Threat launch detection system and method
First Claim
1. A threat launch detection system, comprising:
- at least one temporal threat detector, each temporal threat detector including a single sensing element operable to sense radiation from various types of short-burn threats that occur within a field of view of the temporal threat detector and to generate a detection signal in response to the sensed radiation; and
a processing circuit coupled to each temporal threat detector and operable to analyze the detection signal from each temporal threat detector as a function of time to detect the occurrence of a short-burn threat within the field of view of any of the temporal threat detectors.
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Abstract
A threat launch detection system includes at least one temporal threat detector, each temporal threat detector including a single sensing element operable to sense radiation from various types of short-burn threats that occur within a field of view of the detector. The single sensing element generates a detection signal in response to the sensed radiation. A processing circuit is coupled to each temporal threat detector and is operable to analyze the detection signal from each detector as a function of time to detect the occurrence of a short-burn threat within the field of view of any of the temporal threat detectors. Each temporal threat detector may be a prism-coupled compound parabolic concentrator (PCCP).
33 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A threat launch detection system, comprising:
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at least one temporal threat detector, each temporal threat detector including a single sensing element operable to sense radiation from various types of short-burn threats that occur within a field of view of the temporal threat detector and to generate a detection signal in response to the sensed radiation; and a processing circuit coupled to each temporal threat detector and operable to analyze the detection signal from each temporal threat detector as a function of time to detect the occurrence of a short-burn threat within the field of view of any of the temporal threat detectors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A threat launch detection system, comprising:
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a plurality of temporal threat detectors, each temporal threat detector including a single sensing element operable to sense radiation from various types of short-burn threats that occur within a field of view of the detector and to generate a detection signal in response to the sensed radiation; a plurality of bias and amplification circuits, each bias and amplification circuit coupled to a corresponding temporal threat detector and operable to bias and amplify the corresponding detection signal to develop a conditioned detection signal; a multiplexing analog-to-digital converter coupled to each of the bias and amplification circuits to receive the corresponding conditioned detection signal, the converter operable to sequentially digitize each of the conditioned detection signals; a plurality of sensor arrays, each sensor array operable to capture images of threats within a field of view of the array; a fusion processing circuit coupled to the multiplexing analog-to-digital converter and the sensor arrays, the fusion processing circuit analyzing the detection signals from each temporal threat detector as a function of time to detect the occurrence of a short-burn threat within a field of view of any of the temporal threat detectors and thereafter operable to process images from one or more of the sensor arrays having fields of view that overlap the field of view of the temporal threat detector that sensed the short-burn threat, the fusion processing circuit processing the images to more precisely identify a location of the detected threat; and a countermeasure controller coupled to the fusion processing circuit, the controller operable to implement countermeasures in response to the location and type of detected threat. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of detecting and indicating detection of short-burn threats, the method comprising:
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sensing radiation within a field of view; generating a single detection signal in response to the sensed radiation; analyzing the single detection signal as a function of time; detecting from the analysis whether the single detection signal indicates a short-burn threat has occurred within the field of view; wherein analyzing the single detection signal as a function of time comprises; comparing the single detection signal to a plurality of temporal templates, each temporal template being associated with a particular type of short-burn threat; determining a short-burn threat exists when the single detection signal approximately matches one of the temporal templates; and generating a signal indicating a short-burn threat exists, the signal including parameters assigned to the short-burn threat to facilitate subsequent identification of a more precise location of the short-burn threat. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method of detecting and identifying the location of short-burn threats, comprising:
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sensing radiation within a field of view; generating a single detection signal in response to the sensed radiation; analyzing the single detection signal as a function of time; detecting from the analysis whether the single detection signal indicates a short-burn threat exists within the field of view; capturing images of the field of view being sensed; and when it is detected that a short-burn threat exists, analyzing the captured images to identify more specifically a location of the short-burn threat. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of detecting short-burn threats, comprising:
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sensing radiation within a field of view; generating a single detection signal in response to the sensed radiation; analyzing the single detection signal as a function of time; detecting from the analysis whether the single detection signal indicates a short-burn threat has occurred within the field of view; wherein analyzing the single detection signal as a function of time comprises; comparing the single detection signal to a plurality of temporal features, with unique combinations of temporal features comprising a temporal template being associated with a particular type of short-burn threat; determining a short-burn threat exists when the single detection signal approximately matches one of the temporal templates; and generating a signal indicating a short-burn threat exists.
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Specification