Fuze internal oscillator calibration system, method, and apparatus

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and method for detonating a projectile which includes receiving data by a microprocessor located in the projectile from an external ballistic computer. Calibrating a low frequency oscillator located in the projectile using an internal precision reference oscillator also located in the projectile that can withstand launch accelerations of tens of thousands of g's. Powering off the reference oscillator when calibration is complete to save energy and transmitting a detonation signal from the microprocessor to a detonation circuit located in the projectile.

1 . A self contained fuze apparatus comprising:
 a power supply;   a power conditioner electrically coupled to said power supply;   a microprocessor coupled to said power conditioner;   a first oscillator coupled to said microprocessor;   a reference oscillator coupled to said microprocessor, wherein said reference oscillator is operable to directly calibrate said first oscillator; and   a detonation circuit coupled to said microprocessor, said detonation circuit coupled to said power conditioner.   
     
     
         2 . The fuze apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a microcontroller located in a projectile, wherein said microcontroller comprises:
 said power conditioner;   said microprocessor;   said first oscillator;   said reference oscillator; and   said detonation circuit.   
     
     
         3 . The fuze apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said reference oscillator is capable of operating within 1 to 200 milliseconds of receiving power. 
     
     
         4 . The fuze apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said reference oscillator is capable of withstanding launch accelerations of tens of thousands of g's. 
     
     
         5 . The fuze apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said reference oscillator comprises a low frequency oscillator. 
     
     
         6 . The fuze apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a low frequency oscillator coupled to said microprocessor, wherein said reference oscillator is a high frequency oscillator coupled to said microprocessor.   
     
     
         7 . The fuze apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said reference oscillator includes an enable function operable by said microprocessor. 
     
     
         8 . The fuze apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power switch electrically coupled to said reference oscillator, wherein said power switch is operable by said microprocessor.   
     
     
         9 . The fuze apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said low frequency oscillator oscillates at a frequency less than or equal to 100 KHz. 
     
     
         10 . The fuze apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said high frequency oscillator oscillates at a frequency greater than 100 KHz. 
     
     
         11 . The fuze apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said low frequency oscillator and said first oscillator are resistor-capacitor (RC) oscillators. 
     
     
         12 . The fuze apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said reference oscillator comprises an all silicon resonator. 
     
     
         13 . The fuze apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said power supply comprises a piezoid power source. 
     
     
         14 . The fuze apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said power supply comprises a battery power source. 
     
     
         15 . The fuze apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said power supply comprises a external circuit. 
     
     
         16 . The fuze apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said reference oscillator is operable on a separate circuit from said microprocessor. 
     
     
         17 . A system of detonating a projectile comprising:
 a ballistic computer;   a microcontroller located on said projectile, said microcontroller comprising:
 a microprocessor operable to receive detonation timing data from said ballistic computer; 
 a low frequency oscillator coupled to said microprocessor; 
 a reference oscillator operable to calibrate said low frequency oscillator; 
 a detonation circuit coupled to said microprocessor. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the microcontroller further comprises:
 a power switch electrically coupled to a power supply, said power switch coupled to said microprocessor, said power switch electronically coupled to said reference oscillator, wherein said microprocessor is operable to disconnect power from said reference oscillator.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said reference oscillator comprises an enable function operable by said microprocessor. 
     
     
         20 . A method, comprising:
 receiving ballistic data by a microprocessor from a ballistic computer, wherein said microprocessor is internal to a projectile and said ballistic computer is located external to the projectile in a Fire Control System (FCS);   calibrating a low frequency oscillator coupled to said microprocessor via a reference oscillator located in said projectile, wherein said low frequency oscillator is operable to withstand launch accelerations of tens of thousands of g's;   powering off said reference oscillator upon completion of said calibrating; and   transmitting from said microprocessor a detonation signal to a detonation circuit.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 enabling said reference oscillator by said microprocessor, wherein said reference oscillator includes an enable function operable by said microprocessor.