Surveillance image denial verification

• US 9,074,852 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2007
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Adler, Edward Allen, Galasso, Douglas Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Donabed, Ninos
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hussain, Farrukh
• Application Number:
  US11/938,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20100283848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,794 Days
• Field of Search: 348/67, 348/68, 348/117, 348/119, 348/120, 348/144, 348/143, 348/297, 348/750, 348/758, 348/759
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: G01S 17/66 Tracking systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves

Abstract

An assessment method and system for characterizing the operation of an imaging system are disclosed. The assessment system can comprise a light source configured to illuminate the imaging system, a modulator configured to modulate light from the light source, a receiver configured to intercept communications from the imaging system, and an analyzer configured to analyze the intercepted communications. The assessment system can be used to determine the effectiveness of an image denial system that is used to prevent a surveillance satellite from providing imagery and can thereby provide an advantage on the battlefield.

Claims

1. A countermeasure system, for use against a satellite imaging system configured to transmit telemetry communications comprising image data obtained using an imaging sensor, the countermeasure system comprising:

a laser light source configured to illuminate the imaging sensor of the satellite imaging system with laser light;

a modulator configured to modulate the laser light to inject a pattern into the image data generated during an operation of the satellite imaging system;

a telemetry receiver configured to intercept telemetry communications comprising the pattern-injected image data and transmitted from the satellite imaging system; and

an analyzer configured to analyze the pattern-injected image data in the intercepted telemetry communications to determine at least one characteristic of the satellite imaging system utilizing at least one parameter of the modulated laser light and/or to determine an effectiveness of the laser light source in inhibiting the operation of the satellite imaging system.

2. The countermeasure system as recited in claim 1, wherein the modulator is configured to modulate an intensity of the laser light in a manner that results in saturation of the imaging sensor by the laser light.

3. The countermeasure system as recited in claim 1, wherein the modulator is configured to modulate an intensity of the laser light so as to cause a 10% modulation on a measured image value as determined from the pattern-injected image data.

4. The countermeasure system as recited in claim 1, wherein the modulator is configured to modulate an intensity of the laser light with a pulse rate that is a multiple of a pixel sample rate or a frame rate of the satellite imaging system.

5. The countermeasure system as recited in claim 1, wherein the modulator is configured to modulate an intensity of the laser light at a plurality of different frequencies and the analyzer is configured to convolve the pattern-injected image data with a modulation transfer function (MTF) of the satellite imaging system.

6. The countermeasure system as recited in claim 1, wherein the laser light source is configured to overfill an aperture of the imaging sensor with the laser light to temporarily blind the satellite imaging system by saturating the imaging sensor without damaging the satellite imaging system.

7. The countermeasure system as recited in claim 1, wherein an intensity of the laser light source is insufficient to disrupt operation of the satellite imaging system.

8. The countermeasure system as recited in claim. 1, wherein an intensity of the laser light source is sufficient to disrupt operation of the satellite imaging system.

9. The countermeasure system as recited in claim 1, wherein an intensity of the laser light source is insufficient to damage the satellite imaging system.

10. The countermeasure system as recited in claim 1, wherein the laser light source is a first laser light source and the laser light is first laser light, the countermeasure system further comprising:

a second light source configured to illuminate the imaging sensor of the satellite imaging system with second laser light;

a light sensor configured to sense an intensity of the second laser light as reflected back by the imaging sensor of the satellite imaging system; and

a controller configured to;

monitor the intensity of the reflected second laser light, and

control, based on the intensity of the reflected second laser light, an intensity of the first and/or second laser light so as to temporarily blind the imaging sensor without damaging the satellite imaging system.

11. The countermeasure system as recited in claim 10, wherein the first and second laser light sources are a same laser light source.

12. A method, for use against a satellite imaging system configured to transmit telemetry communications comprising image data obtained using an imaging sensor, the method comprising:

illuminating the imaging sensor of the satellite imaging system with laser light using a laser light source;

modulating the laser light to inject a pattern into the image data generated during an operation of the satellite imaging system;

intercepting the telemetry communications comprising the pattern-injected image data and transmitted from the satellite imaging system; and

analyzing the pattern-injected image data in the intercepted telemetry communications to determine at least one characteristic of the satellite imaging system utilizing at least one parameter of the modulated laser light and/or to determine an effectiveness of the laser light source in inhibiting operation of the satellite imaging system.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the modulating the laser light comprises modulating an intensity of the laser light in a manner that results in saturation of the imaging sensor by the laser light.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the modulating the laser light comprises modulating an intensity of the laser light so as to cause a 10% modulation on a measured image value as determined from the pattern-injected image data.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the modulating the laser light comprises modulating an intensity of the laser light with a pulse rate that is a multiple of a pixel sample rate or a frame rate of the satellite imaging system.

16. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the modulating the laser light comprises modulating an intensity of the laser light at a plurality of different frequencies, and wherein the analyzing the pattern-injected image data comprises convolving the pattern-injected image data with a modulation transfer function (MTF) of the satellite imaging system.

17. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the illuminating the imaging sensor with the laser light light overfills an aperture of the imaging sensor of the satellite imaging system to temporarily blind the satellite imaging system by saturating the imaging sensor without damaging the satellite imaging system.

18. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein an intensity of the laser light source is insufficient to disrupt operation of the satellite imaging system.

19. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein an intensity of the laser light source is sufficient to disrupt operation of the satellite imaging system.

20. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein an intensity of the laser light source is insufficient to damage the satellite imaging system.

21. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the laser light source is a first laser light source and the laser light is first laser light, the method further comprising:

illuminating the imaging sensor of the satellite imaging system with second laser light using a second laser light source;

sensing an intensity of the second laser light as reflected back by the imaging sensor of the satellite imaging system;

monitoring the intensity of the reflected second laser light; and

controlling, based on the intensity of the reflected second laser light, an intensity of the first and/or second laser light so as to temporarily blind the imaging sensor without damaging the satellite imaging system.