Aerially deployed illumination system

• US 8,434,920 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2011
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth R. Jones
• Original Assignee: Kenneth R. Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Kenneth R
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US13/211,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20120044710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 362/470, 362/233, 362/85, 382/103
• US Class Current: 362/470
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/18 for dropping bombs; for firing ammunition
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/42 of illuminating type, e.g. carrying flares
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target

Abstract

An aerially deployed illumination system is provided which may be remotely operated or preprogrammed to illuminate a designated target, such as a geographic area, vehicle, or personnel. In particular, a remotely controlled UAV having an illumination system disposed thereon is provided, the illumination system comprised of a concentrated light source and light movement apparatus operable to rapidly scan the target with the light source, thereby providing an illusion of a large area of illumination. Preferably, a line is created from the light source, the line being rapidly moved over the target in specific patterns and at specific frequencies. The system may further include a plurality of UAV'"'"'s capable of ad hoc networking, so as to illuminate both large areas, as well as stationary and moving targets. In addition, the UAV'"'"'s having an illumination system disposed thereon may be disposed within a projectile, the projectile tube or gun launched, and the UAV ejected from the projectile over a designated target, thereby enabling quick delivery of the UAV to an area of interest.

Claims

1. An aerially deployed illumination system comprising:

(a) an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV);

(b) a central microprocessor disposed on the UAV;

(c) a wireless communication means disposed on the UAV, and in communication with the central microprocessor;

(d) a geographic location and positioning device in communication with the central microprocessor; and

(e) an illumination system in communication with the central microprocessor, said illumination system comprised of;

(i) a collimated light source; and

(ii) an illumination control device in communication with the collimated light source, said illumination control device operable to control the intensity and orientation of the collimated light source.

2. The aerial illumination system of claim 1, further comprising:

computer application program product operable to run on the central microprocessor, alone or in conjunction with a conventional operating system, comprising;

(i) mission sequence computer application program code operable to enable reception (input) of a mission sequence, said mission sequence comprised of two or more mission components selected from altitude, vector, time in flight, illumination target identification, illumination target location, illumination intensity, and illumination characteristic; and

(ii) mission execution computer application program code operable to control operation of the UAV'"'"'s flight control system and illumination system, so as to implement the mission sequence.

3. The aerial illumination system of claim 1, further comprising:

a system user control and tracking station comprised of;

a microprocessor,

a wireless communication device in communication with the microprocessor, and

command computer application program code operable to enable transmission (output) of a mission sequence, said mission sequence comprised of two or more mission components selected from altitude, vector, time in flight, illumination target identification, illumination target location, illumination intensity, and illumination characteristic.

4. The aerial illumination system of claim 3, further comprising:

a GPS (geographic positioning system) receiver in communication with the microprocessor of the system user control and tracking station,

wherein the system user control and tracking station is mobile.

5. The aerial illumination system of claim 4, further comprising

computer application program code operable to determine the location of the system user control and tracking station relative to the UAV,

computer application program code operable to receive a command from a user regarding desired location of the UAV relative to the system user control and tracking station, and

computer application program code operable to enable transmission of a mission sequence to the UAV, said mission sequence comprising location of the UAV relative to the system user control and tracking station.

6. The aerial illumination system of claim 1, wherein the collimated light source is comprised of one or more of a visible laser, and IR (infrared) laser.

7. The aerial illumination system of claim 1, wherein the illumination control device is comprised of one or more of a line image generating apparatus, a light source and light source movement apparatus (such as a mirror galvanometer) comprised of one or more of movable mirrors, a spinning line generator, and DLP®

.

8. The aerial illumination system of claim 1, further comprising a projectile, wherein the UAV is disposed within the projectile, so as to be operable to be tube or gun launchable.

9. A tube or gun launchable aerial illumination system, comprising:

(a) a projectile;

(b) a drag increasing device disposed on and/within the projectile, said drag increasing device operable to slow drop rate and increase loiter time over a target; and

(c) an illumination system in communication with the drag increasing device, said illumination system comprised of;

(i) a collimated light source; and

(ii) an illumination control device in communication with the collimated light source, said illumination control device operable to control the intensity and orientation of the collimated light source.