May 5, 2026

US12618646 - Verification of desired target illumination in the presence of clutter for laser-designated applications

A laser seeker system is provided. The laser seeker system includes at least a laser pulse receiver circuitry and a pulse evaluator is provided. The pulse evaluator can be configured to obtain a set of measured pulse repetition intervals associated with laser pulses acquired by the laser pulse receiver circuitry. The pulse evaluator can further categorize a current volatility status indicating a respective category of a set of volatility categories, and based on a volatility index indicating a variance of the set of measured PRIs and a volatility counter indicating a number of the acquired laser pulses. The pulse evaluator can further increase a respective category counter that counts occurrences of the respective volatility category. The pulse evaluator can further categorize the authenticity of the laser seeker target based on the set of category counters.

Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
Inventors: James H. Steenson, Jr., Connor Minguy
Filing date: 2024-09-05

laserseekermilitarydefense

The patent describes a laser seeker system that evaluates the authenticity of a target by analyzing pulse repetition intervals (PRIs) of acquired laser pulses and categorizing their volatility status. This method enhances target verification by using a volatility index and counters to track occurrences within defined volatility categories.

Claim 1

1 . A method of categorizing authenticity of a laser seeker target, comprising: obtaining a set of measured pulse repetition intervals (PRIs) associated with acquired laser pulses; categorizing a current volatility status of the laser seeker target, wherein the current volatility status indicates a respective volatility category of a set of volatility categories, and wherein the current volatility status is based on a volatility index and a volatility counter, the volatility index indicating a variance of the set of measured PRIs, and the volatility counter indicating a number of the acquired laser pulses; increasing a respective category counter of a set of category counters, wherein the set of category counters corresponds to the set of volatility categories and the respective category counter counts occurrences of the respective volatility category; and categorizing the authenticity of the laser seeker target based on the set of category counters. obtaining a set of measured pulse repetition intervals (PRIs) associated with acquired laser pulses; categorizing a current volatility status of the laser seeker target, wherein the current volatility status indicates a respective volatility category of a set of volatility categories, and wherein the current volatility status is based on a volatility index and a volatility counter, the volatility index indicating a variance of the set of measured PRIs, and the volatility counter indicating a number of the acquired laser pulses; increasing a respective category counter of a set of category counters, wherein the set of category counters corresponds to the set of volatility categories and the respective category counter counts occurrences of the respective volatility category; and categorizing the authenticity of the laser seeker target based on the set of category counters.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12618646

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12618646