May 5, 2026

US12618647 - Laser pulse shape detection using frequency characterization

A method includes receiving a plurality of laser pulses as a pulse train on a plurality of imaging sensor pixels in an array of pixels. For each pixel in the array of pixels, the method includes receiving a respective one of the laser pulse trains, and scanning the pixels response across a range of frequencies with a bandpass filter to determine pulse shape characteristics of the respective one of the laser pulse trains. The method includes filtering out all of the laser pulse trains that do not fit a predetermined pulse shape characteristic for a true target designation pulse train, and physically adjusting trajectory of a physical resource toward a target based on location on the imaging sensor of one or more pixels receiving a laser pulse train that fits the predetermined pulse shape characteristic for the true target designation pulse train.

Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
Inventors: Robert D. Rutkiewicz
Filing date: 2023-02-17

laserdetectionguidedmunitiondefense

The patent describes a method for detecting laser pulse shapes using an imaging sensor array, which filters and analyzes pulse data to identify characteristics of a true target designation pulse train. Based on this analysis, the method enables the adjustment of a guided munition’s trajectory toward the identified target.

Claim 1

1 . A method comprising: determining a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of a train of pulses generated by a laser designator; coordinating a capture of a sequence of images with the PRF so as to capture a single pulse of the train of pulses within each of the sequence of images captured, the images captured, via an imaging sensor with a two-dimensional array of pixels, each located at a corresponding pixel location within the two-dimensional array of pixels; globally configuring band-pass filtering, by an ROIC, of temporal signals generated by each of the two-dimensional array of pixels for each of the sequence of images captured, thereby generating filtered pulse data; determining a temporal pulse shape corresponding to each of the two-dimensional array of pixels using the filtered pulse data obtained for the sequence of images captured; identifying one or more pixels the two-dimensional array of pixels corresponding to a predetermined temporal pulse shape characteristic of a true target; and physically adjusting trajectory of a guided munition toward the true target based on the pixel locations of the one or more pixels having the predetermined temporal pulse shape characteristic of the true target. determining a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of a train of pulses generated by a laser designator; coordinating a capture of a sequence of images with the PRF so as to capture a single pulse of the train of pulses within each of the sequence of images captured, the images captured, via an imaging sensor with a two-dimensional array of pixels, each located at a corresponding pixel location within the two-dimensional array of pixels; globally configuring band-pass filtering, by an ROIC, of temporal signals generated by each of the two-dimensional array of pixels for each of the sequence of images captured, thereby generating filtered pulse data; determining a temporal pulse shape corresponding to each of the two-dimensional array of pixels using the filtered pulse data obtained for the sequence of images captured; identifying one or more pixels the two-dimensional array of pixels corresponding to a predetermined temporal pulse shape characteristic of a true target; and physically adjusting trajectory of a guided munition toward the true target based on the pixel locations of the one or more pixels having the predetermined temporal pulse shape characteristic of the true target.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12618647

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12618647