Design of The Electric Properties Test System of

Capacitance Proximity Fuze for HE

Ping Cui, Xinglin Qi, Chunhua Yu, Yanfeng Yang
The 3rd Department
Shijiazhuang Mechanical Engineering College
Shijiazhuang, China
pingjing1981@163.com

Abstract—In order to estimate the quality variety law of the
stockpile capacitance proximity fuze for HE scientifically and
provide a kind of technical instrument for the army to monitor
the quality of the capacitance proximity fuze for HE, this article
designs an electic properties test system of capacitance proximity
fuze for HE. This test sysytem is designed based on the virtual
instrument technology and it uses a varactor network as the core.
The article firstly analyses the basic principles of the capacitance
fuze to detecting targets. Then the article points out that the
essential of actualizing normal function of the fuze in laboratory
conditions is to simulate the target function process on the fuze.
The purpose to do this is to make the detector of the test fuze
generate a variable demodulation siganal just like the test fuze
encountered a real target. Based on the above principle, this
article puts forward the overall design scheme of the electric
properties test system of capacitance proximity fuze for HE and
detailedly designs the virtual instrument test platform, the signal
conditioning circuit, the target effect simulation platform and the
power supply. Taking the varactor network as the core, using the
shielding box and the test interface equipment, the target effect
simulation platform is constructed. On the basis of the virtual
instrument technique, the test platform of the virtual instrument
is constructed. According to modularizing design principle, the
test software is developed on the platform of Lab VIEW edition
8.5. This article mainly designs modules of simulation bias
voltage generation, target signatures signal fitting, data output
and acquisition, data analyse and display, data storage and data
called and displayed. Lastly, the engineering prototype of the test
system is manufactured. In order to validate the function of the
test system, we draw out stochastically 5 capacitance proximity
fuzes for HE as the test object and finish the functionality
experiment. The test results indicate that the designing scheme is
reasonable, the technic is feasible, and the test system can satisfy
the needs of electric properties test of the capacitance proximity
fuze for HE.
Keywords-capacitance proximity fuze; test sysytem; electric
properties; varactor network
I. INTRODUCTION
The capacitance proximity fuze is a kind of proximity fuze
that has good anti-jamming property and high precision of
fixing distance. One certain model of capacitance proximity
fuze for HE which has expeianced long storage time can not
keep good quality status. It is necessary to develop a suit of test
system for electric properties in order to estimate the quality
variety law of the stockpile capacititance proximity fuzes for
HE scientifically. In this way, we can find some quality variety
in time through testing these fuzes and this can ensure the
service safety of the fuze. Another very important point is that
this can offer some scientifical gist for the army to take certain
measure pertinently to keep the quality status of the stockpile
capacitance proximity fuzes for HE.
II. ANALYSE OF TESTING PRINCIPLE
The capacitance proximity fuze is a kind of fuze which can
control the projectile to explode through the capacitance
variety during the encounter of the ammunition and the target.
The target detector in the fuze which has a specifically
frequency establishes a static field in a free space through the
detector electrodes. This static field will be disturbed when the
fuze is near the target and the capacitance amount between the
detector electrodes will be changed. The target detector can
pick up the capacitance variety in the form of voltage in order
to realize the target identification and bursting piont control.
Fig. 1 shows the function principle of a kind of capacitance
proximity fuze for HE.
Figure 1. Operation principle diagram of capacitance proximity fuze for HE.
When the distance between the projectile and the target is
far, we think that CAO, CBO and CCO equal to zero. Before this
time the demodulation voltage of the capacitance proximity
fuze does not change. But after the fuze flight into a sensitivity
area, CAO, CBO and CCO will change and the equivalent
capacitance gross amount C Σ will change regularly. The
demodulation circuit can detect this change and use it as the
target information. The signal conditioning circuit will give an

