Patents Assigned to MBDA UK Limited
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Publication number: 20160171715Abstract: In a method of tracking an object, a plurality of images of a target object is obtained. A super-resolved image of the target object is calculated from the plurality of images. A further image of the target object is obtained. The further image is correlated with the super-resolved image, in order to identify the location of the target object in the further image.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2014Publication date: June 16, 2016Applicant: MBDA UK LIMITEDInventors: Gary Paul MATSON, Andrew John SHERRIFF, Robert James MIDDLETON
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Publication number: 20160131456Abstract: A sensor for a missile seeker includes a primary, concave, reflector that is reflective to RF waves and to another kind of waves, but that includes a transmissive region, through which RF waves can pass. A secondary, convex, reflector is reflective to RF waves but transmissive, and not reflective, to the other kind of waves, and is arranged facing the primary reflector to further reflect RF waves reflected by the primary reflector through the transmissive region of the primary reflector. An RF detector is arranged on the opposite side of the primary reflector from the secondary reflector and arranged to detect the RF waves reflected by the secondary reflector through the transmissive region of the primary reflector. A second detector, for detecting the other kind of waves, is arranged on the opposite side of the secondary reflector from the primary reflector and is arranged to detect the other kind of waves after they are reflected by the primary reflector and transmitted through the secondary reflector.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2014Publication date: May 12, 2016Applicant: MBDA UK LimitedInventor: Lee Douglas MILLER
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Publication number: 20160123705Abstract: A method of conducting a strike against a target using a designator and a missile. The following steps are conducted: (i) the designator designates the target using a first signal, such as a laser; (ii) the missile detects the laser reflected off the target; (iii) after detecting the reflected laser, the missile emits a second signal, such as a LADAR signal, to designate the target; (iv) the missile tracks the so-designated target; (v) the designator detects the LADAR signal reflected off the target; and (vi) in response to detecting the reflected LADAR signal, the designator stops the designation of the target. This may enable the designator to perform other tasks, whilst the missile tracks and engages the target.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2014Publication date: May 5, 2016Applicant: MBDA UK LimitedInventor: Edwin John William BOWDEN-PETERS
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Publication number: 20160088238Abstract: An imaging apparatus and method are provided for improving discrimination between parts of a scene enabling enhancement of an object in the scene. A camera unit (12) is arranged to capture first and second images from the scene (8) in first and second distinct and spectrally spaced apart wavebands. An image processing unit (14) processes the images so captured and processes polarimetric information in the images to enable better discrimination between parts of the scene. An image of the scene, including a graphical display of the polarimetric information, may be displayed on a visual display unit (16) thus enhancing an object in the scene for viewing by a user. Correlation parameters indicating, possibly on a pixel-by-pixel basis, the correlation between the actual image intensity (30) at each angle of polarisation and a modelled expected image intensity may be used to enhance the visibility of an object.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2014Publication date: March 24, 2016Applicant: MBDA UK LIMITEDInventors: Christopher GREENWAY, Richard Charles SIMMONS
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Publication number: 20160003579Abstract: In a method of guiding a missile in flight to a target (FIG. 1), the location of the missile and the range to the target are measured at a plurality of moments during the flight of the missile (step 10). The location of the target is calculated from the measured ranges and the measured missile locations (step 20). A required velocity vector angle is calculated from the calculated location of the target and a guidance law (step 30). A lateral acceleration required to provide the missile with a velocity oriented to the target at the required velocity vector angle is calculated for the missile (step 40). The missile is caused to accelerate with the calculated lateral acceleration, so that the missile to follows a trajectory according to the guidance law (step 50).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2014Publication date: January 7, 2016Applicant: MBDA UK LIMITEDInventor: Nigel STANSFIELD
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Patent number: 9231560Abstract: A phased-array RF pulse generator is disclosed which includes a video-pulse generator arranged to generate video pulses each having a leading edge. An array of nonlinear and dispersive transmission lines, are arranged to generate RF pulses from the video pulses. At least one sensor is arranged to detect the leading edge of the video pulses after they have passed along the transmission lines. A phase controller is arranged to set the velocity of the video pulses in each transmission line to put the detected leading edges, and hence the generated RF pulses, into a desired phase relationship.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2013Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: MBDA UK LIMITEDInventors: Nigel Seddon, Philip Leslie Mason, Mark Owen
