System and method for active protection of a resource

• US 7,046,187 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2004
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Humatics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Richards, James L., Fullerton, Larry W., Roberts, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E.
• Application Number:
  US10/991,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20060028373A1
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 342/21, 342 52- 59, 342/61, 342/67, 342 25 R- 25 F, 342/60, 342 73- 81, 342 89-103, 342/118, 342/146, 342/147, 342156-158, 342/175, 342/195, 342/22, 89/11.1, 244 31- 33
• US Class Current: 342/54
• 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: F41H 13/0062 causing structural damage to the target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/0209 Systems with very large relative bandwidth, i.e. larger than 10 %, e.g. baseband, pulse, carrier-free, ultrawideband
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/865 Combination of radar systems with lidar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras

Abstract

An active protection system comprising an ultrawideband radar for threat detection, an optical tracker for precision threat position measurement, and a high powered laser for threat kill or mitigation. The uwb radar may use a sparse array antenna and may also utilize Doppler radar information. The high powered laser may be of the optically pumped solid state type and in one embodiment may share optics with the optical tracker. In one embodiment, the UWB radar is used to focus the high power laser. Alternative interceptor type kill mechanisms are disclosed. In a further embodiment, the kill mechanism may be directed to the source of the threat.

Claims

1. A method for active protection of a resource comprising the steps:

providing an ultra-wideband (UWB) radar;

using said UWB radar to search for a threat, said threat being a moving object;

determining a first location of said threat by combining scans of said UWB radar according to a candidate trajectory;

providing an optical search device;

determining a second location of said threat using said optical search device, said second location being determined based on said first location;

imparting damage to said threat based on said second location of said threat.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical search device initiates an optical search based on said first location of said threat, and said second location of said threat is determined based upon said optical search.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the UWB radar includes a sparse array antenna.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the UWB radar includes a synthetic aperture antenna.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first location and the second location is expressed in angle and distance.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the optical search device and the device imparting damage utilize at least one shared optical element.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein damage is imparted to the threat by a laser.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the laser is a diode pumped laser.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the laser is a CO₂ laser.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the laser is a chemical Oxygen-Iodine laser.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the laser is focused in accordance with range information provided by said UWB radar.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein damage is imparted to the threat by an intercepting device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the intercepting device is deployed in accordance with range information from said UWB radar.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein damage is imparted to the threat by a ballistic projectile.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said ballistic projectile is deployed in accordance with range information from said UWB radar.

16. The method of claim 1 further including the step of determining a source of the threat and initiating action to neutralize the source of the threat.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said action is to provide the coordinates of the source of the threat to a command and control system.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said action is to direct a laser toward said source of the threat.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said action is to direct a weapon toward said source of the threat.

20. A method for active protection of a resource comprising the steps:

detecting a threat using a Doppler radar, said threat being a moving object;

determining a threat velocity using said Doppler radar;

providing an ultra-wideband (UWB) radar;

providing said threat velocity to said UWB radar;

using said UWB radar to search for said threat;

determining a first location of said threat using said UWB radar;

providing an optical search device;

determining a second location of said threat using said optical search device, said second location being determined based on said first location; and

imparting damage to said threat based on said second location of said threat.

21. The method of claim 20 further including a communications link to a command and control authority, said method further comprising the step of providing said threat velocity to said command and control authority through said communications link.

22. A system for protecting a resource, said system comprising:

a UWB radar for detecting a threat;

an optical tracking device for precision location of said threat; and

a threat kill device, wherein the threat kill device is a laser, wherein the laser and optical tracking device utilize at least one shared optical element.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the shared optical element is a mirror.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the mirror is mounted on a gimbal.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the laser is a diode pumped laser.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein the laser is a CO₂ laser.

27. The system of claim 22 wherein the laser is a chemical Oxygen-Iodine laser.

28. The system of claim 22 wherein the laser is focused in accordance with range information from said UWB radar.

29. The system of claim 22 wherein the UWB radar includes a sparse array antenna.

30. A system for protecting a resource, said system comprising:

a UWB radar for detecting a threat;

an optical tracking device for precision location of said threat; and

a threat kill device, wherein the threat kill device is a laser, wherein said laser is focused using a flexible mirror.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said flexible mirror is flexed by a fluid.

32. A system for protecting a resource, said system comprising:

a UWB radar for detecting a threat;

an optical tracking subsystem for precision location of said threat; and

a threat kill device, wherein the UWB radar includes a scanner and scan combiner and combines scans according to a candidate trajectory to enhance detectability of the threat.