Systems and devices for an RF signal carrying cable of a multi-pack launcher system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12437898-B2
Application number	US-202318367422-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2023
Priority date	Sep 10, 2019
Publication date	Oct 7, 2025
Grant date	Oct 7, 2025

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods including a launch control box; a multi-pack launcher (MPL) box; and a cable connecting the launch control box and the MPL box, where the cable comprises: an outer jacket, a shielded braid, a first wire, a second wire, a third wire, and a fourth wire, where the first wire and the second wire are shielded by the shielded braid, where the third wire and the fourth wire are outside of the shielded braid, and where the third wire and the fourth wire act as an antenna.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a multi-pack launcher (MPL) box, wherein the MPL box comprises a door, wherein the door is configured to open and close;
a current sense circuit, wherein the current sense circuit is configured to detect an object that prevents closing of the door of the MPL box;
an actuator configured to open and close the door of the MPL box, wherein the current sense circuit is in communication with the actuator, and wherein the current sense circuit detects the object by determining if a current of the actuator configured to open and close the door exceeds a preset amount for a preset amount of time.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the current sense circuit is configured to open the door via the actuator if the object preventing closing of the door is detected.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the current sense circuit is configured to turn on a door open indicator light if the object preventing closing of the door is detected.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the current sense circuit is configured to stop movement of the actuator if the object preventing closing of the door is detected.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the current sense circuit is configured to close the door via the actuator once the object preventing closing of the door is removed.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the current sense circuit detects the object by determining if the current of the actuator exceeds the preset amount for the preset amount of high current period of time.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the current sense circuit detects the object by determining if the current of the actuator exceeds the preset amount for the preset amount of time when the actuator is at least one of: closing the door and opening the door.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the current sense circuit comprises a resistor configured to measure the current of the actuator, and wherein the current sense circuit comprises a current sensor configured to measure the current of the actuator.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the current sense circuit detects the object by determining if the current of the actuator exceeds the preset amount after the preset amount of high current period of time.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a door motor configured to open and close the door of the MPL box, wherein the current sense circuit is in communication with the door motor.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one missile disposed in the MPL box.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one missile is at least one of: an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and an all-up-round (AUR), wherein the at least one missile further comprises at least one antenna, wherein the at least one antenna is configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals.

13. A method comprising:
receiving, by a multi-pack launcher (MPL) box, a door close command to close a door of the MPL box via an actuator configured to open and close the door of the MPL box based on determining if a current of the actuator exceeds a preset amount for a preset amount of time;
detecting, by a current sense circuit, an object that prevents closing of the door of the MPL box; and
stopping movement of the actuator if the object preventing closing of the door is detected.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
detecting, by the current sense circuit, the object that prevents closing of the door of the MPL box.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
opening the door via the actuator if the object preventing closing of the door is detected.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
turning on a door open indicator light if the object preventing closing of the door is detected.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
closing the door via the actuator once the object preventing closing of the door is removed.

Assignees

• Aerovironment Inc

Inventors

• Miremadi Reza

Classifications

• B64U80/40

  for two or more UAVs · CPC title

• B64U70/50

  Launching from storage containers, e.g. from submarine missile tubes · CPC title

• F41F3/04

  for rockets · CPC title

• B64U50/15

  using combustion exhausts other than turbojets or turbofans, e.g. using rockets, ramjets, scramjets or pulse-reactors · CPC title

• F41F1/08

  Multibarrel guns, e.g. twin guns · CPC title