Search and rescue using ultraviolet radiation

• US 8,253,576 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2009
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Witzel, John George, Dolgin, Benjamin P., Cotten, Steven, Brennan, Michael Andrew, Gutierrez, Jorge, Suliga, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri
• Application Number:
  US12/554,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20110057804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 340/600
• US Class Current: 340/600
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/7034 Mounting or deployment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2201/04 Emergencies

Abstract

A system for search and rescue includes a rescue beacon including a radiation source to emit radiation, at least a portion of which includes ultraviolet c-band radiation, and an ultraviolet c-band detector to detect the ultraviolet c-band radiation to enable locating of the rescue beacon.

Claims

1. A system for search and rescue, comprising:

a rescue beacon coupled to a moving body, comprising;

an omni-directional radiation source to emit radiation about the rescue beacon, at least a portion of which includes ultraviolet c-band radiation;

a one-bit ultraviolet c-band detector to detect the ultraviolet c-band radiation to enable locating of the rescue beacon; and

a stimulus generator that generates a stimulus in response to detected ultraviolet c-band radiation,

wherein the stimulus generator is one of;

a vibration generator, an audio generator, and a visual generator.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a substantial portion of the radiation is ultraviolet c-band radiation.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the radiation source is at least one of:

a light-emitting diode, and a gaseous discharge tube.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the gaseous discharge tube is Xenon or a Mercury discharge tube.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet c-band detector is an imager.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the imager renders an image to a user, the image comprising:

an ultraviolet c-band portion to represent the detected ultraviolet c-band radiation; and

a visible light portion to represent an environment of the rescue beacon.

7. A method for search and rescue, comprising:

providing a rescue beacon coupled to a moving body, comprising;

an omni-directional radiation source to emit radiation about the radiation source, at least a portion of which includes ultraviolet c-band radiation;

detecting the ultraviolet c-band radiation using one-bit ultraviolet c-band detector; and

generating a stimulus in response to detected ultraviolet c-band radiation including at least one of;

generating a vibration stimulus, generating an audio stimulus, and generating a visual stimulus.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a substantial portion of the radiation is ultraviolet c-band radiation.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the radiation source is at least one of:

a light-emitting diode, and a gaseous discharge tube.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the gaseous discharge tube is Xenon or a Mercury discharge tube.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the ultraviolet c-band detector is an imager.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

rendering an image to a user, the image comprising;

an ultraviolet c-band portion to represent the detected ultraviolet c-band radiation; and

a visible light portion to represent an environment of the rescue beacon.

13. A system for search and rescue, comprising:

a rescue beacon coupled to a moving body, comprising;

an omni-directional radiation source to emit radiation about the rescue beacon, at least a portion of which includes ultraviolet c-band radiation, wherein the radiation source is at least one of;

a light-emitting diode and a gaseous discharge tube;

an ultraviolet c-band detector to detect the ultraviolet c-band radiation to enable locating of the rescue beacon; and

a stimulus generator that generates a stimulus in response to detected ultraviolet c-band radiation,

wherein the stimulus generator is one of;

a vibration generator, an audio generator, and a visual generator.