US 12,345,514 B1
Closed, self-contained ballistic apogee detection module and method
Michael Jankowski, Winter Garden, FL (US); Anthony Opperman, Wickliffe, OH (US); and Gerard Skebe, Eastlake, OH (US)
Assigned to Orbital Research Inc., Cleveland, OH (US)
Filed by Orbital Research Inc., Cleveland, OH (US)
Filed on Jan. 3, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/403,033.
Application 16/398,497 is a division of application No. 15/590,101, filed on May 9, 2017, granted, now 10,317,181.
Application 15/590,101 is a division of application No. 14/547,972, filed on Nov. 19, 2014, granted, now 9,677,864, issued on Jun. 13, 2017.
Application 18/403,033 is a continuation of application No. 17/406,281, filed on Aug. 19, 2021, granted, now 11,898,828.
Application 17/406,281 is a continuation of application No. 16/398,497, filed on Apr. 30, 2019, granted, now 11,125,543, issued on Sep. 21, 2021.
Int. Cl. F42B 15/01 (2006.01); B64C 13/16 (2006.01); F41G 7/00 (2006.01); F41G 7/22 (2006.01); F41G 7/30 (2006.01); F42B 10/14 (2006.01); F42B 10/32 (2006.01); F42B 10/62 (2006.01); F42C 15/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2024.01); F42B 30/10 (2006.01)
CPC F42B 15/01 (2013.01) [B64C 13/16 (2013.01); F41G 7/008 (2013.01); F41G 7/22 (2013.01); F41G 7/30 (2013.01); F41G 7/306 (2013.01); F42B 10/14 (2013.01); F42B 10/32 (2013.01); F42B 10/62 (2013.01); F42C 15/00 (2013.01); G05D 1/0033 (2013.01); G05D 1/0094 (2013.01); G05D 1/12 (2013.01); F42B 30/10 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of arming a ballistic projectile comprising:
firing or launching a ballistic projectile having a fuze;
a self-contained apogee detection module detecting or predicting the projectile's ballistic apogee by computing a ballistic trajectory estimate using a plurality of sensors each having a measurement signal associated therewith and a computer processor all within the projectile and without reference to barometric pressure; and
at the detected or predicted apogee or at some time related thereto, the apogee detection module transmitting a signal to the fuze that arms the fuze,
wherein the self-contained apogee detection module is comprised in a single, modular enclosure within the projectile and is adapted to use only data from the self-contained apogee detection module with no external data or a priori knowledge required.