Threat detection system
First Claim
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1. A threat detection system for use in protecting a platform from offensive projectiles, the threat detection system comprising:
- an optical detection subsystem for detecting launch of an offensive projectile, said optical detection subsystem including;
(a) an image detector array sensitive to radiation in at least one range of wavelengths within the spectrum from near-infrared to near-ultraviolet radiation;
(b) an optical arrangement for focusing on to said image detector array a substantially continuous field of view circumscribing said optical arrangement; and
(c) a processing system associated with said image detector array and configured;
(i) to derive a series of frames from said image detector array at a frame rate of at least 30 frames per second;
(ii) to process said series of frames to identify a flash event; and
(iii) to generate an output indicative of a direction in which the flash event occurred,a radar detection subsystem including a radar arrangement configured to detect approaching offensive projectiles from a range of directions substantially circumscribing the platform, anda threat verification module configured to verify the existence of an offensive projectile based upon data from both said optical detection subsystem and said radar detection subsystem.
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Abstract
An optical detection system for detecting launch of an offensive projectile. The detection system includes an image detector array, an optical arrangement for focusing on to the image detector array, and a processing system associated with the image detector array. The processing system is configured to derive a series of frames from the image detector, to process the series of frames to identify a flash event and to generate and output that indicates a direction of the flash event.
84 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A threat detection system for use in protecting a platform from offensive projectiles, the threat detection system comprising:
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an optical detection subsystem for detecting launch of an offensive projectile, said optical detection subsystem including; (a) an image detector array sensitive to radiation in at least one range of wavelengths within the spectrum from near-infrared to near-ultraviolet radiation; (b) an optical arrangement for focusing on to said image detector array a substantially continuous field of view circumscribing said optical arrangement; and (c) a processing system associated with said image detector array and configured; (i) to derive a series of frames from said image detector array at a frame rate of at least 30 frames per second; (ii) to process said series of frames to identify a flash event; and (iii) to generate an output indicative of a direction in which the flash event occurred, a radar detection subsystem including a radar arrangement configured to detect approaching offensive projectiles from a range of directions substantially circumscribing the platform, and a threat verification module configured to verify the existence of an offensive projectile based upon data from both said optical detection subsystem and said radar detection subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for protecting a platform from offensive projectiles, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) deploying an optical detection subsystem to detect flash events corresponding to the launch of offensive projectiles; (b) deploying a radar detection subsystem including a substantially panoramic radar arrangement to detect approaching offensive projectiles from a range of directions substantially circumscribing the platform; (c) verifying the existence of an offensive projectile based upon data from both said optical detection subsystem and said radar detection subsystem; and (d) on verification of the existence of an offensive projectile, actuating at least one anti-projectile countermeasure so as to neutralize or reduce the efficacy of the offensive projectile. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. An optical detection system for detecting launch of an offensive projectile, the detection system comprising:
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(a) an image detector array selected from the group consisting of;
a CCD detector and a CMOS detector;(b) an optical arrangement for focusing on to said image detector array a given field of view, said optical arrangement including a band-pass spectral filter for selectively focusing on to said image detector array incident radiation in a first band of wavelengths; (c) a processing system associated with said image detector array and configured; (i) to derive a series of frames from said image detector array at a frame rate of at least 30 frames per second; (ii) to process said series of frames to identify a flash event; and (iii) to generate an output indicative of a direction in which the flash event occurred; and (iv) a flash illumination arrangement for generating an illumination flash in at least the direction in which the flash event occurred, said illumination flash lying within said first band of wavelengths.
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Specification