Electromagnetic Radiation Source Locating System
First Claim
1. An electromagnetic radiation source locating system comprising:
- a electromagnetic radiation sensor including an antenna configured to detect a radiant energy transmission;
a controller in communication with the electromagnetic radiation sensor;
a support operably coupled to the electromagnetic radiation sensor for supporting the antenna in a plurality of orientations relative to the radiant energy transmission;
a position detector in communication with the controller, the position detector configured to detect the translational position of the antenna relative to a reference coordinate system and provide a position signal indicative thereof to the controller;
an orientation detector in communication with the controller, the orientation detector configured to detect the rotational orientation of the antenna and provide an orientation signal indicative thereof to the controller;
the controller being configured to determine a directional vector to a source of the radiant energy transmission in response to the orientation signal; and
a range sensor in communication with the controller, the range sensor configured to detect a distance to an aligned object in the path of the directional vector and providing a distance signal indicative thereof to the controller.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electromagnetic radiation source locating system including an electromagnetic radiation sensor including an antenna configured to detect a radiant energy transmission. A position detector is in communication with the controller and is configured to detect the position of the antenna relative to a reference coordinate system, while an orientation sensor is in communication with the controller and is configured to detect the orientation of the antenna and provide an orientation signal to the controller. A range sensor is configured to detect the distance to an aligned object in the path of a directional vector and provide a distance signal indicative thereof to the controller. An aerial vehicle may be in communication with the controller and configured to drop a marker for guiding navigators to the source of the radiant energy transmission.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. An electromagnetic radiation source locating system comprising:
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a electromagnetic radiation sensor including an antenna configured to detect a radiant energy transmission; a controller in communication with the electromagnetic radiation sensor; a support operably coupled to the electromagnetic radiation sensor for supporting the antenna in a plurality of orientations relative to the radiant energy transmission; a position detector in communication with the controller, the position detector configured to detect the translational position of the antenna relative to a reference coordinate system and provide a position signal indicative thereof to the controller; an orientation detector in communication with the controller, the orientation detector configured to detect the rotational orientation of the antenna and provide an orientation signal indicative thereof to the controller; the controller being configured to determine a directional vector to a source of the radiant energy transmission in response to the orientation signal; and a range sensor in communication with the controller, the range sensor configured to detect a distance to an aligned object in the path of the directional vector and providing a distance signal indicative thereof to the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A radio frequency source locating system comprising:
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a directional antenna configured to receive radio frequency signals; a radio frequency signal processor operably coupled to the antenna; a support configured to be mounted to a vehicle and operably coupled to the antenna; an actuator configured to rotate the directional antenna about at least two perpendicular axes; a controller in communication with the radio frequency signal processor and configured to cause the actuator to orient the antenna in a direction based upon the strength of the radio frequency signals; a position detector in communication with the controller, the position detector configured to detect the translational position of the receiving device relative to a reference coordinate system and provide a position signal indicative thereof to the controller; an orientation detector in communication with the controller, the orientation detector and configured to detect the rotational orientation of the antenna and provide an orientation signal indicative thereof to the controller; and wherein the controller is configured to determine a directional vector to a source of the radio frequency signals in response to the orientation signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An electromagnetic radiation source locating system comprising:
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a electromagnetic radiation sensor including a collector configured to detect a radiant energy transmission; a controller in communication with the electromagnetic radiation sensor; a support operably coupled to the electromagnetic radiation sensor and configured to orient the collector of the electromagnetic radiation sensor in a direction toward the strongest radiant energy transmission detected by the collector; a position detector in communication with the controller, the position detector configured to detect the translational position of the electromagnetic radiation sensor relative to a reference coordinate system and provide a position signal indicative thereof to the controller; an orientation detector in communication with the controller, the orientation detector configured to detect the rotational orientation of the collector of the electromagnetic radiation sensor and provide an orientation signal indicative thereof to the controller; the controller being configured to determine a directional vector to a source of the radiant energy transmission in response to the orientation signal, the controller including a spatial processor configured to calculate the location of the radiant energy transmission source based upon at least two different directional vectors; an aerial vehicle in communication with the controller; and a marker configured to be dropped by the aerial vehicle on the calculated location of the radiant energy transmission source. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An electromagnetic radiation source locating system comprising:
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a first vehicle; a first electromagnetic radiation receiving device configured to detect a radiant energy transmission; a first directional antenna operably coupled to the receiving device; a first support operably coupled to the first electromagnetic radiation sensor for orienting the first directional antenna in a direction toward the radiant energy transmission; a first position detector in communication with the controller and configured to detect the position of the first directional antenna relative to a reference coordinate system; a first orientation detector in communication with the controller and configured to detect the orientation of the first directional antenna and provide a directional signal indicative thereof to the controller; a second vehicle; a second electromagnetic radiation receiving device configured to detect a radiant energy transmission; a second directional antenna operably coupled to the receiving device; a second support operably coupled to the second electromagnetic radiation sensor for orienting the second directional antenna in a direction toward the radiant energy transmission; a second position detector configured to detect the position of the second directional antenna relative to the reference coordinate system; a second direction detector in communication with the controller and configured to detect the orientation of the second directional antenna and provide a directional signal indicative thereof to the controller; and a controller configured to determine a directional vector to the radiant energy transmission source, the controller including a spatial processor configured to calculate the location of the radiant energy transmission source based upon at least two different directional vectors. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of detecting a transmission source of electromagnetic radiation, the method comprising the steps of:
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positioning a directional antenna at a first location; detecting an electromagnetic signal at the first location with the directional antenna; aligning the directional antenna at the first location based upon the strength of the detected electromagnetic radiation signal; directing a light source from the first location in the direction of the aligned directional antenna; positioning a directional antenna at a second location; detecting an electromagnetic signal at the second location with the directional antenna; aligning the directional antenna at the second location based upon the strength of the detected electromagnetic radiation signal; directing a light source from the second location in the direction of the aligned directional antenna; and calculating the expected intersection point of the light source from the first location and the light source from the second location. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification