FRIEND OR FOE DETECTION

• US 20100266126A1
• Filed: 10/09/2008
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Inventors: Kymissis, Ioannis
• Granted Patent: US 8,750,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/270
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 3/02 Flexible, e.g. fabric covers, e.g. screens, nets characterised by their material or structuremaking thereof, see the relevant classes, e.g. D04
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1121 One-way transmission

Abstract

An identification friend or foe (IFF) system and method can covertly identify an object as friend or foe (FoF). An encoded illumination signal can be calculated using a detected ambient signal and an identification (ID) signal and emitted. The encoded illumination signal can be detected by analyzing a detected ambient signal and decoded using a specified key.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first processor configured to;

(1) receive a first ambient signal;

(2) calculate an encoded illumination signal using the received first ambient signal and an identification (ID) signal; and

(3) output the encoded illumination signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the encoded illumination signal includes at least a portion of the detected first ambient signal.

3. The system of claim 1, including:

an ambient detector configured to detect the first ambient signal; and

an emitter configured to emit the encoded illumination signal.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the ambient detector is configured to detect an ambient signal from a first location on an outer surface of an object;

and

wherein the emitter is configured to emit the encoded illumination signal from a second location on the outer surface of the object.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first location on the outer surface of the object is substantially adjacent to the second location on the outer surface of the object.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the first location on the outer surface of the object is substantially opposite to the second location on the outer surface of the object.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the emitter includes an array of quantum dot light emitting diodes (QDLEDs) configured to be attached to an outer surface of an object.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the ID signal includes a covert ID signal.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the covert ID signal includes a signal below a noise floor

10. The system of claim 1, including:

a friend or foe (FoF) detector configured to detect a second ambient signal; and

a second processor configured to analyze the detected second ambient signal to;

(1) detect the encoded illumination signal; and

(2) decode the detected encoded illumination signal using a specified key.

11-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A system comprising:

means for receiving an ambient signal;

means for calculating an encoded illumination signal using the ambient signal and an identification (ID) signal; and

means for outputting the encoded illumination signal.

14. A method comprising:

receiving a first ambient signal;

calculating an encoded illumination signal using the first ambient signal and an identification (ID) signal; and

outputting the encoded illumination signal.

15. The method of claim 14, including:

detecting the first ambient signal; and

emitting the encoded illumination signal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the emitting the encoded illumination signal includes emitting at least a portion of the detected first ambient signal.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the detecting the ambient signal includes detecting from a first location on an outer surface of an object;

and

wherein the emitting the encoded illumination signal includes emitting from a second location on the outer surface of the object.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the detecting from the first location on the outer surface of the object includes detecting from a location substantially adjacent to the second location on the outer surface of the object.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the detecting from the first location on the outer surface of the object includes detecting from a location substantially opposite to the second location on the outer surface of the object.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the calculating the encoded illumination signal using the ID signal includes using a covert ID signal.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the using the covert ID signal includes using a signal below a noise floor.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the emitting the encoded illumination signal includes using an array of quantum dot light emitting diodes (QDLEDs) configured to be attached to an outer surface of an object.

23. The method of claim 14, including:

detecting a second ambient signal;

analyzing the second detected ambient signal to detect the encoded illumination signal; and

decoding the detected encoded illumination signal using a specified key.

24-25. -25. (canceled)