Bomb sensor system

Abstract

The system is a remotely operated, autonomous multi-channel time history recording device which uses digital and computer technologies to detect, record and display the results of tests that are time varying dependent. It is particularly suited to monitoring the effects of exploding warheads. By placing a series of piezoelectric detectors in an exploding shock wave field, it is possible to ascertain the wavefront propagation. A dynamic peak detector is used is used with each piezoelectric detector to detect the exact peak of the unknown pulse which peak defines the "time-of-arrival" of the pulse. By controlling the system with a computer program it is possible to display the complete time history of the propagating shock wave. When the exploding device is detonated a counter increments in 100 ns steps with its output on a timing bus. As each piezoelectric detector/peak detector circuit senses the wavefront its respective channel is triggered and the associated data register extracts the time from the timing bus. By linking a computer to the Bomb Sensor System recorded data is available for review within 12.8 seconds after completion of the test. All test results are stored in the memory unit and is transferred to the host computer. Running the computer software program then displays the complete time history of the propagating shock wave. This empirical data when compared to a theoretical analysis reveals any anomalies or validates the test.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bomb sensor system for monitoring the effects of exploding devices and ascertaining the wavefront propagation by sensing the wavefront at a given number of points using a channel for each point, wherein said system comprises; peak detector means individual to each channel for detecting the peak of a pulse associated with the wavefront to define the time of arrival at the point for the individual channel;   timing means comprising a counter, a timing pulse source providing a train of timing pulses at a given interval, timing input gate means coupling the timing pulse source to a clock input of the counter, a timing bus comprising N conductors coupled to parallel outputs of the counter on which a count value is encoded;   command means comprising fire detector means for detecting detonation of an exploding device and means set in response thereto for enabling the input gate means to start the counter running at a time designated t0;   channel register means individual to each channel, each having N parallel data input terminals coupled to the timing bus, a gate control terminal for controlling the loading of data, an output control terminal for enabling placing the data on a data bus, the gate control terminal being coupled to the peak detector means to load the the count value from the timing bus upon the detection of the peak of a pulse to thereby record the time with respect to T0.   
     
     
       2. A bomb sensor system according to claim 1, further including data selector means coupled to the output control terminals of the channel register means for addressing the channel register means of each channel in turn and reading the data onto the data bus; a memory unit having a set of address inputs coupled to the data selector means, and data terminals coupled to the data bus for storing the data from the channel register means as each channel is addressed by the data selector means.   
     
     
       3. A bomb sensor system according to claim 2, further including transceiver means coupling the memory unit to a computer interface line for receiving addresses from a computer and coupling them to the memory unit, and for reading data from the memory unit for each address and supplying it to the computer. 
     
     
       4. A sensor system for monitoring an event at a plurality of points using a channel for each point wherein said system comprises; detector means individual to each channel for detecting a pulse associated with the event to define the time of arrival at the point for the individual channel;   timing means comprising a counter, a timing pulse source providing a train of timing pulses at a given interval, timing input gate means coupling the timing pulse source to a clock input of the counter, a timing bus comprising N conductors coupled to parallel outputs of the counter on which a count value is encoded;   command means comprising start detector means for detecting a start of an event and means set in response thereto for enabling the input gate means to start the counter running at a time designated t0;   channel register means individual to each channel, each having N parallel data input terminals coupled to the timing bus, a gate control terminal for controlling the loading of data, an output control terminal for enabling placing the data on a data bus, the gate control terminal being coupled to the detector means to load the the count value from the timing bus upon the detection of a pulse to thereby record the time with respect to T0;   data selector means coupled to the output control terminals of the channel register means for addressing the channel register means of each channel in turn and reading the data onto the data bus;   a memory unit having a set of address inputs coupled to the data selector means, and data terminals coupled to the data bus for storing the data from the channel register means as each channel is addressed by the data selector means;   transceiver means coupling the memory unit to a computer interface line for receiving addresses from a computer and coupling them to the memory unit, and for reading data from the memory unit for each address and supplying it to the computer.