1. A protection device for a missile electro-optical (EO) seeker comprising a fixed sunshade that can be mounted surrounding an EO seeker sensor, the fixed sunshade forming a cavity, characterised by comprising:
at least one deployable sunshade arranged to be moved in a telescopic manner relative to the fixed sunshade between a first position, in which the at least one deployable sunshade substantially does not protrude the fixed sunshade, and a second position, in which the at least one deployable sunshade is deployed with respect to the fixed sunshade, thus creating a longer cavity with respect to the first position; and
at least one container for a pressurizing optically-inert gas;
wherein in the second position, the optically-inert gas can be injected into a space forward facing the sensor in the cavity, forming a highly stable flow pattern.
2. The protection device for a missile EO seeker of claim 1, further comprising at least one pneumatic pressure actuator arranged to deploy the at least one deployable sunshade and supplying gas to gas injection manifolds and injectors located in the inner surface of the at least deployable sunshade.
3. The protection device for a missile EO seeker of claim 1, wherein the at least one deployable sunshade and the fixed sunshade are configured as a cylindrical assembly, the deployablcorrected, DD.e sunshade being arranged to slide forward and parallel to the fixed sunshade until at least one stop makes contact, resulting thus in a longer cavity.
4. The protection device for a missile EO seeker of claim 1, further comprising a sunshade cover in the open space of the fixed sunshade when the at least one deployable sunshade is in the first position, the sunshade cover being ejected when the at least one deployable sunshade is being deployed when passing from the first to the second position.
5. The protection device for a missile EO seeker of claim 1, wherein the container for a pressurizing optically-inert gas comprises at least one variable-setting pressure regulator, to pressurize the system for pneumatic action by means of a pair of redundant pyrotechnic valves that are enabled at launch by the sequencing computer, thus retaining an acceptable container pressure without refurbishing.
6. The protection device for a missile EO seeker of claim 5, further comprising at least one redundant pressure regulator, at a high pressure level setting, to be held while the deployable sunshade is being deployed when passing from the first to the second position.
7. The protection device for a missile EO seeker of claim 5, wherein the at least one deployable sunshade is cylindrical and its cylindrical wall ends are reinforced with two stiffening rings, wherein the back end stiffener ring at the back end is located inside the cylindrical wall and it is provided with a snaplatch mechanism to interlock onto an outer ring stiffener of the fixed sunshade, and wherein the free end stiffener ring at the free end of the at least one deployable sunshade acts as a stop for the piston drives of the pneumatic actuators, the free end stiffener ring further having a plurality of orifices that fit into each one of the inner orifice of the pneumatic actuators piston-spigots, these orifices acting as conduits for the pressurized gas to be delivered to an annular low-pressure manifold arranged within the free end stiffener ring.
8. The protection device for a missile EO seeker of claim 1, wherein each pneumatic actuator comprises an outer member, configured as a barrel, and a piston, the back end of the barrel being attached to a back end stiffener ring fixed to the fixed sunshade and to the forward KV platform, wherein the back end stiffener ring houses an annular cavity that acts as a high-pressure manifold with gas being fed directly from at least on pressure regulator, wherein the body of the barrel is configured to slide along the outer surface of the deployable sunshade during its deployment.
9. The protection device for a missile EO seeker of claim 8, wherein the spigot of piston is designed as a hollow rod, the end within the barrel is machined to fit tight-to-slide on the inner surface of barrel and is propelled by gas from high pressure manifold, the other end is attached to stiffener of the deployable sunshade, and its open end discharges into low pressure manifold, once the deployable sunshade reaches its extended position, the piston back-end locks onto the barrel forward end, and the assembly is fully locked into the deployed position.
10. An anti-missile interceptor, comprising:
a platform comprising of a forward section of a missile;
an electro-optical (EO) seeker sensor mounted on said platform; and
an assembly of structures and mechanisms surrounding said EO seeker sensor and forming a cavity, characterised by comprising a fixed sunshade that can be mounted surrounding said EO sensor, the fixed sunshade forming a cavity, and a protection device comprising:
at least one deployable sunshade arranged to be moved in a telescopic manner relative to the fixed sunshade between a first position, in which the at least one deployable sunshade substantially does not protrude the fixed sunshade, and a second position, in which the at least one deployable sunshade is deployed with respect to the fixed sunshade, thus creating a longer cavity with respect to the first position; and
at least one container for a pressurizing optically-inert gas;
wherein in the second position, the optically-inert gas can be injected into a space forward facing the sensor in the cavity, forming a highly stable flow pattern.
