Methods and apparatus for camouflaging objects

• US 20040036006A1
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Dowling, Kevin J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,132,635 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/205
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 13/02 Camouflage for submarines B63G8/34
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 3/00 Camouflage, i.e. means or methods for concealment or disguise for vessels B63G8/34, B63G13/02 ; sound camouflage, i.e. simulating gun fire noise, F41A33/04; dummy or decoy targets F41J; chaff per se F41J2/00; ammunition for dispensing chaff F42B5/15, F42B12/70; radar absorbing fabrics H01Q17/005

Abstract

Methods and apparatus that employ one or more light sources to reduce the ability to recognize or identify one or more objects. In various examples, one or more LED-based light sources are utilized in camouflaging techniques. The apparatus and methods disclosed relating to camouflaging techniques have wide applicability in a number of environments (and with a number of different objects) including, but not limited to, military, commercial, industrial, sporting, recreational, and entertainment applications.

Claims

1. A method for camouflaging at least one object, comprising an act of:

generating radiation from at least one led-based light source associated with the at least one object so as to reduce an ability to recognize or identify the at least one object;

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the act A) comprises an act of:

generating patterns of radiation from the at least one LED-based light source so as to cause a confused image of the at least one object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the act A) comprises an act of:

A1) generating multi-colored visible radiation from the at least one LED-based light source so as to cause the at least one object to significantly blend with the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the act A1) comprises an act of:

generating the multi-colored visible radiation from the at least one LED-based light source so as to cause the at least one object to significantly simulate the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the act A1) comprises an act of:

generating time-varying multi-colored visible radiation from the at least one LED-based light source so as to cause the at least one object to significantly blend with the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the act A) comprises acts of:

A1) monitoring at least one detectable condition associated with the at least one object; and

A2) controlling the at least one LED-based light source based at least in part on the monitored at least one detectable condition so as to reduce the ability to recognize or identify the at least one object.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the act A1) comprises an act of:

acquiring information regarding the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the act A2) comprises an act of:

Ab 3) controlling the at least one LED-based light source based at least in part on the acquired information so as to reduce the ability to recognize or identify the at least one object.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the act A3) comprises an act of:

generating multi-colored visible radiation from the at least one LED-based light source so as to cause the at least one object to significantly blend with the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the act A3) comprises an act of:

generating the multi-colored visible radiation from the at least one LED-based light source so as to cause the at least one object to significantly simulate the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the act A3) comprises an act of:

generating time-varying multi-colored visible radiation from the at least one LED-based light source so as to cause the at least one object to significantly blend with the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one object; and

at least one LED-based light source associated with the at least one object and configured to generate radiation so as to reduce an ability to recognize or identify the at least one object.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one object includes at least one aircraft.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one object includes at least one water craft.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one object includes at least one land-based vehicle.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one object includes at least one clothing garment.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one object includes at least one accessory configured to be affixed to a human.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one LED-based light source is configured to generate patterns of radiation so as to cause a confused image of the at least one object.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one LED-based light source is configured to generate multi-colored visible radiation so as to cause the at least one object to significantly blend with the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one LED-based light source is configured to generate multi-colored visible radiation so as to cause the at least one object to significantly simulate the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one LED-based light source is configured to generate time-varying multi-colored visible radiation so as to cause the at least one object to significantly blend with the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising at least one sensor to monitor at least one detectable condition associated with the at least one object, wherein the apparatus is configured to control the at least one LED-based light source based at least in part on the monitored at least one detectable condition so as to reduce the ability to recognize or identify the at least one object.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one image capture system.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to acquire information regarding the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the apparatus is configured to control the at least one LED-based light source based at least in part on the acquired information so as to reduce the ability to recognize or identify the at least one object.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the apparatus is configured to control the at is least one LED-based light source to generate multi-colored visible radiation based on the acquired information so as to cause the at least one object to significantly blend with the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the apparatus is configured to control the at least one LED-based light source to generate multi-colored visible radiation based on the acquired information so as to cause the at least one object to significantly simulate the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the apparatus is configured to control the at least one LED-based light source to generate time-varying multi-colored visible radiation based on the acquired information so as to cause the at least one object to significantly simulate the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

29. A lighting system for camouflaging at least one object, comprising:

a first addressable lighting unit including at least one first LED-based light source;

at least one second addressable lighting unit including at least one second LED-based light source;

at least one sensor configured to monitor at least one detectable condition associated with the at least one object; and

at least one controller coupled to the first addressable lighting unit, the at least one second addressable lighting unit, and the at least one sensor, the at least one controller configured to process information acquired by the at least one sensor regarding the at least one detectable condition and to dynamically control the first addressable lighting unit and the at least one second addressable lighting unit via addressed data so as to generate radiation having at least one characteristic that facilitates camouflaging the at least one object.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the lighting system is configured to generate patterns of radiation so as to cause a confused image of the at least one object.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the lighting system is configured to generate multi-colored visible radiation so as to cause the at least one object to significantly blend with the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the lighting system is configured to generate multi-colored visible radiation so as to cause the at least one object to significantly simulate the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the lighting system is configured to generate time-varying multi-colored visible radiation so as to cause the at least one object to significantly blend with the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

34. The lighting system of claim 29, in combination with the at least one object.

35. The combination of claim 34, wherein the at least one object includes an aircraft.

36. The combination of claim 35, wherein the lighting system is disposed at least in proximity to at least one wing of the aircraft.

37. The combination of claim 34, wherein the object includes a military vehicle.

38. The combination of claim 34, wherein the object includes a commercial vehicle.