978-1-4673-0788-8/12/$31.00 ©2012 IEEE 1148

ignition signal as soon as the change of CΣ gets its threshold.
And this ignition signal will be sent to the executive circuit to
ignite the warhead timely.
According to the work principle of the capacitance
proximity fuze, the essential of actualizing normal function of
the fuze in laboratory conditions is to simulate the target
function process on the fuze. The purpose to do this is to make
the detector of the test fuze generate a variable demodulation
siganal just like the test fuze encountered a real target. Usually
we first obtain the demodulation signals of a test fuze through a
pendant ammunition experiment. Then we design an interface
circuit to give an accordant capacitance change for the fuze
detector using a hardware in-loop simulation test sysytem. In
this way we make the test fuze function in laboratory.
III. DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM HARDWARE
The electric properties test sysytem of capacitance
proximity for HE is composed of the virtual instrument test
platform, the signal conditioning circuit, the target effect
simulation platform and the power supply. Fig. 2 shows the 4
parts of the test system.
Electric properties test sysytem of capacitance proximity for HE
Virtual instrument Signal conditioning Target effect
test platform circuit simulation platform
Master General test Test Shielding Test Interface
computer resource software box equipment
Figure 2. Component of test system.
A. The virtual instrument test platform
The virtual instrument test platform includes the master
computer, the general test resource and the test software. The
first function of the virtual instrument test platform is to
generate simulation bias voltage automatically using the
software and hardware resources of the test system. The second
function is to finish the target signatures signal curve fitting
using the simulation bias voltage according to different test
velocity. The third function is to record the work conditions of
the fuze electronical components on the function of the target
signatures signal and finish the collection, estimate, display and
storage of all the fuze signals. We choose PXI3950 to be the
master computer and PXI6229 from NI to collect and output all
the signals.
B. The signal conditioning circuit
The function of the signal conditioning circuit is to process
the intput & output signals from the general test resources in
order to make the output signals fit for the work needs of the
fuze and the input signals fit for the collection range of the
general test resources.
C. The target effect simulation platform
The target effect simulation platform includes the shielding
box, the varactor network and the test interface equipment.
This platform and the virtual instrument test platform form the
target effect simulation system which can simulate the physical
process of the relative movement between the projectile and
the target.
The shielding box has three functions. The first one is to
prevent surrounding electro- magnetism signals from working
on the test capacitance proximity fuze for HE. The second one
is to make the shielding box, the test system and the projectile
body electrode have the same ground. So the shielding box can
be the projectile body electrode of the capacitance proximity
fuze. The third function is to introduce inherent capacitance for
the send electrode and the incept electrode. The fourth function
is to simulate the work state of the fuze in a free space. Fig. 3
gives the structure of the shielding box.
Power
supply
Figure 3. Diagram of shielding box structure.
Varactor
network
In the shielding box, we design a push-and-pull splint
which can fix the fixing base of the test fuze and the coupling
electrode. Fig. 4 showes the structure of the splint. In order to
fix the fuze and adjust the position of the coupling electrode,
the splint can be pulled from the inside of the shielding box by
a pair of sliding rail. The sliding rail has a limiting device to
keep the test fuze at the same position in the room after the
splint is pushed in its position every time.
Fixing groove of the
coupling electrode
Splint
Fixing base of
the test fuze
Figure 4. Sketch map of push-and-pull splint.
The varactor network makes the test fuze work through
target signatures signals from virtual instrument. It makes the
capacitance change law between the electrodes of the fuze the
same with the capacitance change law during the projectile and
target encounter. This varator network is composed of a varator
and a coupling electrode. It can change the bias voltage worked
on the varator to change the capacitance amount between the
electrodes of the fuze in order to realize the target function on
the fuze. The principle is showed in Fig. 5.
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 output and acquisition, data analyse and display, data storage
and data called and displayed. The structure of the test software
is showed in Fig. 7.

Figure 5. Principle diagram of varactor network.

The test interface equipment can provide a path to transport

the voltage to the fuze. At the same time we use the probe in
the test interface equipment to collect the output signals of the
test fuze. In this way we make the connection between the
equipment and the fuze become convenient and reliable.
Figure 7. Structure of test software.

Fig. 8 gives the software interface of the simulation bias

voltage generation module. And the main software interface
used to test electric properties of capacitance proxinmity fuzes
for HE is showed in Fig. 9.

Figure 8. Interface of simulation bias voltage generation program.

Figure 6. Test interface equipment of capacitance proximity fuze for HE.

