System and a method for transmission of information

• US 7,844,183 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2006
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saab AB
• Original Assignee: Saab AB
• Inventors: Axerud, Alf, Isoz, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanderpuye; Ken N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leung; Danny W
• Application Number:
  US11/425,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20100261145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,622 Days
• Field of Search: 398118-131, 398/121, 398/124, 398/125, 434/22
• US Class Current: 398/131
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/02 Light- or radiation-emitting guns ; Light- or radiation-sensitive guns; Cartridges carrying light emitting sources, e.g. laser
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2655 in which the light beam is sent from the weapon to the target
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2666 with means for selecting or varying PRF or time coding of the emitted beam
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/12 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/112 Line-of-sight transmission over an extended range

Abstract

A system for transmission of information between at least two players in a training area comprises means on a first (1) of said players for encoding light pulses and means for transmitting information in the form of such coded light pulses towards at least one second (2-4) of said players, said second player having means for receiving said light pulses and means for decoding the information thereof. Each of said players is provided with a clock, and the system comprises means for keeping said clocks synchronized. The encoding means and the decoding means are adapted to utilize data of times of transmission and receipt of said light pulses for transmitting information from the first player to the second player.

Claims

1. A system for transmission of information between at least two players in a training area, said system comprising:

an encoder arranged on a first of said players and configured to encode light pulses,

a transmitter arranged on said first player and configured to transmit information in form of the coded light pulses towards at least a second of said players,

a receiver arranged on said second player and configured to receive said light pulses,

a decoder arranged on the second player and configured to decode the information in the coded light pulses,

a clock arranged on each of said players, and

a synchronizing unit configured to periodically synchronize said clocks,

wherein the encoder encodes the light pulses by controlling the transmitter to transmit light pulses at transmission times with a relation to predetermined reference times based on the clock at the first player, wherein the first player and the second player know the predetermined reference times, and wherein the decoder is configured to decode said light pulses by using information about a time of receipt of said light pulses and said predetermined reference times based on the clock provided at the second player.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit said light pulses at said predetermined reference times, and the system further comprising:

a calculation unit arranged at said second player and configured to calculate the distance between said second player and said first player by establishing the difference between said time of receipt and a possible transmission time equal to a known predetermined reference time and utilizing the speed of light.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a member arranged on said first player and configured to, during a flight time of a simulated flying projectile fired by the first player, calculate the distance from the first player to the simulated flying projectile, wherein said encoder is adapted to control said transmitter to transmit light pulses corresponding to said simulated flying projectile at a time before said predetermined reference time corresponding to the time needed for light to travel from said first player to said simulated flying projectile, and wherein said decoder is configured to calculate the distance from said second player to said simulated flying projectile by comparing the time of receipt of said light pulse and said predetermined reference time and utilizing the speed of light.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said encoder is configured to control said transmitter to transmit information through light pulses within certain reference time intervals having a given predetermined reference start time and configured to transmit information by selecting a time distance of the time of transmission of light pulses to said reference start time of such an interval.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said encoder is configured to control said transmitter to transmit said light pulses during intervals having predetermined reference times known by said first and second players, in which said interval is built up by at least two, a first and a second, predetermined reference times, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit first and second light pulses at the predetermined reference times, and wherein said encoder is configured to select a time distance between said first and second light pulses as a carrier of information.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein each said interval has a further third predetermined reference time located between said first and second predetermined reference times, wherein said encoder is configured to control the transmitter to transmit third light pulse at said third predetermined reference time and to use a time distance between the transmission of the third light pulse with respect to that of the first and the second light pulse for transmitting information.

7. The system according to claim 2, wherein said decoder is configured to establish the difference between the time of receipt of said first light pulse and said first predetermined reference time and utilize the speed of light for calculating the distance between said second player and said first player.

8. The system according to claim 3, wherein said encoder is configured to control said transmitter to transmit said light pulses during intervals having predetermined reference start times known by said first and second players, in which a said interval is built up by at least two, a first and a second, predetermined reference times, wherein said decoder is configured to calculate the distance between said second player and said flying projectile by comparing the time of receipt of said light pulse transmitted at a time before said predetermined reference time corresponding to the time needed for light to travel from said first player to said simulated flying projectile with said first predetermined reference time for calculating the distance between said second player and said flying projectile utilizing the speed of light.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said synchronizing unit is adapted to use a satellite-based navigating system.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter comprises a laser configured to emit laser pulses.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the encoder and the transmitter are arranged on the second player and the receiver and decoder are arranged on the second player.

