Marking system

• US 20050084975A1
• Filed: 10/21/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immediate Response Technologies, LLC (AirBoss of America Corp.)
• Original Assignee: TVI Incorporated (AutoWeb, Inc. (California))
• Inventors: Armentrout, Douglas B., Boyer, Thomas R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,666,682 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/56
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/20 Arrangement of optical beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0676 specially adapted for landing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/13 Tracers or tags

Abstract

A marking system that allows remote observations of visual and infrared electromagnetic signatures emitted from a distinctive marker panel. A kit employing such panels is particularly suitable for military environments, which, in turn, enhances the survivability of military equipment. The marking system preferably provides a signature in the mid and far infrared and near infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, such that the electromagnetic radiation can be observed by a pilot in an approaching moving object such as a plane, helicopter, or land vehicle that is equipped with a thermal imaging system or light intensifier device, even in adverse environmental conditions. In varying embodiments, the marking system may be used as a landing marker, a bore sight panel, and an identification panel. Utilization of passive infrared material enables use of such marking system when external power is unavailable.

Claims

1. A marking system viewable in adverse environmental conditions with light amplification or imaging devices but substantially invisible to unaided sight in adverse environmental conditions, comprising:

a marker lacking an active visible light emitting element and having a plurality of non-visible light emitting elements capable of emitting infrared energy in distinct portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, a first one of said non-visible light emitting elements further comprising a passive light emitting element.

2. The marking system of claim 1, a second one of said non-visible light emitting elements further comprising a non-visible light emitting element selected from the group consisting of (i) an active infrared element capable of emitting near infrared energy, (ii) an active infrared element capable of emitting mid and far infrared energy, (iii) a passive infrared element capable of reflecting near infrared energy, and (iv) a passive infrared element capable of reflecting mid and far infrared energy.

3. The marking system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said non-visible light emitting elements is formed in the shape of a predefined indicia.

4. The marking system of claim 3, wherein a second one of said non-visible light emitting elements is positioned adjacent said at least one non-visible light emitting element so as to at least partially outline said at least one non-visible light emitting element.

5. The marking system of claim 1, said first non-visible light emitting element further comprising a panel member comprised of low emissivity, high reflectivity material capable of reflecting mid and far infrared energy.

6. The marking system of claim 5, wherein said panel member is removable from said marker.

7. The marking system of claim 5, further comprising an active infrared element positioned on said panel member and capable of emitting mid and far infrared energy.

8. The marking system of claim 7, further comprising a passive infrared element positioned on said active panel member and capable of reflecting near infrared energy.

9. The marking system of claim 8, further comprising an active infrared element capable of emitting near infrared energy.

10. The marking system of claim 5, said panel member being formed in the shape of a predefined indicia.

11. The marking system of claim 10, further comprising a passive infrared element positioned adjacent said panel member so as to at least partially outline said panel member.

12. The marking system of claim 10, said panel member further comprising multiple removable layers of low emissivity, high reflectivity material capable of reflecting mid and far infrared energy.

13. The marking system of claim 12, further comprising a passive infrared element capable of reflecting near infrared energy and positioned adjacent said panel member so as to at least partially outline said panel member.

14. The marking system of claim 12, further comprising an active infrared element capable of emitting near infrared energy.

15. The marking system of claim 1, said marker having a plurality of reinforced openings extending therethrough, said reinforced openings being configured to receive an attaching member to attach said marker to a surface.

16. The marking system of claim 1, further comprising a high visibility panel removably attached to said marker.

17. The marking system of claim 1, further comprising a frame positioning a face of said marker bearing said non-visible light emitting elements at a raised angle.

18. A marking system suitable for viewing in multiple distinct segments of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum without providing power to the system, comprising:

a marker having at least a first passive infrared element capable of reflecting infrared energy in a first segment of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, and at least a second passive infrared element capable of reflecting infrared energy in a second segment of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

19. The marking system of claim 18, further comprising at least one active infrared element capable of emitting infrared energy.

20. The marking system of claim 19, further comprising a plurality of active infrared elements, at least a first one of said active infrared elements being capable of emitting infrared energy in said first segment of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, and at least a second one of said active infrared elements being capable of emitting infrared energy in said second segment of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

21. The marking system of claim 18, wherein at least one of said passive infrared elements is formed in the shape of a predefined indicia.

22. The marking system of claim 21, wherein at least another of said passive infrared elements is positioned adjacent said at least one of said passive infrared elements so as to at least partially outline said at least one of said passive infrared elements.

