INTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR COMBATING IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES

• US 20140077993A1
• Filed: 03/05/2012
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mbda France (MBDA)
• Original Assignee: Mbda France (MBDA)
• Inventors: Hembise, Dominique
• Granted Patent: US 9,689,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/359
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/136 Magnetic, electromagnetic, acoustic or radiation systems, e.g. ground penetrating radars or metal-detectors
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/32 Decoy or sacrificial vehicles; Decoy or sacrificial devices attachable to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0068 the high-energy beam being of microwave type, e.g. for causing a heating effect in the target
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 5/04 Rendering explosive charges harmless, e.g. destroying ammunition F42B39/14 and F42B39/20 take precedence ; extracting primers, dismantling ammunition F42B33/04, F42B33/06 ; chemical deactivating of explosives C06B21/0091; Rendering detonation of explosive charges harmless
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/887 for detection of concealed objects, e.g. contraband or weapons

Abstract

The system comprises an orientable block, in which are mounted at least transmission and reception antennas of means for detecting improvised explosive devices, which are directed in such a way as to illuminate at least one and the same zone of space, and a detection confirmation camera which is directed towards the zone illuminated by these transmission and reception antennas in such a way as to be able to form an image of this zone, as well as means for controlling the orientation of said orientable block, which bring about a displacement of said block in such a way as to generate a scan of a part of space by said detection means.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. Integrated system for combating improvised explosive devices provided with electronic components, said system comprising:

means for remotely detecting electronic components, said means being provided with at least a transmission antenna and a reception antenna and being formed so as to detect non-linear junctions of electronic components;

an orientable block in which at least the transmission and reception antennas of said detection means are mounted, which are directed so as to illuminate at least a same zone of space;

means for controlling the orientation of said orientable block, which cause a displacement of said orientable block so as to generate a scan of part of space by said detection means; and

means for neutralising improvised explosive devices,

wherein said integrated system further comprises a detection confirmation camera which is mounted in said orientable block and is directed toward the zone illuminated by said transmission and reception antennas so as to be able to form an image of this zone.

18. System according to claim 17, further comprising means for displaying, on a display screen, the images generated by said detection confirmation camera, and means for manually adjusting the scale of the display shown on said display screen, said display screen and said adjustment means being remote from said orientable block.

19. System according to claim 17, wherein said detection confirmation camera is directed toward the centre of the zone illuminated by said transmission and reception antennas.

20. System according to claim 17, wherein said means for controlling the orientation of said orientable block cause a displacement of said orientable block so as to obtain a scan at a constant scanning speed.

21. System according to claim 17, wherein said transmission antenna and said reception antenna are mounted side by side on said orientable block.

22. System according to claim 17, wherein said transmission antenna and said reception antenna are mounted in tandem on said orientable block.

23. System according to claim 17, wherein said transmission and reception antennas and said detection confirmation camera are fixed in said orientable block.

24. System according to claim 17, wherein said detection means comprise:

a signal transmitter capable of transmitting at least a pulsed signal;

said transmission antenna, which is connected to said signal transmitter;

a signal receiver capable of receiving at least pulsed signals returned by improvised explosive devices provided with electronic components;

said reception antenna, which is connected to said signal receiver; and

a signal control and processing unit, which is connected to said signal transmitter and to said signal receiver.

25. System according to claim 17, wherein said detection means further comprise means for adjusting the frequency of the signal.

26. System according to claim 17, wherein at least means for directing the tiring of said neutralisation means are arranged on said orientable block and are directed toward the zone illuminated by said transmission and reception antennas.

27. System according to claim 17, wherein said neutralisation means comprise a disruptor gun.

28. System according to claim 17, wherein said neutralisation means comprise a microwave generator coupled to an orientable antenna.

29. Movable device comprising means for combating improvised explosive devices, wherein said combating means comprise the integrated system for combating improvised explosive devices, specified in claim 17.

30. Movable device according to claim 29, wherein said movable device is a land vehicle, and in that said block of said integrated system is mounted on the roof of said land vehicle and is arranged and controlled so as to carry out a scan of the ground in front of said land vehicle.

31. Movable device according to claim 29, further comprising means for transmitting a warning signal when the current speed of the land vehicle exceeds a reference speed that depends on the scanning speed of said detection means.

32. Movable device according to claim 29, wherein said movable device is a helicopter, and in that said block of said integrated system is mounted underneath said helicopter and is arranged and controlled so as to carry out a scan of the ground when the helicopter is flying.