Electromagnetic radiation source locating system

• US 8,264,409 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• 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: Miller, Gerald F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith, Jack W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mull, Fred H
• Application Number:
  US12/363,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20100194641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 342/465, 342/359, 342/357.55, 342/357.56, 342/357.52, 342/357.34
• US Class Current: 342/465
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/04 using angle measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/10 using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves determination of distance by phase measurements G01S17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/04 Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves

Abstract

An electromagnetic radiation source locating system including an electromagnetic radiation sensor including an antenna configured to detect a radiant energy transmission. A position detector is in communication with the controller and is configured to detect the position of the antenna relative to a reference coordinate system, while an orientation sensor is in communication with the controller and is configured to detect the orientation of the antenna and provide an orientation signal to the controller. A range sensor is configured to detect the distance to an aligned object in the path of a directional vector and provide a distance signal indicative thereof to the controller. An aerial vehicle may be in communication with the controller and configured to drop a marker for guiding navigators to the source of the radiant energy transmission.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic radiation source locating system comprising:

a first vehicle;

a first electromagnetic radiation receiving device configured to detect a radiant energy transmission;

a first directional antenna operably coupled to the first electromagnetic radiation receiving device;

a first support operably coupled to the first electromagnetic radiation receiving device for orienting the first directional antenna in a direction toward the radiant energy transmission;

a first position detector in communication with a controller and configured to detect a position of the first directional antenna relative to a reference coordinate system;

a first orientation detector in communication with the controller and configured to detect an orientation of the first directional antenna and provide a first directional signal indicative thereof to the controller;

a second vehicle;

a second electromagnetic radiation receiving device configured to detect the radiant energy transmission;

a second directional antenna operably coupled to the second electromagnetic radiation receiving device;

a second support operably coupled to the second electromagnetic radiation receiving device for orienting the second directional antenna in a direction toward the radiant energy transmission;

a second position detector configured to detect the position of the second directional antenna relative to the reference coordinate system;

a second orientation detector in communication with the controller and configured to detect the orientation of the second directional antenna and provide a second directional signal indicative thereof to the controller;

wherein the controller is configured to determine a second directional vector to the radiant energy transmission source, the controller including a spatial processor configured to calculate the location of the radiant energy transmission source based upon at least two different directional vectors;

a first range sensor adapted to direct a first light source along a first one of said at least two directional vectors and providing a first distance signal which is communicated to the controller; and

a second range sensor for directing a second light source along a second one of said at least two directional vectors and providing a second distance signal to the controller.

2. The electromagnetic radiation source locating system of claim 1, wherein each of the first position detector and the second position detector comprises a global positioning system receiver.

3. The electromagnetic radiation source locating system of claim 1, wherein each of the first orientation detector and the second orientation detector comprises a digital compass.

4. The electromagnetic radiation source locating system of claim 1, further comprising a first actuator configured to move the first directional antenna about at least two perpendicular axes;

and a second actuator configured to move the second directional antenna about at least two perpendicular axes.

5. An electromagnetic radiation source locating system comprising:

a first vehicle;

a first electromagnetic radiation receiving device configured to detect a radiant energy transmission;

a first directional antenna operably coupled to the first electromagnetic radiation receiving device;

a first support operably coupled to the first electromagnetic radiation receiving device for orienting the first directional antenna in a direction toward the radiant energy transmission;

a first position detector in communication with a controller and configured to detect a position of the first directional antenna relative to a reference coordinate system;

a first orientation detector in communication with the controller and configured to detect an orientation of the first directional antenna and provide a first directional signal indicative thereof to the controller;

a second vehicle;

a second electromagnetic radiation receiving device configured to detect the radiant energy transmission;

a second directional antenna operably coupled to the second electromagnetic radiation receiving device;

a second support operably coupled to the second electromagnetic radiation receiving device for orienting the second directional antenna in a direction toward the radiant energy transmission;

a second position detector configured to detect the position of the second directional antenna relative to the reference coordinate system;

a second orientation detector in communication with the controller and configured to detect the orientation of the second directional antenna and provide a directional signal indicative thereof to the controller;

wherein the controller is configured to determine a directional vector to the radiant energy transmission source, the controller including a spatial processor configured to calculate the location of the radiant energy transmission source based upon at least two different directional vectors;

a transmitter operably coupled to the controller;

an aerial vehicle in communication with the transmitter; and

a marker carried by the aerial vehicle and configured to be dropped proximate the radiant energy transmission source.

6. A method of detecting a transmission source of electromagnetic radiation, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a first directional antenna at a first location;

detecting an electromagnetic signal at the first location with the first directional antenna;

aligning the first directional antenna at the first location based upon the strength of the detected electromagnetic radiation signal;

directing a first light source from the first location in a direction of the aligned first directional antenna;

positioning a second directional antenna at a second location;

detecting the electromagnetic signal at the second location with the second directional antenna;

aligning the second directional antenna at the second location based upon the strength of the detected electromagnetic radiation signal;

directing a second light source from the second location in a direction of the aligned second directional antenna; and

calculating an expected intersection point of the first light source from the first location and the second light source from the second location.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of dropping a marker from an aerial vehicle.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of detecting an obstruction between the first or second light source and the expected intersection point.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the obstruction detecting step comprises comparing a detected distance to a calculated distance from the first or second light source to the intersection point.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the electromagnetic signal comprises a radio frequency signal.