Method of, and apparatus for, area and air space surveillance
First Claim
1. A method of area and air space surveillance, comprising the steps of:
- passively scanning a given scenario with respect to azimuth and elevation by means of passive infrared surveillance detection means operating in the infrared region and thereby detecting the presence of at least one potential target at associated azimuth angle and elevation angle values;
said passive scanning operation entailing performing scanning cycles;
during each said scanning cycle, receiving infrared-detected data at associated azimuth and elevation angle values by said passive infrared surveillance detection means;
filtering out infrared-detected potential target information data at associated azimuth angle and elevation angle values, from said infrared-detected data received by said passive infrared surveillance detection means;
operatively coupling radar detection means to said passive infrared surveillance detection means and transmitting at least one short radar pulse from said radar detection means at least at said azimuth angle value associated with said infrared-detected potential target information data towards said at least one potential target identified by said infrared-detected potential target information data and by at least said associated azimuth angle value and receiving, by means of radar sensors of said radar detection means, radar-detected target information data associated with at least azimuth angle values;
correlating said radar-detected target information data associated with at least said azimuth angle values and said infrared-detected potential target information data and associated azimuth and elevation angle values for discriminating between genuine target information data associated with azimuth and elevation angle values and false target information data associated with azimuth and elevation angle values and storing said false target information data and said associated azimuth and elevation angle values.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The proposed surveillance system for surveilling a given scenario in azimuth and in elevation comprises an infrared surveillance detection device passively operating in the infrared region and a radar search and/or tracking device operating in the active mode for range determination. The targets or target information data are obtained as video signals from the infrared surveillance detection device during each search cycle and are processed in an infrared data processor. The video signals are discriminated and stored in an infrared signal processor with respect to their elevation angle values (λ) and azimuth angle values (α). The values of the azimuth angle (α) are simultaneously fed to a radar activation and contol unit for triggering a momentary or short-time emission by the radar search and/or tracking device. Genuine target coordinates with respect to elevation, azimuth and range as determined by the infrared surveillance detection device and the radar search and/or tracking device are fed to a superordinate fire control system while false alarms or false-target related data are suppressed in order to prevent further radar emission in the direction of such target objects.
79 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of area and air space surveillance, comprising the steps of:
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passively scanning a given scenario with respect to azimuth and elevation by means of passive infrared surveillance detection means operating in the infrared region and thereby detecting the presence of at least one potential target at associated azimuth angle and elevation angle values; said passive scanning operation entailing performing scanning cycles; during each said scanning cycle, receiving infrared-detected data at associated azimuth and elevation angle values by said passive infrared surveillance detection means; filtering out infrared-detected potential target information data at associated azimuth angle and elevation angle values, from said infrared-detected data received by said passive infrared surveillance detection means; operatively coupling radar detection means to said passive infrared surveillance detection means and transmitting at least one short radar pulse from said radar detection means at least at said azimuth angle value associated with said infrared-detected potential target information data towards said at least one potential target identified by said infrared-detected potential target information data and by at least said associated azimuth angle value and receiving, by means of radar sensors of said radar detection means, radar-detected target information data associated with at least azimuth angle values; correlating said radar-detected target information data associated with at least said azimuth angle values and said infrared-detected potential target information data and associated azimuth and elevation angle values for discriminating between genuine target information data associated with azimuth and elevation angle values and false target information data associated with azimuth and elevation angle values and storing said false target information data and said associated azimuth and elevation angle values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for area and air space surveillance, comprising:
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passive infrared surveillance detection means operating in the infrared region and scanning a given scenario with respect to azimuth and elevation; an infrared signal processor operatively associated with said passive infrared surveillance detection means and processing and storing incoming infrared-detected data; said infrared signal processor filtering out, from said incoming infrared-detected data, infrared-detected potential target information data at associated azimuth and elevation angle values; radar detection means; said infrared signal processor being operatively connected with said radar detection means in order to activate said radar detection means for transmitting at least one short pulse to a potential target in accordance with at least said azimuth angle values associated with said infrared-detected potential target information data filtered out by means of said infrared signal processor; said radar detection means producing radar-detected target information data associated with at least azimuth angle values; correlating means correlating said radar-detected target information data at least at said associated azimuth angle values and said infrared-detected potential target information data associated with said azimuth and elevation angle values for discriminating between genuine target information data associated with azimuth and elevation angle values and false target information data associated with azimuth and elevation angle values; and said infrared signal processor storing said false target information data and said associated azimuth and elevation angle values for further comparison with infrared-detected potential target information data. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification