Electromagnetic radiation source locating system

• US 10,209,342 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2018
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• 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: Miller, Gerald F
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mull, Fred H
• Application Number:
  US15/870,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20180196122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 402 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/04 using angle measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/10 using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves determination of distance by phase measurements G01S17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/04 Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves

Abstract

An electromagnetic radiation source locating system including an electromagnetic radiation sensor including an antenna configured to detect a radiant energy transmission. A position detector is in communication with the controller and is configured to detect the position of the antenna relative to a reference coordinate system, while an orientation sensor is in communication with the controller and is configured to detect the orientation of the antenna and provide an orientation signal to the controller. A range sensor is configured to detect the distance to an aligned object in the path of a directional vector and provide a distance signal indicative thereof to the controller. An aerial vehicle may be in communication with the controller and configured to drop a marker for guiding navigators to the source of the radiant energy transmission.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic radiation source locating system comprising:

a first mobile structure and a second mobile structure;

wherein said first mobile structure comprises;

a first electromagnetic radiation receiving device configured to detect a radiant energy transmission;

a first directional antenna operably coupled to the first electromagnetic radiation receiving device;

a first support operably coupled to the first electromagnetic radiation receiving device for orienting the first directional antenna in a direction toward the radiant energy transmission;

a first controller;

a first position detector in communication with the first controller and configured to detect a location of the first directional antenna relative to a reference coordinate system and output a first position data;

a first orientation detector in communication with the first controller and configured to detect an orientation of the first directional antenna and provide a first directional vector indicative thereof to the first controller;

a first range sensor adapted to direct a first laser range finder along the first directional vector and providing a first laser rangefinder distance from a reflection from a first surface in a line of sight of said first laser range finder which is communicated to the first controller;

a first visible light marker adapted to be oriented along the first directional vector; and

a first display;

wherein said second mobile structure comprises;

a second electromagnetic radiation receiving device configured to detect the radiant energy transmission;

a second directional antenna operably coupled to the second electromagnetic radiation receiving device;

a second support operably coupled to the second electromagnetic radiation receiving device for orienting the second directional antenna in a direction toward the radiant energy transmission;

a second position detector configured to detect a location of the second directional antenna relative to the reference coordinate system and output a second position data;

a second orientation detector in communication with a second controller and configured to detect the orientation of the second directional antenna and provide a second orientation signal indicative thereof to the second controller;

a second range sensor adapted to direct a second laser range finder along the second directional vector and providing a second laser rangefinder distance from a reflection from a second surface in a line of sight of said second laser range finder which is communicated to the second controller;

a second visible light marker adapted to be oriented along the second directional vector; and

a second display;

wherein said first controller is configured to communicate said first directional vector to said second controller;

wherein said second controller is configured to communicate said second directional vector to said first controller;

wherein the first and second controllers each further comprise a spatial processor configured to calculate the location of the radiant energy transmission source relative to the reference coordinate system based upon said first and second location data and at least two different directional vectors comprising said first and second directional vector;

wherein said first and second controller determine a first distance from said first location data to the location of the radiant energy transmission source and a second distance from said second location data to the location of the radiant energy transmission source;

wherein said first controller displays a first output on said first display if the first distance and the first laser rangefinder distance match;

wherein said second controller displays a second output on said second display if the second distance and the second laser rangefinder distance match.

2. An electromagnetic radiation source locating system as in claim 1, wherein said first and second electromagnetic radiation receiving devices that are configured to detect the radiant energy transmission respectively comprises a first and second signal processor that analyzes, interprets and determines relative strengths of the radiant energy transmission.

3. An electromagnetic radiation source location system as in claim 2, wherein at least one of said first and second signal processors further identifies and classifies the radiant energy transmission.

4. An electromagnetic radiation source location system as in claim 3, wherein the first and second signal processors each further determines the relative strength of the radiant energy transmission based on respective different orientations of the first directional antenna and second directional antenna.

5. An electromagnetic radiation source location system as in claim 4, further comprising a first and second orientation actuators respectively coupled with the first and second support, wherein the first and second controllers respectively operate the first and second orientation actuators to respectively orient the first and second directional antennas toward the radiant energy transmission based on said relative strengths of the radiant energy transmission received at the first and second mobile structure.

6. An electromagnetic radiation source location system as in claim 5, wherein the first and second orientation actuators comprise servomotors.

7. An electromagnetic radiation source location system as in claim 2, wherein said first and second signal processors identifies and classifies the radiant energy transmission based on said relative strengths of the radiant energy transmission.

8. An electromagnetic radiation source location system as in claim 7, wherein the first and second mobile structure respectively further comprising at a first and second audio system that respectively receive signal inputs from at least the first and second signal processors, wherein the first and second audio systems each outputs an audible signal based on said relative strength of the radiant energy transmission whereby the audible signal output by the audio system varies based on the strength of the radiant energy transmission.

9. An electromagnetic radiation source location system as in claim 8, wherein the first or second audio system further comprises a headphone that outputs the audible signal.

10. An electromagnetic radiation source location system as in claim 1, further comprising a first and second camera respectively coupled with the first and second mobile structure, wherein the first and second cameras are respectively coupled such that the first and second cameras move in relations to the first and second support to respectively orient their field of views along said first and second vectors, wherein the first and second displays respectively output images from the first and second cameras.

11. An electromagnetic radiation source location system as in claim 1, wherein said first and second position detectors further respectively comprise a first and second global positioning system (GPS) receiver configured to detect a respective absolute position of first and second directional antenna relative to a reference coordinate system.

12. An electromagnetic radiation source location system as in claim 11, wherein the first and second orientation detectors respectively detect angular orientation of the first and second directional antennas about their perpendicular axes relative to the reference coordinate system.

13. An electromagnetic radiation source location system as in claim 12, wherein the first and second orientation detectors respectively comprise a first and second digital compass operably coupled to the first and second support.

14. An electromagnetic radiation source location system as in claim 12, wherein the first and second orientation detectors each comprise a first and second angular or rotation sensors configured to sense at least rotational movement of the first and second directional antenna respectively relative to the first and second support.