Fig. 6 (a) shows the test interface of the capacitance

proximity fuze for HE after taking out all the initiators, the
booster and the safe and arming device. We need to supply
power to the fuze electronical components through the bottom
of the small hole in the base of the electric detonator, collect
ignition signal through the detonator base and form a loop by
connecting the fuze body to the gound. Fig. 6 (b) shows the test
interface equipment. The yellow wire and the probe with
insulated bushing are connected and the latter can insert into
the detonator base to supply power to the fuze. A thin copper
pipe with insulated bushing is connected with the detonator
base and the ignition signal can be collected through a bolt and
the red wire and then the signal is transported to the signal
conditioning circuit.

D. The power supply
The power supply provides direct-current working volts to
the capacitance proximity fuze for HE , the signal conditioning
circuit and the varactor network. We choose the power supply
according to the needs when all the circuit in the test system
are working and there should be some superfluous power in
order to ensure the system to work well. In this system we
choose the Series N6700 programmable module power supply
which is produced by Agilent Company.
IV. DESIGN OF THE SOFTWARE
The test software includes 6 modules which are simulation
bias voltage generation, target signatures signal fitting, data
Figure 9. Main Interface of the test software of capacitance proximity fuze
for HE.
V. THE EXPERIMENT AND CONCLUSIONS
We take 5 capacitance proximity fuzes for HE
stochastically and mark them in turn as 1#, 2#, 3#, 4# and 5#.
According to the requirements of the test system, we
disassemble all the fuzes and take out all the initiators, the
booster and the safe and arming device in the fuzes. In this
way, these five fuzes are in the test state.
Table I lists the electric properties test results of the 5
capacitance proximity fuzes for HE. Fig. 10 is the test state of
the fuze in the shielding box.

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 TABLE I. TEST RESULTS OF CAPACITANCE PROXIMITY FUZE FOR HE system are designed reasonable and the technique is feasible.
Ignition Ignition This test system can satisfy the needs of electric properties test
Working
Fuze Velocity
Current
Pulse Pulse Standoff Test of the capacitance proximity fuze for HE.
Number （m/s） Voltage Width (m) Rusult
(mA)
(V) (ms)
160 21.81 26.15 86.81 0.82 Good
220 21.49 26.17 86.15 1.04 Good
1＃
280 21.68 26.13 85.97 1.19 Good
340 21.55 26.11 85.83 1.35 Good
160 21.32 26.12 98.60 0.81 Good
220 21.23 26.17 95.99 0.95 Good
2＃
280 21.23 26.19 95.09 1.21 Good
340 21.10 26.14 94.41 1.35 Good
160 21.52 26.09 105.40 0.82 Good
220 21.45 26.18 102.72 1.02 Good
3＃
280 21.42 26.19 101.44 1.22 Good
340 21.36 26.14 100.51 1.39 Good Figure 10. Test state of capacitance proximity fuze for HE.
160 22.07 26.17 98.23 0.79 Good
220 21.88 26.19 95.85 0.94 Good REFERENCES
4＃
280 21.81 26.16 93.95 1.15 Good [1] Z. Cui, S. Song and L. Xu, Principle of Proximity Fuzes, Beijing
340 21.97 26.15 92.81 1.40 Good Institute of Technology Publishing Company, In Press.
160 21.32 26.14 96.74 0.81 Good [2] Q. Xu and S. Cheng, Testing Technology of Proximity Fuzes, Beijing
220 21.42 26.11 95.18 1.04 Good Institute of Technology Publishing Company, In Press.
5＃ [3] Y. Liu, Z. Li and Y. Sun, “Design and research on the simulation
280 21.23 26.11 94.16 1.20 Good
instrument of target background characteristics for proximity fuzes,”
340 21.26 26.17 93.65 1.37 Good Guidance & Fuze, Shanghai, vol. 21, no.3, pp. 33-35, 2000.
[4] Z. Shen, “Research on target characteristic of capacitance fuzes,”
Guidance & Fuze, Shanghai, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 59-64, 1996.
Through the test on the capacitance proximity fuzes for HE [5] S. Cheng and H. Liu, “Research on the simulation technology of
selected stochastically, we know that all the electric parameters capacitance proximity fuzes,” Guidance & Fuze, Shanghai, vol. 22, no. 2,
of the 5 testing fuzes are regular and the test system works pp. 5-10, 2002.
well. It validates that the hardware and software of the test

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