Identification or messaging systems and related methods

• US 9,748,643 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2015
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2015
• 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: Miller, Gerry, Stewart, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Windrich, Marcus
• Application Number:
  US14/730,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20160341823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 342 5- 12, 342 42, 342 51
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/751 wherein the responder or reflector radiates a coded signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/74 Systems using reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. IFF, i.e. identification of friend or foe
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/14 Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures electromagnetic shields H01Q1/526
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/106 using two or more intersecting plane surfaces, e.g. corner reflector antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/02 using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole

Abstract

An identification or messaging system is provided that has embodiments including a embodiment with a structure with different faces and a base with reflective or resonance panels which are positioned at different receiving angles to detect direct signals and amplify them including in a sequence to be detected by an active emitter that emits electromagnetic radiation that is reflected and steered or resonated off or with the panels. An emitter can be an aerial platform with the emitter and a library of reflected or resonated signals that are associated with a particular sequence of panels on the structure which are associated with a particular entity identification or message. Thermal patterned and/or magnetic patterned panels (e.g., for backplane beamforming) and return signal steering can also be provided. Embodiments with secondary signaling systems can also be provided. A variety of various embodiments and methods are also provided.

Claims

1. An identification or messaging system comprising:

a first structure comprising a plurality of surfaces having different orientations, said surfaces comprising a base structure and two or more additional surfaces positioned at an angle with respect to the base, said two or more additional surfaces comprising a first and second surface;

a plurality of radio frequency (RF) resonance or reflection antenna panels (RFAP) comprising a first and second said RF resonance or reflection antennas are positioned on said first and second surfaces, wherein at least two of said RFAPs have a different structure from at least one of other said RFAPs and are respectively configured to generate a first and second altered RF signal in response to an initial RF signal; and

an airborne RF transmitter/receiver (RFTR) platform comprising a transmitter/receiver operable to generate said initial RF signal, a control system, and a library comprising a plurality of RF signatures comprising said first and second altered RF signal and an identification data associated with said first and second altered RF signals.

2. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of covers wherein at least one said cover is placed over at least one said RFAP.

3. A system as in claim 2, wherein said plurality of covers are configured to block visible light and be transparent to said initial RF signal and said first and second altered RF signals.

4. A system as in claim 2, wherein said plurality of covers are configured to block said initial RF signals.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein a plurality of RFAPs have a single antenna structure disposed over the plurality of RFAPs such as a spiral antenna formed over a plurality of RFAPs having a common section comprising a plurality of triangular sections having a common apex that forms a point.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said RFAPs further comprises a modulation structure to actively change said altered signal from the at least one of said RFAP panels, wherein modulation structure comprises a Liquid Crystal Modulator (LCM) in a predetermined signal alteration based on a second library storing modulation scheme data coupled with said first structure operable to operate said LCM so that said RFTR detects said modulated altered signal, compares said modulated altered signal with stored data, and associated with said stored RF signals, and determines said identification data.

7. A system as in claim 2, further comprising a secondary signaling system attached to said first structure, wherein said secondary signaling system includes a sensor configured to detect said altered RF signal and activate a beacon, said beacon selected from the group comprising a visual emitter or a non-visual electromagnetic spectrum emitter, said visual emitter comprising a light emitter, a high intensity light, or a flare, said non-visual electromagnetic spectrum emitter comprising an emitter comprising an infra-red (IR) emitter.

8. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a rotation imparting mechanism coupled with said first structure to rotate said first structure based on a plurality of rotational speeds each associated with two or more of a plurality of RF signals comprising said first and second altered signals and said rotational speed each associated with a respective one of said identification data.

9. A system as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of surfaces comprise a first thermal gradient surface and a second thermal gradient surface, wherein said first and second thermal gradient surfaces have a different thermal gradient.

10. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of edge sections, said plurality of edge sections are disposed around at least one of said plurality of surfaces, wherein said plurality of edge sections have different thermal gradients than said at least one of said plurality of surfaces.

11. A method of using an identification or messaging system comprising:

providing a polygonal asymmetric reflector (PAR) unit with a plurality of different removable/re-attachable reflected RF panels (RRFP) including a number of pairs of identical RRFPs that have antenna element pattern embodiments configured to resonate or reflect one or more first RF signals from one or more airborne RF transmitters formed to generate a particular altered RF signal, wherein the antenna element pattern embodiments comprises conductive materials formed in different patterns selected from a group comprising a RF identification (RFID), an antenna formed to reflect or resonate RF signals, or a plurality of antennas formed as fractal patterns with each fractal element of the pattern associated with a wavelet transform element that is fed by a segmented signal element;

selecting one or more of the plurality of different RRFPs having a said antenna pattern associated with a predetermined message or condition stored in a library comprising an identification of a particular entity or type of entity that is stored in a library associated with an embodiment of the invention, hereinafter selected RRFPs;

positioning and configuring one or more faces or surfaces of said PAR unit with said one or more of the selected RRFPs and orienting said PAR and one or more particular said faces or surfaces with at least one said selected RRFPs with respect to a skyward point or direction of travel of one or more predetermined aerial platforms generating a first RF signals that resonates or reflects altered RF signals from said one or more selected RRFPs and has said library;

providing said aerial platform, positioning said platform with respect to the PAR and selected RRFPs and oriented faces or surfaces, and generating said first RF signals towards said PAR;

operating an RF signal detection system on said aerial platform to detect one or more said altered RF signals from said selected RRFPs;

correlating said predetermined message or condition and identification in said library with said detected altered RF signals; and

outputting said identification and predetermined message in response to said correlating result.

