Countermeasure method for a mobile tracking device

• US 8,212,709 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2009
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Bradley, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): GREGORY, BERNARR E
• Application Number:
  US12/549,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20110036999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 455/1, 89/11.1, 244/1.R, 244/118.2, 244/129.1, 244/137.4, 244 31- 319, 342 13- 20, 342 52- 56, 342/59, 342 61- 68, 342 73- 81, 342/175, 701/1, 701/3, 250/200, 250/206, 2502061-2063, 250/330, 2504931-504 H, 356/3, 356/4.01, 356/27, 356/28, 356/138, 356/139.04
• US Class Current: 342/14
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/224 Deceiving or protecting means jamming or anti-jamming of radio-wave systems in general G01S7/36, G01S7/38; defense installations in general F41H11/02; chaff dispensers F42B12/70
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/782 Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/495 Counter-measures or counter-counter-measures using electronic or electro-optical means
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/067 Fibre lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/42 characterized by the control of the jamming frequency or wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/43 characterized by the control of the jamming power, signal-to-noise ratio or geographic coverage area
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/45 characterized by including monitoring of the target or target signal, e.g. in reactive jammers or follower jammers for example by means of an alternation of jamming phases and monitoring phases, called "look-through mode"
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/62 by exposing communication, processing or storing systems to electromagnetic wave radiation, e.g. causing disturbance, disruption or damage of electronic circuits, or causing external injection of faults in the information
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/825 by jamming

Abstract

A countermeasure method for directing a mobile tracking device away from an asset is provided. The countermeasure method includes directing the output of a continuous wave laser source at a seeker head of the mobile tracking device. The countermeasure method causes the generation of localized sources within the mobile tracking device and confuses the mobile tracking device as to the true location of the asset.

Claims

1. A method for keeping a mobile tracking device away from an asset, the mobile tracking device having a seeker head which is directed at an asset due to the infrared energy radiated by the asset, the method comprising the steps of:

directing an output of a continuous wave laser at the seeker head along a first direction of travel of the mobile tracking device, the output of the continuous wave laser being infrared energy; and

propagating the infrared energy from the continuous wave laser into the seeker head of the mobile tracking device to generate at least one localized source within the mobile tracking device and within a field of view of the mobile tracking device which indicates a second direction of travel for the mobile tracking device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

altering the direction of the output of the continuous wave laser such that the output of the continuous wave laser continues to be directed at the seeker head of the mobile tracking device which is traveling in the second direction; and

propagating the infrared energy from the continuous wave laser into the seeker head of the mobile tracking device to generate at least one localized source within the mobile tracking device and within the field of view of the mobile tracking device which indicates a third direction of travel for the mobile tracking device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

sensing when the direction of the output of the continuous wave laser has changed by a threshold amount; and

deactivating the continuous wave laser in response to the direction of the output of the continuous wave laser being changed by a threshold amount.

4. A method for keeping a mobile tracking device away from an asset, the mobile tracking device having a seeker head which is directed at an asset due to the infrared energy radiated by the asset, the method comprising the steps of:

activating a continuous wave laser;

directing a beam of infrared energy from the continuous wave laser at the mobile tracking device, wherein the beam of infrared energy causes the mobile tracking device to explode in a first separation band;

causes components of the mobile tracking device to become inoperative in a second separation band, the second separation band corresponding to distances longer than first separation band; and

causes localized internal sources within the seeker head which cause the mobile tracking device to alter its direction of travel away from the asset in a third separation band, the third separation band corresponding to distances longer than the second separation band.

5. A method for keeping a mobile tracking device away from an asset, the mobile tracking device having a seeker head which is directed at an asset due to the infrared energy radiated by the asset, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting the location of a mobile tracking device with a first detection system having a wide field of view;

passing the coordinates of the mobile tracking device to a second detection system having a narrow field of view;

continuing to monitor the location of the mobile tracking device with the first tracking system until the second tracking system locks onto the position of the mobile tracking device; and

directing optical energy from a continuous wave laser at the mobile tracking device, the optical energy causing the mobile tracking device to alter its direction of travel.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of directing optical energy from the continuous wave laser at the mobile tracking device is in response to the second tracking system locking onto the position of the mobile tracking device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of directing optical energy from the continuous wave laser at the mobile tracking device is in response to a user input being set to enable the continuous wave laser.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

adjusting a direction of the optical energy based on an updated position of the mobile tracking device until the direction of the optical energy exceeds a threshold deviation from an initial direction of the optical energy; and

deactivating the continuous wave laser when the direction of the optical energy exceeds the threshold deviation.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of powering the continuous wave laser with a battery source.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

coupling the first detection system to an asset;

coupling the second detection system to a pod containing the continuous wave laser and the battery source; and

coupling the pod to the asset.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

coupling the battery source to a power source of the asset; and

charging the battery source when the asset is operating in a low power mode.

12. The method of claim 5, comprising the step of:

determining a distance from the second detection system to the mobile tracking device; and

focusing the optical energy from the continuous wave laser at a distance less than the determined distance from the second detection system to the mobile tracking device.