Methods and apparatus for camouflaging objects

• US 7,132,635 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Dowling, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PYO, KEVIN K
• Application Number:
  US10/369,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20040036006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 250/205, 250/552, 250/553, 250/208.1, 250/208.2, 348/122, 348/586, 472/61, 315/297, 315/312, 315/317, 315/318
• US Class Current: 250/205
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 13/02 Camouflage for submarines B63G8/34
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 3/00 Camouflage, i.e. means or methods for concealment or disguise for vessels B63G8/34, B63G13/02 ; sound camouflage, i.e. simulating gun fire noise, F41A33/04; dummy or decoy targets F41J; chaff per se F41J2/00; ammunition for dispensing chaff F42B5/15, F42B12/70; radar absorbing fabrics H01Q17/005

Abstract

Methods and apparatus that employ one or more light sources to reduce the ability to recognize or identify one or more objects. In various examples, one or more LED-based light sources are utilized in camouflaging techniques. The apparatus and methods disclosed relating to camouflaging techniques have wide applicability in a number of environments (and with a number of different objects) including, but not limited to, military, commercial, industrial, sporting, recreational, and entertainment applications.

Claims

1. A method for camouflaging at least one object, the method comprising an act of:

A) generating calibrated radiation from at least one first LED-based light source and at least one second LED-based light source based, at least in part, on at least one first calibration value derived from a first light output of the at least one first LED-based light source and at least one second calibration value derived from a second light output of the at least one second LED-based light source,

wherein the at least one first LED-based light source and the at least one second LED-based light source are associated at least with the at least one object so as to reduce an ability to recognize or identify the at least one object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the act A) comprises an act of:

generating patterns of calibrated radiation from the at least one first and second LED-based light sources so as to cause a confused image of the at least one object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the act A) comprises an act of:

A1) generating multi-colored visible calibrated radiation from the at least one first and second LED-based light sources so as to cause the at least one object to significantly blend with the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the act A1) comprises an act of:

generating the multi-colored visible calibrated radiation from the at least one first and second LED-based light sources so as to cause the at least one object to significantly simulate the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the act A1) comprises an act of:

generating time-varying multi-colored visible calibrated radiation from the at least one first and second LED-based light sources so as to cause the at least one object to significantly blend with the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the act A) comprises acts of:

A1) monitoring at least one detectable condition associated with the at least one object; and

A2) controlling the at least one first and second LED-based light sources based at least in part on the monitored at least one detectable condition so as to reduce the ability to recognize or identify the at least one object.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the act A1) comprises an act of:

acquiring information regarding the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the act A2) comprises an act of:

A3) controlling the at least one first and second LED-based light sources based at least in part on the acquired information so as to reduce the ability to recognize or identify the at least one object.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the act A3) comprises an act of:

generating multi-colored visible calibrated radiation from the at least one first and second LED-based light sources so as to cause the at least one object to significantly blend with the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the act A3) comprises an act of:

generating multi-colored visible calibrated radiation from the at least one first and second LED-based light sources so as to cause the at least one object to significantly simulate the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the act A3) comprises an act of:

generating time-varying multi-colored visible calibrated radiation from the at least one first and second LED-based light sources so as to cause the at least one object to significantly blend with the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

33. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing at least one detectable condition associated with the at least one first and second LED-based light sources, and wherein the act A) comprises generating the calibrated radiation based at least in part on the at least one detectable condition.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one object; and

at least one first LED-based light source and at least one second LED-based light source associated at least with the at least one object and configured to generate calibrated radiation so as to reduce an ability to recognize or identify the at least one object;

wherein the calibrated radiation generated by the at least one first and second LED-based lighting units is based, at least in part, on at least one first calibration value derived from a first light output of the at least one first LED-based light source and at least one second calibration value derived from a second light output of the at least one second LED-based light source.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one object includes at least one clothing garment.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one object includes at least one accessory configured to be affixed to a human.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one first and second LED-based light sources are configured to generate patterns of calibrated radiation so as to cause a confused image of the at least one object.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one first and second LED-based light sources are configured to generate multi-colored visible calibrated radiation so as to cause the at least one object to significantly blend with the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one first and second LED-based light sources are configured to generate the multi-colored visible calibrated radiation so as to cause the at least one object to significantly simulate the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one first and second LED-based light sources are configured to generate time-varying multi-colored visible calibrated radiation so as to cause the at least one object to significantly blend with the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising at least one sensor to monitor at least one detectable condition associated with the at least one object, wherein the apparatus is configured to control the at least one first and second LED-based light sources based at least in part on the monitored at least one detectable condition so as to reduce the ability to recognize or identify the at least one object.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one image capture system.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to acquire information regarding the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the apparatus is configured to control the at least one first and second LED-based light sources based at least in part on the acquired information so as to reduce the ability to recognize or identify the at least one object.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparatus is configured to control the at least one first and second LED-based light sources to generate multi-colored visible calibrated radiation based on the acquired information so as to cause the at least one object to significantly blend with the least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparatus is configured to control the at least one first and second LED-based light sources to generate multi-colored visible calibrated radiation based on the acquired information so as to cause the at least one object to significantly simulate the least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparatus is configured to control the at least one first and second LED-based light sources to generate time-varying multi-colored visible calibrated radiation based on the acquired information so as to cause the at least one object to significantly simulate the least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

34. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one object includes at least one aircraft.

35. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one object includes at least one water craft.

36. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one object includes at least one land-based vehicle.

37. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a sensor configured to detect at least one detectable condition associated with the at least one first and second LED-based light sources, wherein the calibrated radiation is generated based at least in part on the at least one detectable condition.

26. A lighting system for camouflaging, comprising:

at least one object;

a first addressable lighting unit including at least one first LED-based light source associated with the at least one object;

at least one second addressable lighting unit including at least one second LED-based light source associated with the at least one object;

at least one sensor configured to monitor at least one detectable condition associated with the at least one object; and

at least one controller coupled to the first addressable lighting unit, the at least one second addressable lighting unit, and the at least one sensor, the at least one controller configured to process information acquired by the at least one sensor regarding the at least one detectable condition associated with the at least one object and to dynamically control the first addressable lighting unit and the at least one second addressable lighting unit via addressed data so as to generate calibrated radiation having at least one characteristic that facilitates camouflaging the at least one object;

wherein the calibrated radiation generated by the first addressable lighting unit and the at least one second addressable lighting unit is based, at least in part, on at least one first calibration value derived from a first light output of the first addressable lighting unit and at least one second calibration value derived from a second light output of the at least one second addressable lighting unit.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the lighting system is configured to generate patterns of calibrated radiation so as to cause a confused image of the at least one object.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the lighting system is configured to generate multi-colored visible calibrated radiation so as to cause the at least one object to significantly blend with the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the lighting system is configured to generate multi-colored visible calibrated radiation so as to cause the at least one object to significantly simulate the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the lighting system is configured to generate time-varying multi-colored visible calibrated radiation so as to cause the at least one object to significantly blend with the at least one object'"'"'s surroundings.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein the at least one object includes a military vehicle.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein the at least one object includes a commercial vehicle.

38. The system of claim 26, further comprising at least one further sensor configured to detect at least one detectable condition associated with at least the first addressable lighting unit and the at least one second addressable lighting unit;

wherein the calibrated radiation is generated based at least in part on the at least one detectable condition.

39. The system of claim 26, wherein the at least one object includes an aircraft.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the lighting system is disposed at least in proximity to at least one wing of the aircraft.