Electromagnetic radiation source locating system
First Claim
1. An electromagnetic radiation source locating system comprising:
- a first mobile structure and a second mobile structure;
wherein said first mobile structure comprises;
a first electromagnetic radiation receiving device configured to detect a radiant energy transmission;
a first directional antenna operably coupled to the first electromagnetic radiation receiving device;
a first support operably coupled to the first electromagnetic radiation receiving device for orienting the first directional antenna in a direction toward the radiant energy transmission;
a first controller;
a first position detector in communication with the first controller and configured to detect a location of the first directional antenna relative to a reference coordinate system and output a first position data;
a first orientation detector in communication with the first controller and configured to detect an orientation of the first directional antenna and provide a first directional vector indicative thereof to the first controller;
a first range sensor adapted to direct a first laser range finder along the first directional vector and providing a first laser rangefinder distance from a reflection from a first surface in a line of sight of said first laser range finder which is communicated to the first controller;
a first visible light marker adapted to be oriented along the first directional vector; and
a first display;
wherein said second mobile structure comprises;
a second electromagnetic radiation receiving device configured to detect the radiant energy transmission;
a second directional antenna operably coupled to the second electromagnetic radiation receiving device;
a second support operably coupled to the second electromagnetic radiation receiving device for orienting the second directional antenna in a direction toward the radiant energy transmission;
a second position detector configured to detect a location of the second directional antenna relative to the reference coordinate system and output a second position data;
a second orientation detector in communication with a second controller and configured to detect the orientation of the second directional antenna and provide a second orientation signal indicative thereof to the second controller;
a second range sensor adapted to direct a second laser range finder along the second directional vector and providing a second laser rangefinder distance from a reflection from a second surface in a line of sight of said second laser range finder which is communicated to the second controller;
a second visible light marker adapted to be oriented along the second directional vector; and
a second display;
wherein said first controller is configured to communicate said first directional vector to said second controller;
wherein said second controller is configured to communicate said second directional vector to said first controller;
wherein the first and second controllers each further comprise a spatial processor configured to calculate the location of the radiant energy transmission source relative to the reference coordinate system based upon said first and second location data and at least two different directional vectors comprising said first and second directional vector;
wherein said first and second controller determine a first distance from said first location data to the location of the radiant energy transmission source and a second distance from said second location data to the location of the radiant energy transmission source;
wherein said first controller displays a first output on said first display if the first distance and the first laser rangefinder distance match;
wherein said second controller displays a second output on said second display if the second distance and the second laser rangefinder distance match.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electromagnetic radiation source locating system including an electromagnetic radiation sensor including an antenna configured to detect a radiant energy transmission. A position detector is in communication with the controller and is configured to detect the position of the antenna relative to a reference coordinate system, while an orientation sensor is in communication with the controller and is configured to detect the orientation of the antenna and provide an orientation signal to the controller. A range sensor is configured to detect the distance to an aligned object in the path of a directional vector and provide a distance signal indicative thereof to the controller. An aerial vehicle may be in communication with the controller and configured to drop a marker for guiding navigators to the source of the radiant energy transmission.
32 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An electromagnetic radiation source locating system comprising:
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a first mobile structure and a second mobile structure; wherein said first mobile structure comprises; a first electromagnetic radiation receiving device configured to detect a radiant energy transmission; a first directional antenna operably coupled to the first electromagnetic radiation receiving device; a first support operably coupled to the first electromagnetic radiation receiving device for orienting the first directional antenna in a direction toward the radiant energy transmission; a first controller; a first position detector in communication with the first controller and configured to detect a location of the first directional antenna relative to a reference coordinate system and output a first position data; a first orientation detector in communication with the first controller and configured to detect an orientation of the first directional antenna and provide a first directional vector indicative thereof to the first controller; a first range sensor adapted to direct a first laser range finder along the first directional vector and providing a first laser rangefinder distance from a reflection from a first surface in a line of sight of said first laser range finder which is communicated to the first controller; a first visible light marker adapted to be oriented along the first directional vector; and a first display; wherein said second mobile structure comprises; a second electromagnetic radiation receiving device configured to detect the radiant energy transmission; a second directional antenna operably coupled to the second electromagnetic radiation receiving device; a second support operably coupled to the second electromagnetic radiation receiving device for orienting the second directional antenna in a direction toward the radiant energy transmission; a second position detector configured to detect a location of the second directional antenna relative to the reference coordinate system and output a second position data; a second orientation detector in communication with a second controller and configured to detect the orientation of the second directional antenna and provide a second orientation signal indicative thereof to the second controller; a second range sensor adapted to direct a second laser range finder along the second directional vector and providing a second laser rangefinder distance from a reflection from a second surface in a line of sight of said second laser range finder which is communicated to the second controller; a second visible light marker adapted to be oriented along the second directional vector; and a second display; wherein said first controller is configured to communicate said first directional vector to said second controller; wherein said second controller is configured to communicate said second directional vector to said first controller; wherein the first and second controllers each further comprise a spatial processor configured to calculate the location of the radiant energy transmission source relative to the reference coordinate system based upon said first and second location data and at least two different directional vectors comprising said first and second directional vector; wherein said first and second controller determine a first distance from said first location data to the location of the radiant energy transmission source and a second distance from said second location data to the location of the radiant energy transmission source; wherein said first controller displays a first output on said first display if the first distance and the first laser rangefinder distance match; wherein said second controller displays a second output on said second display if the second distance and the second laser rangefinder distance match. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification