Safeguard system for ensuring device operation in conformance with governing laws

• US 7,921,588 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2007
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Gallivan, James R., Brown, Kenneth W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chambers; Troy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abdosh; Samir
• Application Number:
  US11/678,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20100269674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 42/700.1, 421/44, 42/701.1, 89/11.1, 89/410.1, 89/410.3, 89/410.5, 89/410.6, 89/410.7, 89/400.3
• US Class Current: 42/70.01
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0068 the high-energy beam being of microwave type, e.g. for causing a heating effect in the target
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/00 Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives

Abstract

A safeguard system ensures device operation in conformance with governing laws for devices such as directed energy weapons or surveillance systems, whose misuse may discomfort, harm or otherwise violate the legal rights of a person. A legal protocol is defined by rules embodying the laws that govern the use of the device and requires as inputs an authorization to use the device and input condition(s) relating to at least one of a use of the device, an attribute of a human target of the device and an operational environment of the device and human target. The safeguard system applies the rules to the authorization and input condition(s) to generate a control signal that ensures the device is used in conformance with the legal protocol. A documentation system records the authorization, input condition(s) applied rules, and control signal.

Claims

1. A non-lethal directed energy weapons system, comprising:

a directed energy weapon adapted to transmit a directed energy beam to illuminate human targets; and

a safeguard system that controls the weapon according to a legal protocol, said legal protocol defined by rules of engagement that embody the laws governing the use of the weapon, said safeguard system applying the rules of engagement to a requested use and a received authorization to use the weapon to determine whether the requested use is authorized and applying the rules of engagement to a sensed input condition relating to an attribute of the human target to determine whether the requested use of the weapon is legally justified to generate a control signal that fires the weapon in conformance with the legal protocol wherein said safeguard system includes an authorization system for authorizing an operator to use the weapon, said authorization including the operator'"'"'s identifying information and a multi-valued authorization level that gives certain operators greater authorization to use the weapon than others, said authorization level authorizing zones of use and power levels of the weapon for the operator, said safeguard system determining whether the weapon is located in an authorized zone of use and whether the requested power level is legally justified.

2. The non-lethal directed energy weapons system of 1, wherein said received authorization is a multi-valued authorization that in part determines which rules apply.

3. The non-lethal directed energy weapons system of 1, wherein said received authorization includes a chain of at least two authorized personnel including the operator to use the device.

4. A non-lethal directed energy weapons system, comprising:

a directed energy weapon adapted to transmit a directed energy beam to illuminate human targets; and

a safeguard system that controls the weapon according to a legal protocol, said legal protocol defined by rules of engagement that embody the laws governing the use of the weapon, said safeguard system applying the rules of engagement to a requested use and a received authorization to use the weapon to determine whether the requested use is authorized and applying the rules of engagement to a sensed input condition relating to an attribute of the human target to determine whether the requested use of the weapon is legally justified to generate a control signal that fires the weapon in conformance with the legal protocol, wherein said sensed input condition measures the IR signatures for a plurality of human targets of the directed energy beam, said safeguard system discriminating those targets that have and have not been exposed to the beam and directing the beam towards targets that have not been previously exposed.

5. A non-lethal directed energy weapons system, comprising:

a directed energy weapon adapted to transmit a directed energy beam to illuminate human targets; and

a safeguard system that controls the weapon according to a legal protocol, said legal protocol defined by rules of engagement that embody the laws governing the use of the weapon, said safeguard system applying the rules of engagement to a requested use and a received authorization to use the weapon to determine whether the requested use is authorized and applying the rules of engagement to a sensed input condition relating to an attribute of the human target to determine whether the requested use of the weapon is legally justified to generate a control signal that fires the weapon in conformance with the legal protocol, wherein said sensed input conditions provide the location of targets within a zone of use and motion of targets towards or away from a protected area, said safeguard system directing the beam towards targets in the zone of use moving towards the protected area.

6. A non-lethal directed energy weapons system, comprising:

a directed energy weapon adapted to transmit a directed energy beam to illuminate human targets; and

a safeguard system that controls the weapon according to a legal protocol, said legal protocol defined by rules of engagement that embody the laws governing the use of the weapon, wherein said rules require a sensed input condition related to the operational environment, said input condition being at least one of a location of the weapon, a zone of use for the weapon, a time of requested use, a movement of the device or a threat level, said safeguard system applying the rules of engagement to a requested use, a received authorization to use the weapon and a sensed input condition related to the operational environment to determine whether the requested use is authorized and applying the rules of engagement to a sensed input condition relating to an attribute of the human target to determine whether the requested use of the weapon is legally justified to generate a control signal that fires the weapon in conformance with the legal protocol.

7. A non-lethal directed energy weapons system, comprising:

a directed energy weapon adapted to transmit a directed energy beam to illuminate human targets; and

a safeguard system that controls the weapon according to a legal protocol, said legal protocol defined by rules of engagement that embody the laws governing the use of the weapon, said safeguard system applying the rules of engagement to a requested use and a received authorization to use the weapon to determine whether the requested use is authorized and applying the rules of engagement to a sensed input condition relating to an attribute of the human target to determine whether the requested use of the weapon is legally justified to generate a control signal that fires the weapon in conformance with the legal protocol, wherein said rules specify a geographic zone of use and require sensed input conditions that provide the location of the weapon and its zone of use, said safeguard system determining whether the weapon'"'"'s zone of use conforms to the specified geographic zone of use.