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Patent number: 9212870Abstract: A method of guiding a pursuer to a target is provided, and is of particular use when the possible target location is described by non-Gaussian statistics. Importantly, the method takes into account the fact that different potential target tracks in the future have significantly different times to go. That can give rise to emergent behavior, in which the guidance method covers several possible outcomes at the same time in an optimal way. An example embodiment of the method combines Particle Filter ideas with Swarm Optimization techniques to form a method for generating guidance commands for systems with non-Gaussian statistics. That example method is then applied to a dynamic mission planning example, to guide an airborne pursuer to a ground target travelling on a network of roads where the pursuer has no-go areas, to avoid collateral damage.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2011Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: MBDA UK LIMITEDInventor: Martin Simon Gate
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Patent number: 9165200Abstract: An image-processing method comprising convolving a selected feature of interest (FOI) within the image with a mask of a first size, repeating the convolution with a mask of a second size, and calculating the ratio of the convolution responses, as an indication of the size of the FOI. Preferably the convolution masks are Laplacian of Gaussian. The method can be useful for prioritizing potential targets in a field of view for presentation to an operator.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2011Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: MBDA UK LIMITEDInventors: Keith Christopher Markham, Andrew John Sherriff, Philip Nathan Townsend
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Publication number: 20150293209Abstract: A radar receiver (200) comprises an analogue receiver (230) for receiving a radar echo signal and a digital receiver (240). The digital receiver (240) includes an analogue-to-digital converter (300A-D) arranged to receive and sample an IF analogue signal from the analogue receiver (230). The sampling is undersampling according to the Nyquist criterion, so that a plurality of IF digital signals are produced, in different Nyquist zones, including one or more aliased IF digital signal. The digital receiver (240) is arranged to select an IF digital signal from the one or more aliased digital signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2013Publication date: October 15, 2015Applicant: MBDA UK LIMITEDInventor: Martin George Fairley
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Patent number: 9116186Abstract: Described herein is a method and apparatus for the detection of signals in an area of interest. Three sensor channels are provided for sensing radiated emissions in an area of interest, each channel having a sensor and a processor, the three channels sensing radiated emissions in the very low frequency band, the high/very high frequency band, and the ultra high frequency band respectively. The first and third sensor channels provide input signals to the processor in the second sensor channel so that accumulated signal data can be processed to produce an input signal for a comparator. The comparator compares the input signal with data stored in a database to indicate presence of equipment having known modes of operation.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2011Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: MBDA UK LimitedInventor: David Morgan
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Publication number: 20150234048Abstract: A building comprising a plurality of rooms (10) includes a room occupancy sensing apparatus. A light source (20) emits a series of light pulses (22), a plurality of waveguides deliver light from the light source to output nodes (60) located in the rooms, and a signal capture unit (30) receives output signals resulting from light reflected by objects in the rooms. The apparatus detects movement, of for example a person (40), in a room and ascertains the room concerned by virtue of (i) detecting a difference between the shape of the waveform of the signal (24 i) received at the signal capture unit (30) in response to a first emitted light pulse and the shape of the waveform of the signal (24m) received at the signal capture unit in response to a second emitted light pulse and (ii) relating said reflected light pulses to the appropriate output node and therefore to the room (10) associated with that output node (60).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2013Publication date: August 20, 2015Applicant: MBDA UK LIMITEDInventors: Lee Douglas Miller, Karen Louise McKee
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Patent number: 9091761Abstract: An image processing method using an algorithm which incorporates simulated annealing by parallel Markov chains, the calculation of fitness values of states of the Markov chains which have substantially the same simulated annealing temperature, the calculation of the standard deviation of these fitness values, and the use of this standard deviation in setting the simulated annealing cooling schedule. The method may be used to delineate an object of interest in an image against a background by estimating the boundary of the object and optimizing the fit of the region within this boundary to the region occupied by the object.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2011Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: MBDA UK LimitedInventors: Paul Steven Cooper, Simon Richard Potter
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Publication number: 20150205078Abstract: Objective lens (10) for focusing infrared images in a remote sensor platform and comprising an athermalised triplet (20) consisting of a doublet (30) and a rear lens (40), the doublet (30) consisting of a first lens (50) made of a chalcogenide and a second lens (60) made of germanium.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2013Publication date: July 23, 2015Applicant: MBDA UK LIMITEDInventor: Richard Charles Simmons
