John L Spence

US Patent:

52515486, Oct 12, 1993

Filed:

Nov 27, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/325526

Inventors:

John J. Spence - Oakland NJ

Assignee:

AlliedSignal Inc. - Morris Township, Morris County NJ

International Classification:

F42C 1540

US Classification:

102221

Abstract:

A safing and arming device for warheads that can enhance arming safety is described. The device is initially enabled upon detection of an acceleration threshold. Thereafter, an accelerometer and other circuitry are used to generate a digitized profile of the acceleration of a projectile, on which the device is mounted, over a short period of time. Each point of the digitized profile is used to address a memory to read out a binary word bit by bit. The binary word read out of memory is compared to a stored binary word and upon there being a match between the two words a signal is generated to arm the missile warhead. To counteract a sticking accelerometer which can generate a false acceleration profile, extra safety is provided by applying an acceleration bias to the accelerometer at intervals determined by bits of the binary word read out of memory, which bias is effectively removed by choice of the memory locations in which the binary word is stored.