Remotely delivered, self-deployed multi-function sensor

• US 7,400,357 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2004
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Government of the United States of America
• Original Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Inventors: Hambric, Harry N., Jennings, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye; Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lam; Hung H
• Application Number:
  US11/008,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20060125953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 348/373, 348/143, 348/82
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

The present invention is an encapsulated sensor suite that deploys remotely. After deployment, an imager in the sensor suite is raised by a variety of means and is capable of being turned by a motor that locks on to sounds coming from a potential target. The motor is actuated by three microphones that when used in concert, point the imager to the direction of the sound'"'"'s origination. The imager is also activated by a seismic detector which is deployed at the base of the encapsulation. The encapsulation may be righted by soft to hard metal contacts that release the hard metal with sufficient force to flip the sensor to the correct side for deployment.

Claims

1. A self deployed sensor comprising:

an outer compartment having a top and a bottom;

an extendable, rotatable arm that can be stored in and connected to the outer compartment;

an imaging sensor disposed on the extendable arm such that when the extendable arm is extended the imaging sensor has a predetermined position relative to the earth, the imaging sensor also being capable of being stored in the outer compartment;

a self righting spring disposed on the top of the outer compartment, wherein the self righting spring deploys through a soft/hard metal contact that self releases; and

a plurality of self righting arms jointed at the bottom of the outer compartment and each fixed with a spring and soft/hard metal contact such that when the soft/hard metal contact is broken the spring pushes on the self righting arm to force the outer compartment onto its bottom.

2. The self deployed sensor of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of microphones for acoustic sensing mounted inside the outer compartment, wherein the microphones provide an alert mechanism to warn of target approaches, and by comparing voltage inputs from the microphones the direction of a target is established.

3. The self deployed sensor of claim 2 with holes drilled in the outer compartment walls to allow sound to enter the outer compartment.

4. The self deployed sensor of claim 2 further comprising means for rotating the extendable arm to align the extendable arm with the target.

5. The self deployed sensor of claim 4 wherein the rotating means is a motor wherein energy derived from the electrical current produced by the microphones is compared in such a manner that one microphone serves as a base data receiver and is positioned to zero or 180 degrees to the imaging sensor and the energy from the other microphones is rapidly compared in such a manner that the electrical current flow direction is reversed so that it changes the direction of rotation of the motor'"'"'s rotation.

6. The self deployed sensor of claim 5 farther comprising a seismic sensor disposed at the bottom of the outer compartment wherein the seismic sensor is a discriminator programmed to act on or not act on a specific seismic input.

7. The self deployed sensor of claim 5 wherein the extendable arm is a folded arm that uses springs to deploy the extendable arm in an upright manner.

8. The the self deployed sensor of claim 5 wherein the extendable arm is comprised of at least two metal tapes that can vertically unwind in unison.

9. The self deployed sensor of claim 5 wherein the extendable arm acts as an antenna for sending signals to and from the imaging sensor and microphones.

19. The self deployed sensor of claim 1 wherein the extendable arm is a folded arm that uses springs to deploy the extendable arm in an upright manner.

20. The self deployed sensor of claim 1 wherein the extendable arm is comprised of at least two metal tapes that can vertically unwind in unison.

10. A method of manufacturing a self deployed sensor comprising the steps of:

providing an outer compartment having a top and a bottom;

providing an extendable, rotatable arm that can be stored in and connected to the outer compartment;

disposing an imaging sensor on the extendable arm such that when the extendable arm is extended the imaging sensor has a predetermined position relative to the earth, the imaging sensor also being capable of being stored in the outer compartment;

disposing a self righting spring on the top of the outer compartment, wherein the self righting spring deploys through a soft/hard metal contact that self releases; and

disposing a plurality of self righting arms so that the arms are jointed at the bottom of the outer compartment and each arm is fixed with a spring and soft/hard metal contact such that when the soft/hard metal contact is broken the spring pushes on the self righting arm to force the outer compartment onto its bottom.

11. The method of claim 10 further including the step of mounting a plurality of microphones for acoustic sensing inside the outer compartment, wherein the microphones provide an alert mechanism to warn of target approaches, and by comparing voltage inputs from the microphones the direction of a target is established.

12. The method of claim 11 including the step of drilling a plurality of holes in the outer compartment walls to allow sound to enter the outer compartment.

13. The method of claim 11 further including the step of providing means for rotating the extendable arm to align the extendable arm with the target.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the rotating means is a motor and including the steps of deriving energy from the electrical current produced by the microphones, comparing the energy in such a manner that one microphone serves as a base data receiver and is positioned to zero or 180 degrees to the imaging sensor, and rapidly comparing the energy from the other microphones in such a manner that the electrical current flow direction is reversed so that it changes the direction of rotation of the motor'"'"'s rotation.

15. The method of claim 14 including the step of disposing a seismic sensor at the bottom of the outer compartment wherein the seismic sensor is a discriminator programmed to act on or not act on a specific seismic input.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the extendable arm is a folded arm, and including the step of using springs to deploy the extendable arm in an upright manner.

17. The method of claim 15 including the step of composing the extendable arm of at least two metal tapes that can vertically unwind in unison.

18. The method of claim 15 including the step of sending signals to and from the imaging sensor and microphones with the extendable arm acting as an antenna.