Hand-held UV stimulator

• US 10,288,234 B1
• Filed: 11/07/2018
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Whelan, Jenna M., Hernandez, Fernando, Kondratuk, Jared, Zhang, Denise X.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jo, Taeho
• Application Number:
  US16/182,853
• Time in Patent Office: 188 Days
• Field of Search: 250372
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 14/023 having two or more, or different light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/007 enclosed in a casing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0228 Control of working procedures; Failure detection; Spectral bandwidth calculation
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/08 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for photometry standard sources, also using luminescent or radioactive material
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/42 using electric radiation detectors optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/429 applied to measurement of ultraviolet light using counting tubes G01T
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/10 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/208 Circuits specially adapted for scintillation detectors, e.g. for the photo-multiplier section

Abstract

A system and method for stimulating light sensors (e.g., UV) using a hand-held stimulator. The hand-held stimulator is portable and configurable to store a plurality of routines comprising various light signatures. In some cases, the signature is a threat signature (e.g., missile, RPG, and/or gunfire) and the stimulator is used as part of system integration, field and flight line, and/or lab testing for systems utilizing light sensors.

Claims

1. A hand-held light sensor stimulator, comprising:

a handle having a trigger;

a hollow cylindrical support configured to support a plurality of arcuate light source mounts, each light source mount housing a light source; and

a control box attached to the handle and to the hollow support, the control box comprising;

a power source; and

a memory for storing one or more routines used to operate a plurality of light sources;

wherein each light source comprises a microcontroller for controlling the intensity and duration of light emitted from each light source according to the one or more routines stored in the memory of the light source stimulator.

2. The hand-held light sensor stimulator according to claim 1, wherein the light sources are UV sources.

3. The hand-held light sensor stimulator according to claim 2, wherein the one or more routines are used to operate the UV sources to replicate a threat signature for use in testing a system using UV sensors as part of system integration, field and/or flight line testing, and/or lab testing.

4. The hand-held light sensor stimulator according to claim 1, further comprising indicator lights.

5. The hand-held light sensor stimulator according to claim 1, further comprising a serial connection for use in uploading the one or more routines to the memory.

6. A method of testing a light sensor system, comprising:

providing a hand-held light sensor stimulator, comprising;

a handle having a trigger;

a hollow cylindrical support configured to support a plurality of arcuate light source mounts, each light source mount housing a light source; and

a control box attached to the handle and to the hollow support, the control box comprising;

a power source; and

a memory for storing one or more routines used to operate a plurality of light sources;

wherein each light source comprises a microcontroller for controlling the intensity and duration of light emitted from each light source according to the one or more routines stored in the memory of the light source stimulator;

selecting one of the one or more routines using a selector switch;

pointing the hand-held light sensor stimulator at a light sensor;

positioning the hand-held light sensor stimulator within the field of view of the light sensor; and

squeezing the trigger on the handle, thereby producing a sequence of light emissions from the plurality of light sources according to the routine selected.

7. The method of testing a light sensor system according to claim 6, wherein the light sources are UV sources.

8. The method of testing a light sensor system according to claim 6, further comprising uploading the one or more routines to the memory using a serial connection.

9. The method of testing a light sensor system according to claim 6, further comprising collecting data from the sensor or a system comprising the sensor as part of system integration, field and/or flight line testing, and/or lab testing.

10. The method of testing a light sensor system according to claim 6, wherein the selected routine represents a threat signature.

11. The method of testing a light sensor system according to claim 6, wherein the selected routine is a simulated signature mimicing movement across the sensor field of view without needing to move the hand-held light sensor stimulator.