Body mounted detector and method for detecting flash in solar blind ultraviolet spectral region

• US 8,334,770 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Gurton, Kristan Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US12/533,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20110025521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/578, 340/686.1, 250/234, 250/216, 250/330, 250/339.15, 89/11.1, 89/410.6, 89/410.8, 381/56
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/00 Defence installations; Defence devices constructional aspects see Section E, e.g. air-raid shelters E04H9/04; protective arrangements for buildings E04B1/92; extinguishing or preventing the spread of fire from, incendiary bombs A62C3/06; dynamic armour F41H5/007; ballistically deployed systems for restraining persons or animals F41H13/0006; electronic countermeasures G01S
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/00 Means of attack or defence not otherwise provided for details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/781 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/783 using amplitude comparison of signals derived from static detectors or detector systems

Abstract

A detector assembly for detecting a flash from the firing of a weapon comprising: a first support; a plurality of sensors supported by the first support for detecting light from the flash; the sensors operating to receive light in the range of ultraviolet light from approximately 100 nm to approximately 290 nm; a directional indicator for indicating the directional location of the first support; and an indicator assembly comprising at least one indicator; the at least one indicator operating to display the directional location of the flash.

Claims

1. A detector assembly for detecting a flash from the firing of a weapon comprising:

a first support;

a plurality of sensors supported by the first support for detecting light from the flash;

the sensors operating to only receive light in the Solar Blind Ultraviolet (SBUV) spectral region of the electromagnetic spectrum from approximately 100 nm to approximately 290 nm which is essentially devoid of solar radiant energy so as to minimize the effect of solar ambient radiance on sensor detection;

a directional indicator for indicating the directional location of the first support; and

an indicator assembly comprising at least one indicator;

the at least one indicator operating to display the directional location of the flash.

2. The detector assembly of claim 1 wherein the operating range of the sensors is approximately 230 nm to approximately 290 nm.

3. The detector assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensors comprise avalanche photo detectors.

4. The detector assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensors are UV avalanche photodetectors operated in the Geiger mode, and wherein the sensors provide 360 degrees of coverage.

5. The detector assembly of claim 1 wherein the first support is a helmet.

6. The detector assembly of claim 1 wherein the indicator assembly comprises a wrist mounted support with a plurality of LED indicators.

7. The detector assembly of claim 1 further including a transmitter and receiver, the transmitter being operationally connected to the plurality of sensors and directional indicator, and a receiver operationally connected to the indicator assembly;

the transmitter operating to transmit data relating to the directional location of the flash to the receiver for display by the indicator assembly.

8. The detector assembly of claim 7 wherein the transmitter and receiver utilize wireless technology.

9. The detector assembly of claim 1 wherein the directional indicator comprises a plurality of indicators which indicate the direction of the flash using polar coordinates.

10. The detector assembly of claim 1 wherein the directional indicator comprises a plurality of indicators comprising at least north, south, east and west indicators.

11. The detector assembly of claim 1 comprising a first component which is supported by head gear and a second component which is removably attached to a human body, the first component comprising the plurality of sensors and directional indicator, the second component comprising the a directional indicator for indicating the indicator assembly.

12. The detector assembly of claim 11 wherein the first component is contained within a helmet and the second component is wrist mounted.

13. The detector assembly of claim 12 wherein the second component comprises a wrist watch.

14. A device for detecting a flash from the firing of a weapon within the solar blind ultraviolet range of light comprising:

a first support;

at least one sensor supported by the first support for detecting light from the flash;

a directional indicator for indicating the directional location of the first support, the at least one sensor configured to only receive light in the Solar Blind Ultraviolet (SBUV) spectral region of the electromagnetic spectrum from approximately 100 nm to approximately 290 nm which is essentially devoid of solar radiant energy so as to minimize the effect of solar ambient radiance on sensor detection; and

an indicator assembly comprising at least one indicator;

the at least one indicator operating to display the directional location of the flash.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the device is configured to be attached to a body for carriage thereon.

16. The device of claim 14 further comprising a power source supported by the human body, the at least one sensor being powered by electrical power from the power source.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein the at least one sensor is an UV avalanche photodetectors operated in the Geiger mode.

18. The device of claim 14 further including a transmitter and receiver, the transmitter being operationally connected to the plurality of sensors and directional indicator, and a receiver operationally connected to the indicator assembly;

the transmitter operating to transmit data relating to the directional location of the flash to the receiver for display by the indicator assembly.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the transmitter and receiver utilize wireless technology.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein the operating range of the at least one sensor is approximately 230 nm to approximately 290 nm.

23. The device of claim 14 further comprising at least one spectral filter configured to block radiation received by the at least one sensor.

21. A method of detecting weapons fire using at least one sensor configured to receive light in the Solar Blind Ultraviolet (SBUV) spectral region of the electromagnetic spectrum so as to minimize the effect of solar ambient radiance on sensor detection, the method comprising;

receiving information from the at least one sensor the at least one sensor operating to only receive light in the Solar Blind Ultraviolet spectral region from approximately 100 nm to approximately 290 nm which is essentially devoid of solar radiant energy;

processing the sensor information to determine a directional orientation from which weapons fire originated;

displaying, on an indicator assembly, the directional orientation of the weapons fire.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the processing does not include receiving and/or processing of any acoustic signals corresponding to the weapons fire.