ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION SOURCE LOCATING SYSTEM

• US 20180196122A1
• Filed: 01/13/2018
• Published: 07/12/2018
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 10,209,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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

1-36. -36. (canceled)

37. An electromagnetic radiation source locating system comprising:

a first mobile structure comprising;

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

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; and

a first range sensor adapted to direct a first laser range finder along the first directional vector and providing a first distance signal 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 second mobile structure comprising;

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 the position of the second directional antenna relative to the reference coordinate system;

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 directional vector indicative thereof to the second controller; and

a second range sensor adapted to direct a second laser range finder along the second directional vector and providing a second distance signal 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;

wherein the second controller is configured to determine a second directional vector to the radiant energy transmission source;

wherein said first controller is configured to communicate said first directional signal, said first distance signal, and said first directional vector to said second controller;

wherein said second controller is configured to communicate said second directional signal, said second distance signal, and said second directional vector to said first controller.

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

38. 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; and

a first range sensor adapted to direct a first laser range finder along the first directional vector and providing a first laser rangefinder distance data 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;

a first user interface;

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 data 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 user interface;

wherein said first controller is configured to communicate said first distance signal, and said first directional vector to said second controller;

wherein said second controller is configured to communicate said second directional signal and 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 display on said first user interface if the first distance and the first laser rangefinder distance are within first predetermined difference value range;

wherein said second controller displays a second display on said second user interface if the second distance and the second laser rangefinder distance are within a second predetermined difference value range.