dul a tio n o f il l um ina ting s ig na l .
D ur ing inter m is s io ns in w hic h they a r e no t needed
f o r g uiding the m is s il e, the il l um ina ting dev ic es m a y
p er f o r m a dec o y j o b under the c entr a l c o ntr o l .
Whil e s p ec i? c em bo dim ents o f the inv entio n ha v e
been s ho w n a nd des c r ibed in deta il to il l us tr a te the
a p p l ic a tio n o f the p r inc ip l es o f the inv entio n, it w il l be
under s to o d tha t the inv entio n m a y be em bo died o ther
w is e w itho ut dep a r ting f r o m s uc h p r inc ip l es .
I c l a im :
1 . A s em i-a c tiv e c o ntr o l a p p a r a tus f o r tr a c king a nd
il l um ina ting a ta r g et w hic h is m a neuv er a bl e w ithin a
m a neuv er ing s p a c e c o m p r is ing a t l ea s t o ne ta r g et-l o c a t
ing dev ic e f o r p er io dic a l l y r enew ing inf o r m a tio n o n
ta r g et l o c a tio n, a t l ea s t o ne ta r g et il l um ina ting tr a ns m it
ter f o r o nl y r a dia ting el ec tr o m a g netic w a v es in a s w ing
a bl e dir ec tiv e p a tter n f o r il l um ina ting a s o l id a ng l e a nd
being l im ited by a n el ev a tio na l a nd a zim utha l ha l f w idth
o f the el ec tr o m a g netic w a v es , the a l ig nm ent o f the
dir ec tiv e p a tter n w ith the ta r g et being ef f ec tiv e in a c
c o r da nc e w ith the l o c a tio n o f the ta r g et deter m ined by
s a id ta r g et-l o c a ting dev ic e, a c o ntr o l c o nnec ted to s a id
ta r g et-l o c a ting dev ic e a nd s a id tr a ns m itter f o r a dj us t
ing , if nec es s a r y, a f ter ev er y r enew ed inf o r m a tio n o n
the ta r g et-l o c a tio n to es ta bl is h a ta r g et dir ec tiv e p a t=
ter n, the el ev a tio na l a nd a zim utha l ha l f w idths o f s a id
dir ec tiv e p a tter n being a t l ea s t s uc h tha t the il l um ina ted
s o l id a ng l e enc o m p a s s es the m a neuv er ing s p a c e o f the
ta r g et w ithin the p er io d o f the inf o r m a tio n r enew a l o f
the ta r g et l o c a ting dev ic e.
2 . A s em i-a c tiv e c o ntr o l a p p a r a tus a c c o r ding to c l a im
1 , w her ein s a id ta r g et l o c a ting dev ic e c o m p r is es a n
a l l -a r o und s ea r c h r a da r . ' '
4 , 5 5 8 , 8 3 6
5
3 . A s em i-a c tiv e c o ntr o l a p p a r a tus a c c o r ding to c l a im
1 , w her ein s a id ta r g et l o c a ting dev ic e c o m p r is es a ta r g et
tr a c king dev ic e ha v ing a p p r o xim a tel y a p enc il bea m
p a tter n.
4 . A s em i-a c tiv e c o ntr o l a p p a r a tus a c c o r ding to c l a im
3 , w her ein a n initia l il l um ina tio n o f the ta r g et is ef f ec ted
by s a id ta r g et tr a c king dev ic e.
5 . A s em i-a c tiv e c o ntr o l a p p a r a tus a c c o r ding to c l a im
4 , w her ein up o n deter m ining the ta r g et l o c a tio n, the
il l um ina tio n o f the ta r g et is ta ken o v er by the ta r g et
il l um ina ting tr a ns m itter .
6 . A s em i-a c tiv e a p p a r a tus a c c o r ding to c l a im 4 ,
w her ein the ta r g et il l um ina ting tr a ns m itter ta kes o v er
the il l um ina tio n a s s o o n a s a dis ta nc e to the ta r g et f a l l s
bel o w a m a xim um v a l ue.
7 . A s em i-a c tiv e c o ntr o l a p p a r a tus a c c o r ding to c l a im
5 , w her ein the il l um ina tio n o f the ta r g et is ta ken o v er by
the il l um ina ting tr a ns m itter o nl y if a no ther ta r g et is
p r es ent.
8 . A s em i-a c tiv e c o ntr o l a p p a r a tus a c c o r ding to c l a im
1 , inc l uding a p l ur a l ity o f il l um ina ting tr a ns m itter s
w hic h a r e o p er a bl e indep endentl y o f ea c h o ther a nd
w hic h ea c h il l um ina te a s o l id a ng l e.
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 0
6 5
6
9 . A s em i-a c tiv e c o ntr o l a p p a r a tus a c c o r ding to c l a im
1 , w her ein s o l id a ng l es o f the p l ur a l ity o f il l um ina ting
tr a ns m itter s c o m p l em ent a nd p a r tl y o v er l a p ea c h o ther .
1 0 . A s em i-a c tiv e c o ntr o l a p p a r a tus a c c o r ding to
c l a im 1 , w her ein s a id c o ntr o l is a c o ntr o l c o m p uter f o r
der iv ing f r o m the ta r g et inf o r m a tio n o f the ta r g et l o c a t
ing dev ic e a s etting f o r the il l um ina ting tr a ns m itter .
1 1 . A s em i-a c tiv e c o ntr o l a p p a r a tus a c c o r ding to
c l a im 1 , w her ein the s ha p e o f the dir ec tiv e p a tter n is
v a r ia bl e.
1 2 . A m etho d o f s em i-a c tiv el y tr a c king a nd il l um ina t
ing a ta r g et w hic h is m a neuv er a bl e w ithin a m a neuv er
ing s p a c e a nd util izing a ta r g et l o c a ting dev ic e a nd a
ta r g et il l um ina ting tr a ns m itter , c o m p r is ing p er io dic a l l y
r enew ing inf o r m a tio n f r o m the ta r g et-l o c a ting dev ic e
o n ta r g et l o c a tio n, il l um ina ting the ta r g et us ing el ec tr o
m a g netic w a v es tr a ns m itted f r o m the ta r g et il l um ina t
ing tr a ns m itter in a dir ec tio n p a tter n ha v ing a s o l id
a ng l e a s being l im ited by a n el ev a tio na l a nd a zim utha l
ha l f w idth o f the el ec tr o m a g netic w a v es , s w ing ing the
dir ec tiv e p a tter n a c c o r ding to the l o c a tio n o f the ta r g et
deter m ined by the ta r g et l o c a ting dev ic e, a nd m a inta in
ing the el ev a tio na l a nd a zim utha l ha l f w idths o f the
s o l id a ng l e o f the dir ec tiv e p a tter n to enc o m p a s s the
m a neuv er ing s p a c e o f the ta r g et w ithin ea c h p er io d o f
r enew ed inf o r m a tio n f r o m the ta r g et l o c a ting dev ic e.
* * * * *