Modulation device for a mobile tracking device

• US 8,367,991 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2010
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• 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:
  US12/778,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20110113949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 244 31- 319, 455/1, 398/39, 398/118, 398/121, 398/125, 342 13- 20, 342/61, 342/62, 701/1, 701/36, 701/49, 250/493.1, 250/494.1, 250/495.1, 89/370.1, 89/410.1, 89/410.2, 89/410.6, 89/11.1, 235/435, 235/439, 235/454, 235/462.01, 235/462.41, 235/462.42, 356/138, 356/139.04, 356/140, 356/141.1, 356/141.2, 356/141.4
• US Class Current: 244/3.1
• 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: F41H 13/0056 for blinding or dazzling, i.e. by overstimulating the opponent's eyes or the enemy's sensor equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0062 causing structural damage to the target
• 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 2203/14 for the transfer of light or images, e.g. for video-surveillance, for television or from a computer screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/34 involving multiple cooperating jammers
• 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 3/825 by jamming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A modulation device provides optical energy to hamper the operation of a mobile tracking device. The optical energy may include multiple mobile device specific optical codes directed at the mobile tracking device in parallel.

Claims

1. A method of hampering the tracking ability of a mobile tracking device approaching an asset, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of mobile tracking device specific optical codes, each mobile tracking device specific optical code including a series of pulses of optical energy; and

propagating the plurality of mobile tracking device specific optical codes towards the mobile tracking device, at least two of the plurality of mobile tracking device specific optical codes being propagated in parallel towards the mobile tracking device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of mobile tracking device specific optical codes is configured such that when received by the mobile tracking device it causes the mobile tracking device to alter its direction of travel away from the asset.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of mobile tracking device specific optical codes includes a first mobile tracking device specific optical code and a second mobile tracking device specific optical code, the second mobile tracking device specific optical code being different from the first mobile tracking device specific optical code and the second mobile tracking device specific optical code being propagated in parallel towards the mobile tracking device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first mobile tracking device specific optical code is generated with a first semiconductor laser module at a first wavelength and the second mobile tracking device specific optical code is generated with a second semiconductor laser at a second wavelength, the second wavelength being different from the first wavelength.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of mobile tracking device specific optical codes includes a first mobile tracking device specific optical code and a second mobile tracking device specific optical code which are propagated in parallel towards the mobile tracking device, the first mobile tracking device specific optical code is generated with a first semiconductor laser module at a first wavelength and the second mobile tracking device specific optical code is generated with a second semiconductor laser at a second wavelength, the second wavelength being different from the first wavelength.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second mobile tracking device specific optical code has a different pattern than the first mobile tracking device specific optical code.

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

providing a plurality of laser modules;

associating at least one of the plurality of mobile tracking device specific optical codes with each of the plurality of laser modules; and

for each of the plurality of laser modules, generating the at least one of the plurality of mobile tracking device specific optical codes.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein for each of the plurality of laser modules the at least one of the plurality of mobile tracking device specific optical codes is stored on a memory of the laser module.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of for each of the plurality of laser modules, erasing the at least one of the plurality of mobile tracking device specific optical codes when power is cut to the laser module.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein for each of the plurality of laser modules the at least one of the plurality of mobile tracking device specific optical codes is stored on a memory external to the laser module and accessible by a controller of the laser module.

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

propagating a continuous wave of optical energy at 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 direction of travel for the mobile tracking device away from the asset.

12. A method of manufacture of an optical transmitter system of a modulation device which interacts with a mobile tracking device, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting a first laser module from a first plurality of laser modules, the first plurality of laser modules including at least a first set of laser modules which output optical energy at a first wavelength and a second set of laser modules which output optical energy at a second wavelength, the first laser module being part of one of the first set of laser modules and the second set of laser modules;

selecting a second laser module from a second plurality of laser modules, the second plurality of laser modules including at least a third set of laser modules which output optical energy at a third wavelength and a fourth set of laser modules which output optical energy at a fourth wavelength, the second laser module being part of one of the third set of laser modules and the fourth set of laser modules; and

coupling the first laser module and the second laser module to a beam control system which directs an output of the first laser module and an output of the second laser module along a first direction, the first laser module intended to generate at least a first mobile tracking device specific optical code and the second laser module intended to generate at least a second mobile tracking device specific optical code.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the first plurality of laser modules when selected is intended to generate at least the first mobile tracking device specific optical code and each of the second plurality of laser modules when selected is intended to generate at least the second mobile tracking device specific optical code.

14. An apparatus for interacting with a mobile tracking device, the apparatus comprising:

a body;

at least one propulsion device supported by the body;

a plurality of sensor modules supported by the body which monitor the environment surrounding the body;

a controller operatively connected to the plurality of sensor modules, the controller determining a presence of the mobile tracking device in the environment surrounding the body based on information collected by the plurality of sensor modules and a current location of the mobile tracking device;

a modulation system which receives the current location of the mobile tracking device from the controller, orients a tracking system of the modulation system based on the current location of the mobile tracking device, detects the mobile tracking device, updates the location of the mobile tracking device, and directs a plurality of mobile tracking device specific optical codes at the mobile tracking device, each mobile tracking device specific optical code including a series of pulses of optical energy and at least two of the plurality of mobile tracking device specific optical codes being propagated in parallel towards the mobile tracking device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of mobile tracking device specific optical codes are generated by at least two lasers, a first laser generating a first mobile tracking specific code and a second laser generating a second mobile tracking specific code, the first mobile tracking specific code and the second mobile tracking specific code being propagated in parallel towards the mobile tracking device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first laser produces optical energy of a first wavelength and the second laser produces optical energy of a second wavelength, the second wavelength being different than the first wavelength.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the modulation system includes a beam control module which controls a direction of the plurality of mobile tracking device specific optical codes based on the updated location of the mobile tracking device, the beam control module being coupled to the plurality of lasers through an optical conduit.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller continues to update the current location of the mobile tracking device until the modulation system detects the mobile tracking device, the modulation system using the updated current location to orient the tracking system.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the plurality of sensor modules have a wide field of view to survey the environment around the body and the modulation system has a narrower field of view to focus on the location of the mobile tracking device.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein a continuous wave laser is directed at the mobile tracking device after a first threshold, if the mobile tracking device is still tracking the asset.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first threshold is a time value.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first threshold is a distance value.

23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the modulation system includes a beam control module which controls a direction of the plurality of mobile tracking device specific optical codes based on the updated location of the mobile tracking device.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the plurality of mobile tracking device specific optical codes are provided until the beam control module has caused the direction of the continuous beam of optical energy to move by a predetermined threshold amount.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the predetermined threshold amount is three degrees.

26. An apparatus for use with an asset and for interacting with a mobile tracking device, the apparatus comprising:

a pod configured to be attached to the asset, the pod including an optical window;

a plurality of lasers positioned within the pod; and

a battery source operatively coupled to the plurality of lasers and positioned within the pod, the battery source providing power to the plurality of lasers to produce a plurality of mobile tracking device specific optical codes, each mobile tracking device specific optical code including a series of pulses of optical energy and at least two of the plurality of mobile tracking device specific optical codes being propagated in parallel towards the mobile tracking device.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the pod includes a rotatable head having an optical window through which the plurality of mobile tracking device specific optical codes exits the pod.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a battery charger positioned within the pod and coupled to a power source of the asset, the battery charger charging the battery source when the asset is operating in a low power mode.