12. A method as in claim 11, further comprising disposing a plurality of said PAR units along a navigational path or corridor which collectively generate a plurality of said altered RF signal, wherein said RF signal detection system is further configured to plot and display relative location of said plurality of PAR units in a navigational system or navigational display that is configured to use said plurality of said altered RF signals to provide a display configured for controlling navigation steps, landing steps, or movement or operation of an equipment item associated with said aerial platform.

13. A method as in claim 12, wherein said aerial platform is an aircraft and said navigational, landing, path or corridor are disposed alongside or in relation to an aircraft runway, said path or corridor is used to land said aerial platform.

14. An identification or messaging system comprising:

a first structure comprising a plurality of surfaces having different orientations, said surfaces comprising a base structure and two or more additional surfaces positioned at an angle with respect to the base, said two or more additional surfaces comprising a first and second surface;

a plurality of radio frequency (RF) resonance or reflection antenna panels (RFAP) comprising a first and second said RF resonance or reflection antennas are positioned on said first and second surfaces, wherein at least two of said RFAPs has a different structure from at least one of other said RFAPs and are respectively configured to generate a first and second altered RF signal in response to an initial RF signal;

an airborne RF transmitter/receiver (RFTR) platform comprising a transmitter/receiver operable to generate said initial RF signal, a control system, and a library comprising a plurality of RF signatures comprising said first and second altered RF signal and an identification data associated with said first and second altered RF signals;

a plurality of covers wherein at least one said cover is placed over at least one said RFAP;

a modulation structure to actively change said altered signal from the RFAPs panels layered with a modulator comprising a Liquid Crystal Modulator (LCM) in a predetermined signal alteration based on a second library storing modulation scheme data operable to operate said LCM so that said RFTR detects said modulated altered signal, compares said modulated altered signal with stored data, and associated with said stored RF signals, and determines said identification data;

a secondary signaling system attached to said first structure, wherein said secondary signaling system includes a sensor configured to detect said altered RF signal and activate a beacon, said beacon selected from the group comprising a visual emitter or a non-visual electromagnetic spectrum emitter, said visual emitter comprising a light emitter, a high intensity light, or a flare, said non-visual electromagnetic spectrum emitter comprising an emitter comprising an infra-red (IR) emitter;

a rotation imparting mechanism coupled with said first structure to rotate said first structure based on a plurality of rotational speeds each associated with two or more of a plurality of RF signals comprising said first and second altered signals and said rotational speed each associated with a respective one of said identification data;

a plurality of edge sections, said plurality of edge sections are disposed around at least one of said plurality of surfaces, wherein said plurality of edge sections have a different thermal gradient than said at least one of said plurality of surfaces;

wherein said plurality of surfaces comprise a first thermal gradient surface and a second thermal gradient surface, wherein said first and second thermal gradient surfaces have a different thermal gradients from each other;

wherein said plurality of covers are configured to block visible light and be transparent to said initial RF signal and said first and second altered RF signals;

wherein said plurality of covers are configured to block said initial RF signals; and

wherein a plurality of RFAPs have a single antenna structure disposed over the plurality of RFAPs such as a spiral antenna formed over a plurality of RFAPs having a common section comprising a plurality of triangular sections having a common apex that forms a point.

15. A method of using an identification or messaging system comprising:

providing a polygonal asymmetric reflector (PAR) unit with a plurality of different removable/re-attachable reflected RF panels (RRFP) including a number of pairs of identical RRFPs that have antenna element pattern embodiments configured to resonate or reflect one or more first RF signals from one or more airborne RF transmitters formed to generate a particular altered RF signal, wherein the antenna element pattern embodiments comprises conductive materials formed in different patterns selected from a group comprising a RF identification (RFID), an antenna formed to reflect or resonate RF signals, or a plurality of antennas formed as fractal patterns with each fractal element of the pattern associated with a wavelet transform element that is fed by a segmented signal element;

selecting one or more of the plurality of different RRFPs having a said antenna pattern associated with a predetermined message or condition stored in a library comprising an identification of a particular entity or type of entity that is stored in a library associated with an embodiment of the invention, hereinafter selected RRFPs;

disposing a plurality of said PAR units disposed along a navigational path or corridor which collectively generate a plurality of said altered RF signal, wherein said RF signal detection system is further configured to plot relative location of said plurality of PAR units in a navigational system or navigational display that is configured to use said plurality of said altered RF signals to control navigation or an equipment item associated with said aerial platform;

positioning and configuring one or more faces or surfaces of at least one said PAR unit with said one or more of the selected RRFPs and orienting said PAR and one or more particular said faces or surfaces with at least one said selected RRFPs with respect to a skyward point or direction of travel of one or more predetermined aerial platforms generating a first RF signals that resonates or reflects altered RF signals from said one or more selected RRFPs and has said library;

providing said aerial platform, positioning said platform with respect to the PAR and selected RRFPs and oriented faces or surfaces, and generating said first RF signals towards said PAR;

operating an RF signal detection system on said aerial platform to detect one or more said altered RF signals from said selected RRFPs;

correlating said predetermined message or condition and identification in said library with said detected altered RF signals; and

outputting said identification and predetermined message in response to said correlating result.