Passive infrared bullet detection and tracking
First Claim
1. A method for passively detecting and determining the path of a projectile comprising the steps of:
- observing and recording a plurality of first successive images of infrared radiation present in a region in which a projectile is expected to be located using at least one passive infrared detector,suppressing in each of said plurality of first successive images of said region background infrared radiation present in said region such that second successive images containing substantially only infrared radiation generated by said projectile as said projectile passes through said region are produced, andcalculating the path of said projectile by using said second successive images of infrared radiation generated by said projectile.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for passively detecting a projectile such as, for example, a bullet using a passive infrared detector. A passive infrared detector is focused onto a region in which a projectile is expected to be located. Successive images of infrared radiation in the region are recorded. Background infrared radiation present in the region is suppressed such that second successive images of infrared radiation generated by the projectile as the projectile passes through the region are produced. A projectile path calculator determines the path and other aspects of the projectile by using the second successive images of infrared radiation generated by the projectile. The present invention, in certain embodiments, also determines the origin of the path of the projectile and takes a photograph of the area surrounding the origin and/or fires at least one projectile at the area surrounding the origin of the path of the projectile.
49 Citations
65 Claims
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1. A method for passively detecting and determining the path of a projectile comprising the steps of:
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observing and recording a plurality of first successive images of infrared radiation present in a region in which a projectile is expected to be located using at least one passive infrared detector, suppressing in each of said plurality of first successive images of said region background infrared radiation present in said region such that second successive images containing substantially only infrared radiation generated by said projectile as said projectile passes through said region are produced, and calculating the path of said projectile by using said second successive images of infrared radiation generated by said projectile. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A passive infrared projectile detection and projectile path determining apparatus comprised of:
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at least one passive infrared detector focused onto a region in which a projectile is expected to be located, image recording means coupled to said at least one passive infrared detector for recording a plurality of first successive images of infrared radiation present in said region, background infrared radiation suppression means coupled to said at least one passive infrared detector for suppressing in each of said plurality of first successive images of said region background infrared radiation present in said region such that second successive images containing substantially only infrared radiation generated by said projectile as said projectile passes through said region are produced, and calculating means coupled to said background infrared radiation suppression means for determining the path of said projectile by using said second successive images of infrared radiation generated by said projectile. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An apparatus for passive infrared detection and determining the path of a projectile comprising:
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at least one passive infrared detector focused onto a region in which a projectile is expected to be located, an image recorder coupled to said at least one passive infrared detector, said image recorder recording a plurality of first successive images of infrared radiation present in said region which are observed by said at least one passive infrared detector, a background infrared radiation suppressor coupled to said image recorder, said background infrared radiation suppressor suppressing from each of said plurality of first successive images of said region background infrared radiation present in said region such that second successive images containing substantially only infrared radiation generated by said projectile as said projectile passes through said region, and a projectile path calculator coupled to said background infrared radiation suppressor, said projectile path calculator determining the path of said projectile by using said second successive images of infrared radiation generated by said projectile. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. An apparatus for passive infrared detection and determining of a path of a bullet comprising:
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at least one staring array passive infrared detector focused onto a region in which a bullet is expected to be located, said at least one staring array passive infrared detector disposed at least several hundred yards from said region in which said bullet is expected to be located, said at least one staring array passive infrared detector detecting mid wave infrared radiation, an image recorder coupled to said at least one staring array passive infrared detector, said image recorder recording a plurality of first successive images of infrared radiation present in said region which are observed by said at least one staring array passive infrared detector, said image recorder recording said plurality of first successive images at a frame rate in the range of approximately 200 frames per second and with an exposure rate in the range of approximately 1 millisecond, a background infrared radiation suppressor coupled to said image recorder, said background infrared radiation suppressor suppressing in each of said plurality of first successive images of said region background infrared radiation present in said region such that second successive images containing substantially only infrared radiation generated by said bullet as said bullet passes through said region are produced, a bullet path calculator coupled to said background infrared radiation suppressor, said bullet path calculator determining the path of said bullet by using said second successive images of infrared radiation generated by said bullet, said bullet path calculator further comprising; a range finder, said range finder determining the distance of said bullet from said at least one staring array passive infrared detector, and an origin locator coupled to said bullet path calculator, said origin locator determining from said path of said bullet the origin of said path of said bullet, a display unit coupled to said bullet path calculator, said display unit graphically displaying said path of said bullet, a camera coupled to said bullet path calculator, said camera photographing the area proximate to said origin of said path of said bullet, and a projectile launcher coupled to said bullet path calculator, said projectile launcher firing at least one projectile into the area proximate to said origin of said path of said bullet. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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Specification