How to track and target an image tracker system, weapon systems and moving objects

摘要

The present invention relates to an image tracker (10) for tracking an object (16) that is a target for engagement as a laser weapon (12). The tracker 10 includes a receiver optics 31 for receiving both a radiation 30 emerging from the detected object 16 and a radiation 30 emerging from the laser beam 14 incident on the object, And a polarization beam splitter 44 for separating the radiation into a first beam 46 as a reflected laser radiation beam and a second beam 47 as a detected target radiation beam. The polarization beam splitter 44 reflects the first beam 46, which is the reflected laser radiation beam, in the first direction for image generation purposes and also linearly polarizes the second beam 47, which is the detected target radiation field . The beam polarizer 60 circularly polarizes the second beam, which is the detected target radiation. The micromirror array 66 reflects the circularly polarized, detected target radiation, and sends it back to the beam polarizer 60, which linearly polarizes the second beam 47, which is the detected target radiation. The tracker electronics 33 adjusts the reflectivity of the micromirror array 66 to ensure that the radiation entering the array is at or below a set brightness threshold. Therefore, the reflected laser radiation wave does not affect the image generation of the target object. The linearly polarized captured target radiant wavebeam is then reflected by the beam splitter 44 in a second direction for imaging purposes. The tracker of the present invention improves the probability of target losing force because the actual laser beam aiming point 20 in the target is tracked along the target location.