Covert long range positive friendly identification system
First Claim
1. A method for covertly signaling the presence of a person or object in a scene to a remote interrogation and detection unit comprising:
- receiving an electro-optical interrogator signal with a repeater device located in said scene;
validating the received interrogator signal;
generating an electro-optical repeater signal in response to the validated interrogator signal; and
transmitting the generated repeater signal from the repeater device, said transmitting comprisingcomputing an angle of transmission based on an angle of incidence of the interrogator signal;
generating transmitter orientation information based on said angle of transmission;
orienting the transmitter portion according to said transmitter orientation information; and
transmitting a repeater signal from the oriented transmitter portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention pertains to a portable repeater device for use by friendly forces in a combat theater. The repeater device includes a sensor that receives an interrogator signal, coded or un-coded, from a friendly interrogator, such as an airborne attack or search and rescue vehicle, and a transmitter that transmits a coded or uncoded beacon at a covert wavelength outside the typical night-vision spectrum back to the interrogator in response. Because the transmission wavelength of the repeater signal is covert and outside typical night-vision capabilities, the system limits the ability of enemy forces to locate friendly forces employing such signaling beacons through typical night-vision equipment.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for covertly signaling the presence of a person or object in a scene to a remote interrogation and detection unit comprising:
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receiving an electro-optical interrogator signal with a repeater device located in said scene; validating the received interrogator signal; generating an electro-optical repeater signal in response to the validated interrogator signal; and transmitting the generated repeater signal from the repeater device, said transmitting comprising computing an angle of transmission based on an angle of incidence of the interrogator signal; generating transmitter orientation information based on said angle of transmission; orienting the transmitter portion according to said transmitter orientation information; and transmitting a repeater signal from the oriented transmitter portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A repeater device in a system for covertly signaling the presence of a person or object in a scene to a remote interrogation and detection unit, said system having an interrogator signal generator that generates and emits an electro-optical interrogator signal across a scene, and a signal detector that detects an electro-optical repeater signal;
- said repeater device comprising;
a detector portion that detects said interrogator signal, said detector portion further comprising an angle detection unit to determine the angle of incidence of an interrogator signal; a validation portion that validates the detected interrogator signal; a repeater signal generator portion that generates the repeater signal in response to the interrogator signal; and a transmitter portion that covertly transmits the generated repeater signal upon validation of the detected interrogator signal, said transmitter portion comprising an electro-optical signal transmitter and an actuator to orient the transmitter based on the determined angle of incident, wherein said interrogator signal is generated by a source at least 1 mile away from said repeater device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
- said repeater device comprising;
Specification