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Patent number: 9063534Abstract: A method of relatively positioning a workpiece and a reference axis comprising effecting relative displacements of the workpiece and the reference axis along orthogonal axes so that an intersection of the reference axis with the workpiece is moved at substantially constant speed along a curvilinear path. The method is particularly applicable to SEE sensitivity mapping of a microchip memory using a pulsed laser, relative to the axis of which the chip is moved in a spiral path.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2011Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: MBDA UK LIMITEDInventors: Andrew Michael Chugg, Jonathan James Ward, James Robert McIntosh
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Publication number: 20150136910Abstract: A morphing skin for an air vehicle structure, the skin being formed by a composite material which includes: a multiplicity of fibres, a matrix incorporating the fibres, and a thermo-sensitive material, such as a thermo-plastic. The thermo-sensitive material can be reversibly transitionable in response to a change in temperature, between (i) an ambient temperature mode in which the thermo-sensitive material is capable of transferring loads in the composite material, and (ii) a heated mode in which the ability of the thermo-sensitive material to transfer the loads is reduced. This can allow the stiffness of the skin to be temporarily reduced to enable the skin to be morphed into a different shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2013Publication date: May 21, 2015Applicant: MBDA UK LimitedInventors: Mohammed Azad Hussain, Anthony Machell, Paul Robinson, Henry Alexander Maples, Chamwit Tridech, Alexander Bismarck
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Patent number: 8997654Abstract: A guided munition (10) includes a warhead (20) within the nose section (60) and processing electronics (30) arranged within the munition (10) behind the warhead (20). A plurality of sensors (50) are arranged within the nose section (60) for sensing a target. The sensors (50) are remote from but in communication with the processing electronics (30).Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: MBDA UK LimitedInventors: Lee Douglas Miller, George William Game
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Patent number: 8973480Abstract: The invention covers a missile canister (10) for accommodating a missile (20) along a longitudinal axis (L) of the canister. The canister comprises a plurality of generally planar longitudinal wall portions (14) connected together to form a tubular vessel having a polygonal cross-section. The interconnecting portions (16) between wall sections (14) are generally flexible so that when a missile (20) is launched the bending moment at the interconnecting portions (16) generated by the increase of pressure in the vessel is substantially less than the bending moment (10) generated at the wall portions (14). The interconnecting portions (16) allow relative angular deflection between adjacent wall portions (14) at respective interconnecting portions (16) when said missile (20) is launched.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2011Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: MBDA UK LimitedInventors: Bryan Bowen, Anthony Machell, Terence Edward Kavanagh, Dennis George Turner
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Publication number: 20150035614Abstract: A phased-array RF pulse generator is disclosed which includes a video-pulse generator arranged to generate video pulses each having a leading edge. An array of nonlinear and dispersive transmission lines, are arranged to generate RF pulses from the video pulses. At least one sensor is arranged to detect the leading edge of the video pulses after they have passed along the transmission lines. A phase controller is arranged to set the velocity of the video pulses in each transmission line to put the detected leading edges, and hence the generated RF pulses, into a desired phase relationship.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2013Publication date: February 5, 2015Applicant: MBDA UK LimitedInventors: Nigel Seddon, Philip Leslie Mason, Mark Owen
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Patent number: 8910576Abstract: A bomb for deployment from an air vehicle includes a rocket motor for propelling the bomb. The rocket motor includes propellant which at least partially defines a void downstream of an initial burning surface. As the propellant is burned the void will be exposed, increasing the surface area of the burning surface of the propellant to increase the thrust of the rocket motor.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2012Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: MBDA UK LimitedInventor: Rodney Andrew Irvine
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Patent number: RE45519Abstract: A right circular cylindrical body of an isotropic dielectric such as a cross-linked styrene copolymer, has respective pluralities of mutually parallel grooves formed in its axial end faces, spaced apart by an intermediate portion whose dimension c is a half wavelength. The axial lengths a, b of the grooves are such that when a wave passes through the body, a quarter wavelength phase difference is produced between a component of a wave having its E-vector parallel to the grooves and a component of the wave having its E-vector orthogonal to the grooves. Alternatively the plate may consist of two or more discrete bodies whose grooves are dimensioned to produce a total differential phase shift of one quarter wavelength.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2013Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: MBDA UK LimitedInventor: Charles Anthony Rowatt