Threat detection system interface

• US 7,132,928 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nicholas V. Perricone
• Original Assignee: Nicholas V. Perricone
• Inventors: Perricone, Nicholas V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SON M
• Application Number:
  US10/706,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20050073439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.1, 340/961, 340/965, 340/7.6, 701/301
• US Class Current: 340/407.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/021 Auxiliary means for detecting or identifying radar signals or the like, e.g. radar jamming signals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

A threat detection system interface that provides translates threat diction information into a tactile signal for a user to indicate the direction and distance of an identified threat relative to an object. The threat detection system interface having applications for use with military vehicles, and in particular military aircraft, but also having application in connection with flight training simulators, computer and/or video games.

Claims

1. A threat detection interface system for providing an alert to an operator of a vehicle relating to a threat identified by a threat detection system comprising:

a control interface coupled to the threat detection system for resolving a threat detection signal;

a plurality of vibratory units in tactile communication with the operator, said plurality of vibratory units being coupled to said control interface; and

a control signal generated by said control interface for controlling said plurality of vibratory units based upon a determined direction and distance of the identified threat relative to the vehicle;

wherein the plurality of vibratory units indicate a three-dimensional location of the identified threat relative to the vehicle wherein said plurality of vibratory units is distributed on the operator'"'"'s torso, head and legs.

2. The detection interface system according to claim 1 wherein the control signal activates a selected vibratory unit based upon the direction of the identified threat relative to the vehicle.

3. The detection interface system according to claim 1 wherein the control signal modulates a selected vibratory unit based upon the distance of the identified threat relative to the vehicle.

4. The detection interface system according to claim 1 wherein the control signal selectively activates and modulates multiple vibratory units based upon the direction and distance respectively, of multiple identified threats relative to the vehicle.

5. The detection interface system according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of vibratory units is located in a harness worn by the operator.

6. The detection interface system according to claim 5 wherein the harness is integral to an article worn by the operator.

7. The detection interface system according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of vibratory units is distributed on the operator'"'"'s back.

8. A threat detection interface system for providing an alert signal to a user, the alert signal relating to an identified threat relative to an identified position of an vehicle, the system comprising:

a plurality of vibratory units selectively located to be in tactile communication with the user; and

a control interface coupled to said plurality of vibratory units, said control interface generating a control signal based upon the identified threat, the control signal controlling said plurality of vibratory units based on a determined direction and distance of the identified threat relative to the vehicle;

wherein the plurality of vibratory units indicate a three-dimensional location of the identified threat relative to the vehicle;

wherein said plurality of vibratory units is distributed around the operator'"'"'s torso.

9. The detection interface system according to claim 8 wherein the control signal activates a selected vibratory unit based upon the direction of the identified threat relative to the vehicle.

10. The detection interface system according to claim 8 wherein the control signal modulates a selected vibratory unit based upon the distance of the identified threat relative to the vehicle.

11. The detection interface system according to claim 8 wherein the control signal activates and modulates selected multiple vibratory units based upon the direction and distance respectively, of multiple identified threats relative to the vehicle.

12. The detection interface system according to claim 8 wherein the plurality of vibratory units is located in a seating device utilized by the user.

13. The detection interface system according to claim 8 wherein said plurality of vibratory units is located in a harness worn by the user.

14. A method of indicating to a user the location of an identified threat relative to a position of an vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting information into a control interface relating to a distance and direction of the identified threat relative to the position of the vehicle;

generating a control signal corresponding to the received information to control at least one of a plurality of vibratory units in tactile communication with the user; and

outputting the control signal to the selected vibratory unit to indicate to the user the distance and direction of the identified threat relative to the position of the vehicle;

wherein the plurality of vibratory units indicate a three-dimensional location of the identified threat relative to the vehicle;

wherein said plurality of vibratory units is distributed around the operator'"'"'s torso.

15. The method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of activating a selected vibratory unit with the control signal based on an identified direction of the identified threat relative to the position of the vehicle.

16. The method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of modulating a selected vibratory unit based on an identified distance of the identified threat relative to the position of the vehicle.

17. The method according to claim 14 wherein the plurality of vibratory units is located in a harness worn by the user.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the harness is integral to an article worn by the user.

19. A wearable threat alerting system, comprising:

a plurality of vibratory elements;

means for positioning said vibratory elements against a body of a person;

means for receiving threat distance and direction information from a threat detection system and mapping the threat distance and direction information to said plurality of vibratory elements such that a position distance and direction of a threat relative to an vehicle is mapped to one or more of said plurality of vibratory elements;

means for energizing said plurality of vibratory elements when the threat distance and direction information is mapped to said plurality of vibratory elements to provide a threat detection signal that indicates to the person the distance and direction of the threat relative to the person wherein the plurality of vibratory units indicate a three-dimensional location of the identified threat relative to the vehicle;

wherein said plurality of vibratory units is distributed around the operator'"'"'s torso.

20. The wearable threat alerting system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said threat detection system is selected from the group consisting of:

a RADAR system, an infrared system, an acoustic system, a vision system, and combinations thereof.

21. The wearable threat alerting system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said means for positioning comprises a flexible material positioned against the user'"'"'s back.

22. The wearable threat alerting system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said means for positioning comprises a garment.

23. The wearable threat alerting system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said means for positioning comprises a vest surrounding the user'"'"'s torso.

24. The wearable threat alerting system in accordance with claim 19 wherein the position of a threat is mapped to one or more vibratory elements positioned in or near an axis extending from said body of the user to the threat.

25. The wearable threat alerting system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said plurality of vibratory elements have a variable vibration frequency, and the wearable threat alerting system further includes means for energizing said plurality of vibratory elements at a selected vibration frequency depending on the distance from the threat to the vehicle.

26. The wearable threat alerting system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said plurality of vibratory elements have a fixed vibration frequency, and the wearable threat alerting system further includes means for energizing said plurality of vibratory elements in pulses of variable duration, with the duration of the pulse depending on the distance from the threat to the vehicle.