Integrated radar, optical surveillance, and sighting system

• US 6,903,676 B1
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Department of the Navair Navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Schmidt, Paul L., Wilson, Dustin L., Flynn, Nancy J., Daugherty, Michael G., Moody, Eric S., Werner, Kyle R., Frady, Trent J., Mullen, Robert E., Wasil, Nigel G., Koi, Mark R., Mehringer, Bret R., Konerman, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): PIHULIC, DANIEL T
• Application Number:
  US10/943,648
• Time in Patent Office: 270 Days
• Field of Search: 367/96, 342/52, 342/67, 342/53, 342/54, 89/411.4, 89/410.7, 89/410.6
• US Class Current: 342/52
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 13/00 Other offensive or defensive arrangements on vessels; Vessels characterised thereby
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/00 Defence installations; Defence devices constructional aspects see Section E, e.g. air-raid shelters E04H9/04; protective arrangements for buildings E04B1/92; extinguishing or preventing the spread of fire from, incendiary bombs A62C3/06; dynamic armour F41H5/007; ballistically deployed systems for restraining persons or animals F41H13/0006; electronic countermeasures G01S
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/723 by using numerical data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations

Abstract

The present invention can be generally described as a protection system. This protection system is formed by the integration of commonly available subsystems, which may be controlled by non-proprietary, open architecture software, which, in turn, may accommodate the commonly known “plug and play” capability. This allows the present invention to easily incorporate a variety of lethal (or less-than-lethal) weapon payloads as well as a variety of sensors and detectors; thereby providing the user with the first real, integrated system (of systems) solution capable of providing an enhanced situation awareness capability.

Claims

1. A protection system, said protection system comprising:

a. a plurality of sensors for detecting a target object and for generating at least one information signal corresponding to said object, and wherein said plurality of sensors comprising at least one surface search radar and at least one electro-optic sensor;

b. means, in operational communication with said plurality of sensors, for processing said information signal;

c. means, in operational communications with said processing means, for generating a display, wherein said display generating means is capable of incorporating said at least one information signal as part of said display;

d. means, in operational communication with said processing means, for generating a tracking signal for each said target object; and

e. means, in operational communications with said processing means, for engaging said target object.

2. A protection system, said protection system comprising:

a. at least one equipment rack assembly capable of receiving and transmitting, and processing, protection system information signals and protection system control signals;

b. at least one surface search radar, in operational communications with said at least one equipment rack assembly, capable of detecting at least one target object, and of generating and transmitting at least one radar target signal, said at least one radar target signal being at least one of said protection system information signals;

c. at least one antenna, in operational communications with said at least one equipment rack assembly, for providing wireless communications for said protection system;

d. at least one electro-optic sensor, in operational communications with said at least one equipment rack assembly, capable of detecting said at least one target object, and of generating and transmitting at least one electro-optic target signal, said at least one electro-optic target signal being at least one of said protection system information signals, and said at least one electro-optic sensor is capable of receiving at least one of said protection system control signals for controlling the positioning of said at least one electro-optic sensor;

e. at least one weapon mount assembly, in operational communication with said at least one equipment rack assembly, for carrying at least one weapon and for providing a visual aiming signal, said visual aiming signal being at least one of said protection system information signals, and said at least one weapon mount assembly is capable of receiving at least one of said protection system control signals for controlling the positioning of said at least one weapon mount assembly;

f. at least one illumination device, in operational communications with said at least one equipment rack assembly, said at least one illumination device capable of receiving at least one of said protection system control signals for controlling the positioning of said at least one illumination device;

g. at least one operator console, in operational communications with said at least one equipment rack assembly, for providing at least one user with the ability to operationally control said protection system; and

h. at least one means, in operational communications with said at least one equipment rack assembly, for intercepting said at least one target object.

3. The protection system as recited in claim 2, wherein said equipment rack assembly further comprises at least one computer processor.

4. The protection system as recited in claim 2, wherein said wireless communication is between said protection system and at least one remote user of said protection system.

5. The protection system as recited in claim 2, wherein said at least one weapon is capable of being remotely aimed and fired at any of said at least one target object by said protection system.

6. The protection system as recited in claim 2, wherein said at least one weapon is capable of being manually aimed and fired at any of said at least one target object by said at least one user of said protection system, wherein said at least one user is remotely located from said at least one weapon.

7. The protection system as recited in claim 2, wherein said at least one target intercepting means is a manned vehicle capable of allowing any user of said manned vehicle to at least evaluate, deter, and suppress, said at least one target object.

8. The protection system as recited in claim 2, wherein said wireless communication is between said protection system and at least one remotely connected sensor.

9. The protection system as recited in claim 8, wherein said at least one remotely connected sensor is an aerial vehicle.

10. The protection system as recited in claim 8, wherein said at least one remotely connected sensor is an unmanned underwater vehicle.

11. The protection system as recited in claim 8, wherein said at least one remotely connected sensor is unmanned aerial vehicle.

12. The protection system as recited in claim 8, wherein said at least one remotely connected sensor is an unmanned surface vehicle.

13. A method of providing protection for a ship, said unprotection method comprising the steps of:

a. providing an operationally active protection system, said protection system comprising;

(i) a plurality of sensors for detecting a target object and for generating at least one information signal corresponding to said target object;

(ii) means, in operational communications with said plurality of sensors, for processing said information signal;

(iii) means, in operational communications with said processing means, for generating a display, wherein said display generating means is capable of incorporating said at least one information signal as part of said display;

(iv) means, in operational communications with said processing means, for generating a tracking signal for each said target object; and

(v) means, in operational communications with said processing means, for engaging said target object;

b. establishing boundary areas around said ship;

c. surveilling said boundary areas for at least one potential threat;

d. detecting said at least one potential threat; and

e. engaging said at least one potential threat.