11. A tactical missile, comprising:
a platform comprising a generic forward section of a missile;
an electro-optical (EO) seeker sensor mounted on said platform; and
an assembly of structures and mechanisms surrounding said EO seeker sensor and forming a cavity, characterised by comprising a fixed sunshade that can be mounted surrounding said EO sensor, the fixed sunshade forming a cavity, and a protection device comprising:
at least one deployable sunshade arranged to be moved in a telescopic manner relative to the fixed sunshade between a first position, in which the at least one deployable sunshade substantially does not protrude the fixed sunshade, and a second position, in which the at least one deployable sunshade is deployed with respect to the fixed sunshade, thus creating a longer cavity with respect to the first position; and
at least one container for a pressurizing optically-inert gas;
wherein in the second position, the optically-inert gas can be injected into a space forward facing the sensor in the cavity, forming a highly stable flow pattern.
12. A method for increasing the probability of interception of a missile without geographical nor altitude limitations, characterised by using an anti-missile provided with an electro-optical, EOE seeker sensor, a fixed sunshade that can be mounted surrounding said EO sensor, the fixed sunshade forming a cavity, and further comprising a protection device comprising:
at least one deployable sunshade arranged to be moved in a telescopic manner relative to the fixed sunshade between a first position, in which the at least one deployable sunshade substantially does not protrude the fixed sunshade, and a second position, in which the at least one deployable sunshade is deployed with respect to the fixed sunshade, thus creating a longer cavity with respect to the first position; and
at least one container for a pressurizing optically-inert gas;
wherein in the second position, the optically-inert gas can be injected into a space forward facing the sensor in the cavity, forming a highly stable flow pattern.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein:
the deployable sunshade is retracted during storage, launch, and ascent trajectory, but it is in an extended position after a nose cone of the tactile missile is ejected; and
once the nose cone and a retainer of the tactile missile are jettisoned, a protective cover is safely ejected as the deployable sunshade is extended.
14. Method for increasing flight speeds of a tactical missile, characterised by using a tactical missile provided with an imaging electro-optical (EO) seeker sensor, a fixed sunshade that can be mounted surrounding said EO sensor, the fixed sunshade forming a cavity, and further comprising a protection device comprising:
at least one deployable sunshade arranged to be moved in a telescopic manner relative to the fixed sunshade between a first position, in which the at least one deployable sunshade substantially does not protrude the fixed sunshade, and a second position, in which the at least one deployable sunshade is deployed with respect to the fixed sunshade, thus creating a longer cavity with respect to the first position; and
at least one container for a pressurizing optically-inert gas;
wherein in the second position, the optically-inert gas can be injected into a space forward facing the sensor in the cavity, forming a highly stable flow pattern.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein:
the deployable sunshade is retracted during storage, launch, and ascent trajectory, but it is in an extended position after a nose cone of the tactile missile is ejected; and
once the nose cone and a retainer of the tactile missile are jettisoned, a protective cover is safely ejected as the deployable sunshade is extended.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising using at least one pneumatic actuator for a triple purpose comprising:
ejecting the protective cover;
pushing and guiding the deployable sunshade; and
acting as plenums for routing the driving gas of the pneumatic action to a manifold of gas injection elements.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of printing parallel rows of contiguous pixels on a substrate indexed in a direction orthogonal to the rows, comprising the steps of printing for each row of pixels, N superimposed rows of contiguous super pixels, each print pixel being capable of receiving print contributions from N super pixels.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein each super-pixel is elongated in the row direction with an aspect ratio of N:1.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein each of the N superimposed rows of contiguous super pixels is offset in the row direction with respect to each of the other superimposed rows.
4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the distance of said offset is 1N of the dimension of the super pixel in the row direction.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein N=2 or 3.
6. A method according to claim 1, wherein print data are received in the form of an array of print data pixels and comprising deriving the value of each super pixel as a weighted sum of corresponding data pixels.
7. A method according to claim 6, in wherein each super pixel is symmetrically disposed with respect to print data pixels.
