Smart armor

• US 20090027229A1
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Solidica, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Solidica, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Kenneth E., Fortson, Frederick O., Jorge, Jeferson D. JR., Schwope, Lee Ann, Gupta, Anu K.
• Application Number:
  US12/218,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20090027229A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.70
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A smart armor system for use with body armor or armor on a vehicle and other remotely located devices is disclosed. The smart armor system includes a control hub for managing and analyzing multiple incoming wireless and wired data streams. The system also includes at least one sensor module sensor in the armor wirelessly in communication with the control hub. A sensor control panel interface may be used for reviewing information from the sensor modules and a distributed mesh network may be used for supporting at least two levels therein. The communication system may be wirelessly based and may be built for rugged harsh environments such as those found in military applications and other harsh industrial applications.

Claims

1. A smart armor system, said system including:

an armor member; and

a sensor module on, in or near said armor member.

2. The system of claim 1 said sensor collects, stores, analyzes and transmits data in real time or at a future point from said armor member;

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said data is transmitted to a satellite location for in theatre analysis.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor monitors properties of said armor member including mechanical, electrical, material and acoustic properties.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said properties include ballistic impact and bullet properties.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said properties include velocity of impact and deformation or penetration of impact.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein said mechanical and electrical properties include thickness of material, cracks in said material, shape, and resonance of the armor.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein said properties include biometrics such as temperature, humidity, GPS location, heart rate, and blood pressure of the person using the smart armor system.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said armor member functions as an element of a capacitor or inductor for an electrical or mechanical resonance circuit.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor module monitors location of sound or shots fired.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor module monitors inductive, mechanical and capacitive properties of the smart armor system.

12. The system of claim 1 further including a quartz which allows said sensor module to measure piezoelectric properties.

13. A method of communicating from an armor system on a person or vehicle and a remote location for real time monitoring, or stored data, said method including the steps:

installing sensors on or near the armor system;

installing a control hub within communication distance of said sensors;

networking said sensors and said control hub in a multilevel environment; and

coordinating in real time, data received from the armor system via communication from said sensors.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said data includes ballistic impact and bullet properties.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said data includes velocity of impact of ammunition, deformation or penetration of impact of bullet and thickness of the armor.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein said data includes acoustic properties, whether the armor cracked and depth of said crack temperature when the armor was hit and humidity when the armor was hit with a projectile.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein said data includes GPS location of the armor, a heart rate of the person using the armor and a blood pressure of the person using the armor.

18. A diagnostic and telematic armor system for use with a person or vehicle, said system includes:

at least one wireless armor module arranged on or in the armor;

a control hub in communication with said wireless sensor of the armor; and

a multi level network environment for receiving and monitoring data from said wireless sensors.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said data is in real time or stored from the armor and transmitted to a satellite or network location for analysis to improve fighting intelligence and protection of troops.