23. The marking system of claim 18, said first passive infrared element further comprising a panel member comprised of low emissivity, high reflectivity material capable of reflecting mid and far infrared energy.

24. The marking system of claim 23, wherein said panel member is removable from said marker.

25. The marking system of claim 23, further comprising an active infrared element positioned on said panel member and capable of emitting mid and far infrared energy.

26. The marking system of claim 25, wherein said second passive infrared element is positioned on said panel member and capable of reflecting near infrared energy.

27. The marking system of claim 26, further comprising an active infrared element capable of emitting near infrared energy.

28. The marking system of claim 23, said panel member being formed in the shape of a predefined indicia.

29. The marking system of claim 28, said second passive infrared element being positioned adjacent said panel member so as to at least partially outline said panel member.

30. The marking system of claim 28, said panel member further comprising multiple removable layers of low emissivity, high reflectivity material capable of reflecting mid and far infrared energy.

31. The marking system of claim 30, said second passive infrared element being positioned adjacent said panel member so as to at least partially outline said panel member.

32. The marking system of claim 30, further comprising an active infrared element capable of emitting near infrared energy.

33. The marking system of claim 18, said marker having a plurality of reinforced openings extending therethrough, said reinforced openings being configured to receive an attaching member to attach said marker to a surface.

34. The marking system of claim 18, further comprising a high visibility panel removably attached to said marker.

35. The marking system of claim 18, further comprising a frame positioning a face of said marker bearing said infrared elements at a raised angle.

36. A marking system comprising:

a marker having a plurality of infrared emitting elements, at least a first one of said infrared emitting elements further comprising a passive infrared element capable of reflecting near infrared energy, and at least a second one of said infrared emitting elements further comprising an active infrared element.

37. The marking system of claim 36, wherein said active infrared element is capable of emitting near infrared energy.

38. The marking system of claim 36, wherein said active infrared element is capable of emitting mid and far infrared energy.

39. The marking system of claim 38, further comprising an active infrared element capable of emitting near infrared energy.

40. The marking system of claim 36, further comprising a passive infrared element comprised of low emissivity, high reflectivity material capable of reflecting mid and far infrared energy.

41. A marking system comprising:

a marker having a plurality of infrared emitting elements, at least one of said infrared emitting elements further comprising a passive infrared element capable of reflecting mid and far infrared energy, and at least another of said infrared emitting elements further comprising an active infrared element, wherein said active infrared element does not emit visible light.

42. The marking system of claim 41, wherein said active infrared element is capable of emitting near infrared energy.

43. The marking system of claim 41, wherein said active infrared element is capable of emitting mid and far infrared energy.

44. The marking system of claim 43, further comprising an active infrared element capable of emitting near infrared energy.

45. A marking system comprising:

a marker having a plurality of infrared emitting elements, at least one of said infrared emitting elements further comprising a passive infrared element capable of reflecting infrared energy in a first segment of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, and at least another of said infrared emitting elements further comprising an active infrared element capable of emitting infrared energy in said first segment of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

46. The marking system of claim 45, further comprising an active infrared element capable of emitting infrared energy in a second segment of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

47. The marking system of claim 46, further comprising a visible light emitting element.

48. The marking system of claim 47, further comprising a sensor in electrical communication with (i) said active infrared element capable of emitting infrared energy in said second segment of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, and (ii) said visible light emitting element, such that when said sensor senses an activation signal, said sensor changes a mode of operation of at least one of (i) said active infrared element capable of emitting infrared energy in said second segment of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, and (ii) said visible light emitting element.

49. The marking system of claim 48, said sensor being configured to cause at least one of (i) said active infrared element capable of emitting infrared energy in said second segment of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, and (ii) said visible light emitting element, to flash when said sensor receives an activation signal.

50. The marking system of claim 46, further comprising a sensor in electrical communication with said active infrared element capable of emitting infrared energy in said second segment of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, such that when said sensor senses an activation signal, said sensor changing a mode of operation of said active infrared element capable of emitting infrared energy in said second segment of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

51. The marking system of claim 50, said sensor being configured to cause said active infrared element capable of emitting infrared energy in said second segment of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to flash when said sensor receives an activation signal.

52. The marking system of claim 46, said first segment of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum comprising mid and far infrared energy.

53. The marking system of claim 52, said second segment of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum comprising near infrared energy.

54. The marking system of claim 45, further comprising a passive infrared element capable of emitting infrared energy in a second segment of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

55. The marking system of claim 54, said first segment of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum comprising mid and far infrared energy.

56. The marking system of claim 55, said second segment of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum comprising near infrared energy.