Search and rescue using ultraviolet radiation

• US 8,441,360 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2010
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Witzel, John George, Negatu, Emmanuel Menilik, Vornbrock, Theodore John
• Primary Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US12/902,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20110068938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 340/600, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 340/600
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/7034 Mounting or deployment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2201/04 Emergencies

Abstract

A system includes an ultraviolet c-band radiation detector to enable detection of radiation during search and rescue operations, at least a portion of the radiation including ultraviolet c-band radiation, and a stimulus generator configured to generate a stimulus in response to detected ultraviolet c-band radiation. Further embodiments may include multiple synchronized ultraviolet c-band detectors to enhance system sensitivity and facilitate detection of relatively weak radiation sources, relatively distant sources, and/or radiation scattered about an environment.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an ultraviolet c-band radiation detector to enable detection of radiation during search and rescue operations, at least a portion of the radiation including ultraviolet c-band radiation, and

a stimulus generator configured to generate a stimulus in response to detected ultraviolet c-band radiation;

wherein the ultraviolet c-band radiation detector comprises;

a first ultraviolet c-band radiation detector;

a second ultraviolet c-band and radiation detector; and

a circuit for synchronizing the first and second ultraviolet c-band radiation detectors.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet c-band radiation detector is a photoelectric gas discharge detector.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the stimulus includes at least one of:

a somatosensory stimulus, an audio stimulus, or a visual stimulus.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the somatosensory stimulus includes a vibration stimulus.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a body for housing the ultraviolet c-band radiation detector and the stimulus generator, wherein the stimulus generator is configured to vibrate the body in response to detected ultraviolet c-band radiation emitted by a search and rescue beacon, a magnitude of the vibration corresponding to a direction of the search and rescue beacon relative to a longitudinal axis of the body.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising

a rescue beacon comprising:

a radiation source to emit the radiation.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the radiation source is an omni-directional radiation source.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an elongated body for housing the ultraviolet c-band radiation detector and the stimulus generator, the ultraviolet c-band radiation detector disposed at an end of the elongated body.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a reflector disposed at the end of the elongated body in proximity to the ultraviolet c-band detector, the reflector for reflecting ultraviolet c-band radiation incident thereon in proximity to the ultraviolet c-band detector.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first and second ultraviolet chard detectors disposed along an axis at which the reflector focuses the ultraviolet c-band radiation.

11. A hand-held device, comprising:

an ultraviolet c-band radiation detector to enable detection of radiation during search and rescue operations, at least a portion of the radiation including ultraviolet c-band radiation;

a stimulus generator configured to generate a stimulus in response to detected ultraviolet c-band radiation; and

an elongated body for housing the ultraviolet c-band radiation detector and the stimulus generator,

wherein the stimulus generator is configured to vibrate the elongated body in response to detected ultraviolet c-band radiation;

wherein the ultraviolet c-band radiation detector comprises;

a first ultraviolet c-band radiation detector;

a second ultraviolet c-band radiation detector; and

a circuit coupled to the first and second ultraviolet c-band radiation detectors, wherein the circuit synchronizes the first ultraviolet c-band radiation detector and the second ultraviolet c-band radiation detector.

12. The hand-held device of claim 11, wherein the stimulus generator is configured to vibrate the elongated body in correspondence to a direction of a source emitting the ultraviolet c-band radiation relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongated body.

13. A method of search and rescue, comprising:

detecting ultraviolet c-band radiation emitted by a search and rescue beacon; and

generating a stimulus in response to detected ultraviolet c-band radiation to notify a user;

wherein the ultraviolet c-band radiation is detected using a first ultraviolet c-band radiation detector and a second ultraviolet c-band radiation detector, further comprising;

synchronizing the first and second ultraviolet c-band radiation detectors.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the ultraviolet c-band radiation is detected using a photoelectric gas discharge detector.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein generating a stimulus comprises:

generating a vibration stimulus to vibrate a hand-held device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein detecting ultraviolet c-band radiation further comprises:

enabling determination of a direction of the search and rescue beacon relative to a user position.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the stimulus generator renders the stimulus corresponding to an angle between an axis representative of the direction of the search and rescue beacon relative to the user position and a field-of-view of an ultraviolet c-band radiation detector.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the field-of-view of the ultraviolet c-band radiation detector is oriented along a longitudinal axis of an elongated body used to house the ultraviolet c-band radiation detector.