Weapon location by acoustic-optic sensor fusion

• US 6,621,764 B1
• Filed: 02/20/2001
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas Smith
• Original Assignee: Thomas Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Pihulic, Daniel T.
• Application Number:
  US09/789,070
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 367/128, 356/342, 356/139.04, 342/52, 342/53
• US Class Current: 367/128
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/00 Defence installations; Defence devices constructional aspects see Section E, e.g. air-raid shelters E04H9/04; protective arrangements for buildings E04B1/92; extinguishing or preventing the spread of fire from, incendiary bombs A62C3/06; dynamic armour F41H5/007; ballistically deployed systems for restraining persons or animals F41H13/0006; electronic countermeasures G01S
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/16 using difference in transit time between electrical and acoustic signals
• 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 3/00 Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received position-fixing by co-ordinating a plurality of determinations of direction or position lines G01S5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/781 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/802 Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction

Abstract

An weapon localization system for determining the location of hostile weapon fire. In one embodiment, the weapon localization system includes acoustical detection means for detecting energy of a first frequency originating from said hostile weapon fire; and for transmitting a first set of data describing the location of said hostile weapon fire; optical detection means for detecting energy of a second frequency originating from said hostile weapon fire, and for transmitting a second set of data describing the location of said hostile weapon fire; and processing means coupled to said acoustical and said optical detection means for receiving said first and said second set of data and for determining whether said location of said first set of data match said location of second set of data and for generating a signal output if said match occurs.

Claims

1. A weapon localization system adapted to determine the location of weapon fire, said system comprising:

acoustical detection and direction sensing means for detecting energy of a first frequency originating from said weapon fire, and for transmitting a first set of data describing direction to said weapon fire and time of detection of said energy of a first frequency; and

optical detection and direction sensing means for detecting and sensing direction to energy of a second frequency originating from said weapon fire, and for transmitting a second set of data describing said direction to said weapon fire and time of detection of said energy of a second frequency; and

radio frequency detection means for detecting energy of a third frequency originating from said weapon fire, and for transmitting a third set of data describing said time of detection of said energy of a third frequency; and

a first processing means coupled to said acoustical detection and direction sensing means, and said optical detection and direction sensing means, for receiving said first set of data, and said second set of data, and for determining whether said direction described by said first set of data match said direction described by said second set of data and for generating a signal output if said match occurs; and

a second processing means coupled to said optical detection and direction sensing means, and said radio frequency detection means, for receiving said second set of data and said third set of data, and for determining whether said time of detection described by said second set of data match said time of detection described by said third set of data and for generating a signal output if said match occurs.

2. The weapon localization system of claim 1 wherein said acoustical detection and direction sensing means comprises an array of one or more directional microphones.

3. The weapon localization system of claim 1 wherein said acoustical detection and direction sensing means comprises an array of one or more non-directional microphones.

4. The weapon localization system of claim 1 wherein said optical detection and direction sensing means comprises an infrared imaging camera.

5. The weapon localization system of claim 4 wherein said infrared imaging camera comprises an uncooled microbolometer.

6. The weapon localization system of claim 4 wherein said infrared imaging camera comprises an uncooled infrared imaging bandgap detector camera.

7. The weapon localization system of claim 4 wherein said infrared imaging camera comprises a quantum well infrared imaging camera.

8. The weapon localization system of claim 1 wherein said radio frequency detection means comprises a radio receiver.

9. The weapon localization system of claim 1 wherein said radio frequency detection means comprises a spectrum analyzer.

10. A method for determining the distance from the weapon localization system of claim 1 to location of said weapon fire were the initial direction to said weapon is unknown, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) Sensing optical energy generated from said weapon fire;

(b) Sensing acoustical energy generated from said weapon fire;

(c) Determining a first time at which said optical energy was sensed;

(d) Determining a second time at which said acoustical energy was sensed;

(e) Determining a difference between said first and said second times; and

(f) Calculating said range by use of difference between said first and said second times.