8. A non-lethal directed energy weapons system, comprising:

a directed energy weapon adapted to transmit a directed energy beam to illuminate human targets; and

a safeguard system that controls the weapon according to a legal protocol, said legal protocol defined by rules of engagement that embody the laws governing the use of the weapon, said safeguard system applying the rules of engagement to a requested use and a received authorization to use the weapon to determine whether the requested use is authorized and applying the rules of engagement to a sensed input condition relating to an attribute of the human target to determine whether the requested use of the weapon is legally justified to generate a control signal that fires the weapon in conformance with the legal protocol, wherein said safeguard system issues the control signal to configure the directed energy weapon to emit a directed energy beam that conforms to the legal protocol.

9. A non-lethal directed energy weapons system, comprising:

a directed energy weapon adapted to transmit a directed energy beam to illuminate human targets; and

a safeguard system that controls the weapon according to a legal protocol, said legal protocol defined by rules of engagement that embody the laws governing the use of the weapon, said safeguard system applying the rules of engagement to a requested use and a received authorization to use the weapon to determine whether the requested use is authorized and applying the rules of engagement to a sensed input condition relating to an attribute of the human target to determine whether the requested use of the weapon is legally justified to generate a control signal that fires the weapon in conformance with the legal protocol, wherein said safeguard system includes a documentation system that documents the requested use, authorization, sensed input condition, applied rules and control signal.

10. The non-lethal directed energy weapons system of claim 9, wherein the safeguard system receives a sensed input condition relating to an effect on the human target caused by exposure to the directed energy beam, said documentation system documenting said effect.

11. The non-lethal directed energy weapons system of claim 9, further comprising means for communicating the documentation to a remote location.

12. A non-lethal directed energy weapons system, comprising:

a directed energy weapon adapted to transmit a directed energy beam to illuminate human targets; and

a safeguard system that controls the weapon according to a legal protocol, said legal protocol defined by rules of engagement that embody the laws governing the use of the weapon, said safeguard system applying the rules of engagement to a requested use and location of the weapon to determine whether the weapon is located in an authorized zone of use and applying the rules of engagement to a sensed input condition relating to an attribute of the human target to determine whether the requested use of the weapon is legally justified to generate a control signal that fires the weapon in conformance with the legal protocol.

13. A non-lethal directed energy weapons system, comprising:

a directed energy weapon adapted to transmit a directed energy beam to illuminate human targets; and

a safeguard system that controls the weapon according to a legal protocol, said legal protocol defined by rules of engagement that embody the laws governing the use of the weapon, said safeguard system comprising an authorization system for authorizing an operator to use the weapon, said authorization including the operator'"'"'s identifying information and a multi-valued authorization level that gives certain operators greater authorization to use the weapon than others, said authorization level authorizing zones of use and power levels of the weapon for the operator, said safeguard system applying the rules of engagement to a requested use and the operator authorization to determine whether the requested use of the weapon at location and power levels are authorized and applying the rules of engagement to a sensed input condition relating to an attribute of the human target to determine whether the requested use of the weapon is legally justified to generate a control signal that fires the weapon in conformance with the legal protocol.

14. A non-lethal directed energy weapons system, comprising:

a directed energy weapon adapted to transmit a directed energy beam to illuminate human targets; and

a safeguard system that controls the weapon according to a legal protocol, said legal protocol defined by rules of engagement that embody the laws governing the use of the weapon, said safeguard system applying the rules of engagement to a sensed input condition relating to an attribute of the human target to determine whether a requested use of the weapon is legally justified to generate a control signal that fires the weapon in conformance with the legal protocol, said safeguard system comprising a documentation system that for each requested use documents the requested use, the sensed input condition relating to an attribute of the human target, the applied rules and control signal.

18. The non-lethal directed energy weapons system of claim 14, wherein said rules require an identify friend or foe (IFF) to fire the weapon.

19. The non-lethal directed energy weapons system of claim 14, wherein said rules allow for the weapon to be fired at a limited energy for a limited number of shots prior to receiving authorization or the sensed input condition.

20. The non-lethal directed energy weapons system of claim 14, wherein said safeguard system generates the control signal that either enables the device for the requested use or disables the device.

21. The non-lethal directed energy weapons system of claim 20, wherein said requested use includes a desired effect on target.

22. The non-lethal directed energy weapons system of claim 14, further comprising rules for detecting tampering and for taking remedial action.

23. The non-lethal directed energy weapons system of claim 14, wherein the directed energy weapon and safeguard system are mounted on a vehicle.

15. The non-lethal directed energy weapons system of 14, wherein the safeguard system applies the rules to the authorization and sensed condition for each requested use of the weapon.

16. The non-lethal directed energy weapons system of 14, wherein said sensed input condition being an attribute of the human target selected from at least one of a location, movement, persistence, identity, physical condition or an effect of the past use of the weapon on the human target.

17. The non-lethal directed energy weapons system of 14, wherein said sensed input condition measures an IR signature of the human targets of the directed energy beam.

24. A non-lethal directed energy weapons system, comprising:

a directed energy weapon adapted to transmit a directed energy beam to illuminate human targets; and

a safeguard system that controls the weapon according to a legal protocol, said legal protocol defined by rules of engagement that embody the laws governing the use of the weapon, said safeguard system applying the rules of engagement to a requested use, a sensed location of the weapon and a received authorization to determine whether the requested use is authorized and whether the weapon is located in an authorized zone of use and applying the rules of engagement to a sensed input condition relating to an attribute of the human target to determine whether the requested use of the weapon is legally justified to generate a control signal that fires the weapon in conformance with the legal protocol, said safeguard system comprising a documentation system that for each requested use documents the requested use, the authorization, the sensed input condition relating to an attribute of the human target, the sensed location of the weapon, the applied rules and control signal.