8. A method according to claim 6,
comprising deriving the value of each super pixel as a weighted sum of at least three corresponding data pixels.
9. A method according to claim 6, comprising applying weighting coefficients to the corresponding data pixels in said weighted sum wherein at least one said weighting coefficient is negative.
10. A method according to claim 6, comprising deriving every super pixel as a weighted sum of different corresponding data pixels.
11. A method according to claim 1, comprising measuring the printability of each super-pixel, and transferring the contribution to those pixels covered by that super-pixel wholly or in part to one or more other super-pixels from which those pixels are capable of receiving print contributions in accordance with any measured deviation in printability of that super pixel.
12. A method according to claim 11, comprising measuring an error in printability for each super pixel and determining the value of each super pixel as a function of measured error in printability.
13. A method according to claim 12, in which said function is polynomial.
14. A method according to claim 13, in which said polynomial function includes terms to at least the third power.
15. A method according to claim 1, comprising printing the N superimposed rows of super pixels in a single pass.
16. A method according to claim 1, comprising distributing the desired print density for each print pixel among those super-pixels from which the pixel is capable of receiving contributions.
17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said desired print density is greater than that achievable by a single super pixel.
18. A method according to claim 16, wherein said distribution serves to compensate for measured differences in the print weight between super-pixels in each row of super-pixels.
19. A method according to claim 16, wherein the print weight of each contributing super pixel is between 0% and 100% of said desired print density.
20. A method according to claim 1, comprising printing each super pixel as a plurality of ink droplets from an ink jet printer.
21. An ink jet printer having a plurality of ink chambers each provided with a nozzle arrangement, the plurality of ink chambers being arranged so as to print on a substrate a row of contiguous print elements, the nozzle arrangement of each ink chamber being such that the print element associated with that ink chamber is elongated in the row direction with an aspect ratio of at least 2:1.
22. An ink jet printer according to claim 21, wherein at least two sets of ink chambers are provided, each set being arranged so as to print a row of contiguous print elements, the rows of contiguous print elements printed by the respective sets of ink chambers being superimposed.
23. An ink jet printer according to claim 21, wherein the print elements of one set of ink chambers is offset in the row direction with respect to the print elements of another set of ink chambers.
24. An ink jet printer according to claim 23, wherein the offset is the reciprocal of the aspect ratio.
25. A method of printing a representation on a print medium of an array of print data pixels comprising the steps of distributing print data from said array of print data pixels over an array of super pixels in a distribution function such that each super pixel receives a print data contribution from at least two print data pixels and each print data pixel contributes print data to at least two super pixels; and forming print pixels on the medium such that each print pixel receives print contribution from at least two super pixels.
26. A method according to claim 25, wherein each super pixel receives a print data contribution from at least three print data pixels.
27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the print data contribution varies in sign between said print data pixels.
28. A method according to claim 25, wherein the at least two super pixels from which a print pixel receives print contribution, receive print data contributions from different combinations of print data pixels.
29. A method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of measuring the print efficiency of each super pixel.
30. A method according to claim 28, comprising distributing the measured print efficiency as print data.
31. A method according to claim 25, wherein the step of forming print pixels on the medium such that each print pixel receives print contribution from at least two super pixels comprises the steps at each print pixel of depositing ink in an amount determined by one of the super pixels from which that print pixel receives print contribution and, while that deposited ink remains fluid, depositing ink in an amount determined by an other of the super pixels from which that print pixel receives print contribution.
32. A method according to claim 31, comprising depositing the ink by ink jet printing.
33. A printer comprising an input port adapted to receive an array of print data pixels; a print arrangement for forming overlapping super pixels on a print medium and a print processor adapted to distribute print data from said array of print data pixels over the super pixels in a distribution function such that each super pixel receives a print data contribution from at least two print data pixels and each print data pixel contributes print data to at least two super pixels.
34. A printer according to claim 33, wherein each super pixel receives a print data contribution from at least three print data pixels.
35. A printer according to claim 34, wherein the print data contribution varies in sign between said print data pixels.
36. A printer according to claim 33, further comprising a store adapted to hold a measured print efficiency for each super pixel and wherein said distribution function includes the measured print efficiency.
37. A printer according to claim 33, wherein the super pixels are formed by ink jet printing