12. A method for transmission of information between at least two players, said method comprising:

encoding light pulses;

transmitting information in the form of such coded light pulses from a first of said players towards at least one second of said players, wherein each player is provided with a clock;

receiving said light pulses by said second player;

decoding at said second player the information of the light pulses received, periodically synchronizing said clocks provided with each player;

wherein encoding the light pulses by controlling the transmission of the light pulses to take place at transmission times with a relation to predetermined reference times based on said clock at said first player, wherein said first player and said second player know said predetermined reference times; and

wherein decoding of the light pulses received is carried out by using information about a time of receipt of said light pulses and said predetermined reference times based on said clock provided with said second player.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said light pulses are transmitted at said predetermined reference times, and wherein the distance between said second player and said first player is calculated by establishing a difference between said time of receipt and a possible time of transmission equal to a known predetermined reference time and utilizing the speed of light.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein during a flight time of a simulated flying projectile fired by the first player the distance from the first player to the simulated flying projectile is calculated, wherein said encoding takes place by controlling a transmission of light pulses corresponding to said simulated flying projectile at a time before said predetermined reference time corresponding to the time needed for light to travel from said first player to said simulated flying projectile, and wherein said decoding is carried out by calculating the distance from said second player to said simulated flying projectile by comparing the time of receipt of said light pulse and said predetermined reference time and utilizing the speed of light.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein said encoding takes place by controlling said transmission of light pulses to take place within certain reference time intervals having a given predetermined reference start time and selecting a time distance of a time of transmission of light pulses to said predetermined reference start time of such an interval for transmitting information.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein said encoding takes place by controlling said transmission of light pulses to take place during intervals having predetermined reference times known by said first and second players, in which said interval is built up by at least two, a first and a second, predetermined reference times, wherein first and second light pulses are transmitted at these predetermined reference times, and wherein said encoding takes place by selecting a time distance between said first and second light pulses as a carrier of information about for instance type of ammunition fired as a simulated flying projectile by said first player.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein, each said interval having a further third predetermined reference time located between said first and second predetermined reference times, said encoding takes place by controlling transmission of a third light pulse at said third predetermined reference time, and wherein a time distance between the transmission of the third light pulse with respect to the first and second light pulse is used for transmitting information.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein said decoding takes place by establishing the difference between the time of receipt of said first light pulse and said first predetermined reference time of said interval and utilizing the speed of light for calculating the distance between said second player and said first player.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein said encoding takes place by controlling the transmitting of said light pulses during intervals having predetermined reference start times known by said first and second players, in which said intervals are built up by at least two, a first and a second, predetermined reference times, that said decoding takes place by calculating the distance between said second player and said flying projectile by comparing the time of receipt of said light pulse transmitted at a time before said predetermined reference time corresponding to the time needed for light to travel from said first player to said simulated flying projectile with said first predetermined reference time for calculating the distance between said second player and said flying projectile utilizing the speed of light.

20. A computer program on a non-transitory computer readable medium including computer program instructions recorded on the non-transitory computer readable medium and directly loadable into the internal memory of a digital computer, when executed by the digital computer, carry out a method for transmission of information between at least two players, the method comprising:

encoding light pulses;

transmitting information in the form of such coded light pulses from a first of said players towards at least one second of said players, wherein each player˜

is provided with a clock;

receiving said light pulses by said second player;

decoding at said second player the information of the light pulses received, periodically synchronizing maintaining synchronization of said clocks provided with each player;

wherein encoding the light pulses by controlling the transmission of the light pulses to take place at transmission times with a relation to predetermined reference times known by said first and second player based on said clock at said first player, wherein said first player and said second player know said predetermined reference times; and

wherein decoding of the light pulses received is carried out by using information about a time of receipt of said light pulses and said predetermined reference times based on said clock provided with said second player.