11. A method for determining the distance from the weapon localization system of claim 1 to location of said weapon fire were the initial direction to said weapon is unknown, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) Sensing radio frequency energy generated from said weapon fire;

(b) Sensing acoustical energy generated from said weapon fire;

(c) Determining a first time at which said radio frequency energy was sensed;

(d) Determining a second time at which said acoustical energy was sensed;

(e) Determining a difference between said first and said second times; and

(f) Calculating said range by use of difference between said first and said second times.

12. The weapon localization system of claim 1 wherein said optical detection and direction sensing means comprises optical imaging transducer means and optical reflection means that are fixed in relative physical positions such that said energy of a second frequency originating from said weapon fire and incident on said optical reflection means from any horizontal direction and any elevation angle between 90 degrees above a horizontal plane and 10 degrees below said horizontal plane is sensed by said optical imaging transducer means and forms an image on said optical imaging transducer means at a location that uniquely corresponds to the direction to said weapon fire;

and

a third processing means coupled to said optical imaging transducer means adapted to receive a fourth set of data from said optical imaging transducer means and determine direction to said weapon fire and for transmitting a fifth set of data describing said time of detection of said energy of a second frequency and said direction to said weapon fire.

13. The weapon localization system of claim 12 wherein said optical reflection means comprises a reflector with the shape of a cone.

14. The weapon localization system of claim 12 wherein said optical reflection means comprises a reflector with the shape of a hyperboloid.

15. The weapon localization system of claim 1 wherein said optical detection and direction sensing means comprises optical imaging transducer means and an optical refraction means that are fixed in relative physical positions such that said energy of a second frequency originating from said weapon fire and incident on said optical refraction means from any horizontal direction and any elevation angle between 90 degrees above a horizontal plane and 10 degrees below said horizontal plane is sensed by said optical imaging transducer means and forms an image on said optical imaging transducer means at a location that uniquely corresponds to the direction to said weapon fire;

and

a fourth processing means coupled to said optical imaging transducer means adapted to receive a sixth set of data from said optical imaging transducer means and determine direction to said weapon fire and for transmitting a seventh set of data describing said direction to said weapon fire and time of detection of said energy of a second frequency.

16. The weapon localization system of claim 1 wherein said optical refraction means comprises a wide angle lens.

17. The weapon localization system of claim 12 wherein said optical refraction means comprises a reflector with the shape of a parabaloid.

18. The weapon localization system of claim 12 wherein said optical optical imaging transducer means comprises an ultraviolet imaging camera.

19. The weapon localization system of claim 12 wherein said optical imaging transducer means comprises an infrared imaging camera.

20. The weapon localization system of claim 12 wherein said optical imaging transducer means comprises a visual imaging camera.

21. The weapon localization system of claim 1 wherein said weapon localization system comprises a top attack localization system.

22. The weapon localization system of claim 1 wherein said weapon localization system comprises a sniper localization system.

23. A weapon localization system as in claim 1 comprising an acoustic receiver;

an optical receiver;

a radio frequency receiver;

a processor coupled to each of said receivers; and

an information display.

24. A weapon localization system as in claim 1 comprising one or more acoustic receivers;

one or more optical receivers;

one or more radio frequency receivers;

a processor coupled to each of said receivers; and

an information display.

25. A weapon localization system as in claim 1 comprising an acoustic receiver;

one or more optical receivers;

a processor coupled to each of said receivers; and

an information display.

26. A weapon localization system as in claim 1 comprising one or more acoustic receivers;

one or more radio frequency receivers;

a processor coupled to each of said receivers; and

an information display.

27. A weapon localization system as in claim 1 comprising one or more optical receivers;

one or more radio frequency receivers;

a processor coupled to each of said receivers; and

an information display.

28. A weapon localization system as in claim 1 comprising one or more optical receivers;

one or more radio frequency receivers;

a processor coupled to each of said receivers; and

an information display.