Combined IR-RF combat identification friend-or-foe (IFF) system for the dismounted soldier

• US 20090045996A1
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Protective Arms Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Protective Arms Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Mantsvetov, Alexandre, Berik, Evgeny, Ivtsenkov, Gennadii
• Application Number:
  US12/022,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20090045996A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/08 for inhibiting firing in a specified direction, e.g. at a friendly person or at a protected area F41A27/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/35 for illuminating the target , e.g. flash lights
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 2/02 Active targets transmitting infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/74 Systems using reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. IFF, i.e. identification of friend or foe

Abstract

Combined IR-RF combat identification friend-or-foe (IFF) system for the dismounted soldier comprising IR-RF interrogator mounted on a small arms and IR-RF transponder mounted on a friendly target, wherein sharp-diagram K-band RF channel provides brief information about friendly targets that could be in attacked area, and if they are, develop alert signal: “Friendly soldiers are in the area”. IR channel of the system prevents friendly fire in the case of direct sighting to a friendly soldier.

Claims

1. An identification friend or foe system for military small arms to determine whether a target that has been selected is a friendly target comprising:

a request unit containing IR signal source attached to said small arms and arranged to radiate encrypted request signals, a IR detection system attached to said small arms that receives a IR response signal and a visual alert sign mounted on the sight of said small arms that is activated by said received response signal,

a response unit containing IR detection system attached to a friendly target that receives said IR request signal, a IR signal source attached to a friendly target and arranged to radiate said IR response signals, and a sound alert buzzer mounted on said friendly target and activated by said received request signal,

wherein the improvement comprises;

said request unit is additionally equipped with a RF interrogator that comprises a sharp-diagram RF transmitter mounted on a sight of said small arm, which sends encrypted RF request signal in area to which sightline of said small arm is directed, and a RF receiver receiving encrypted RF response signal emitted by said friendly targets that are in said area,

said response unit is additionally equipped with RF transponder attached to said friendly target that comprises RF receiver, which receives encrypted RF request signal emitted by said interrogator, and a RF transmitter transmitting the encrypted RF response signal back to said RF interrogator, wherein received RF request signal also activates IR cannel of said response unit so saving energy of power supply of said response unit.

2. The identification friend or foe system of claim 1, wherein the RF interrogator of claim 1 comprises:

a RF K-band sharp-diagram transmitting/receiving antenna mounted on the small arms and connected to a RF switch that switches modes from transmitting to receiving one,

an RF electronic unit mounted in convenient place of the small arm containing transmitting and receiving RF channels, which are switched by said switch,

a single electronic microprocessor block controlling IR and RF channels of the request unit of claim 1, which develops coded request signal, processes input RF and IR response signals and activates the visual alert sign of claim 1.

3. The identification friend or foe system of claim 1, wherein the RF transponder of claim 1 comprises:

a RF K-band unidirectional-diagram transmitting/receiving antenna mounted in any convenient place of the friendly target and connected to a RF switch that switches modes from transmitting to receiving one,

an RF electronic unit mounted in any convenient place of the friendly target and containing transmitting and receiving RF channels, which are switched by said switch,

a single electronic microprocessor block controlling IR and RF channels of the response unit of claim 1, which processes input RF and IR request signals, develops coded response signal, and activates the alert buzzer of claim 1.

4. The identification friend or foe system of claim 1, wherein RF response signal is delayed about RF request signal for a specific time period of a portion of millisecond that allows selecting the RF response signals of claim 1 from RF signals emitted by other sources.

5. The identification friend or foe system of claim 1, wherein RF response signal has different frequency then RF request signal that allows selecting the RF response signals of claim 1 from RF signals emitted by other sources, wherein said frequency is in compliancy with STANAG4579 standard that additionally allows monitoring battlefield situation.

6. The identification friend or foe system of claim 1, wherein RF signal emitted by the transponder of claim 1 contains ID of the friendly target;

so these signals received by interrogator of claim 1 allow evaluating situation in attacked area.