Integrated radar, optical surveillance, and sighting system

• US 7,049,998 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Government of the United States of America
• 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:
  US11/094,541
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 342/52, 342/67, 367/96, 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 situational awareness capability.

Claims

1. A protection system, said protection system comprising:

a. a plurality of sensors for detecting at least one target object and for generating at least one information signal corresponding to each said at least one target object, wherein said plurality of sensors includes at least one electro-optic device; and

b. means, in operational communications with said plurality of sensors, for generating a display, wherein said display generating means is capable of at least processing said at least one information signal and providing at least a visual representation of information associated with a common tactical scene, said common tactical scene comprising status information on at least one of said at least one target object, said status information comprising information on at least one of the location, speed, and direction of motion, of said at least one target object.

2. The protection system as recited in claim 1, wherein said common tactical scene further comprises:

a. at least one digital map;

b. at least one navigation chart;

c. at least one video image; and

d. at least one virtual boundary area around said protection system.

3. The protection system as recited in claim 1, wherein said common tactical scene further comprises information received from a Global Positioning Satellite.

4. The protection system as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensors further comprises at least one surface search radar.

5. The protection system as recited in claim 2, wherein said at least one virtual boundary area is used for establishing an operational criteria for causing said protection system to:

a. remain in its current level of protection;

b. change to a greater level of protection;

or

c. change to a lesser level of protection.

6. The protection system as recited in claim 2, wherein said protection system is capable of providing said common tactical scene to at least one remote user in wireless operational communications with said protection system.

7. A protection system, said protection system comprising:

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

b. means, in operational communications with said plurality of sensors, for operationally controlling said protection system;

c. means, in operational communications with said operationally controlling means, for providing communications for said protection system, wherein said communications means is capable of transmitting and receiving at least said target object information signals; and

d. at least one protection system information displaying means, in operational communications with said operationally controlling means, for displaying protection system information to at least one user.

8. The protection system as recited in claim 7, wherein said communication means further comprises a means for wireless communications.

9. The protection system as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

a. at least one weapon; and

b. at least one means, in operational communications with said operationally controlling means, for remotely aiming and firing said at least one weapon at any of said at least one target object.

10. The protection system as recited in claim 8, wherein said wireless communications is between said protection system and at least one remote user of said protection system.

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

12. The protection system as recited in claim 9, 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.

13. The protection system as recited in claim 11, wherein said at least one remotely connected sensor is carried on an aerial vehicle.

14. The protection system as recited in claim 11, wherein said at least one remotely connected sensor is carried on a water vehicle.

15. The protection system as recited in claim 11, wherein said at least one remotely connected sensor is land-based.

16. The protection system as recited in claim 11, wherein said at least one remotely connected sensor is space-based.

17. A protection system, said protection system comprising:

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

b. means, in operational communications with said plurality of sensors, for processing said at least one information signal;

c. at least one operator console, in operational communications with said processing means, for providing at least one user with the ability to operationally control said protection system;

d. 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 and is further capable of providing at least a visual representation of information associated with a common tactical scene, said common tactical scene comprising;

(i) digital maps;

(ii) navigation charts;

(iii) status information on said at least one target object, said status information comprising information on at least one of the location, speed, and direction of motion, of said at least one target object;

(iv) video images; and

(v) at least one virtual boundary area around said protection system;

e. means, in operational communications with said processing means, for generating a tracking signal for each said at least one target object;

f. means, in operational communications with said at least one operator console, for providing wired and wireless communications for said protection system; and

g. means, in operational communications with said processing means, for engaging said at least one target object.

18. The protection system as recited in claim 17, wherein said common tactical scene further comprises information received from a Global Positioning Satellite.

19. The protection system as recited in claim 17, wherein said at least one boundary area is used for establishing an operational criteria for causing said protection system to:

a. remain in its current level of protection;

b. change to a greater level of protection;

or

c. change to a lesser level of protection.

20. The protection system as recited in claim 17, wherein said protection system is capable of providing said common tactical scene to at least one remote user in wireless operational communications with said protection system.