Projectile-detection collars and methods

• US 8,111,582 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2008
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Beck, Steven David, Hamm, Douglas W., Hoenes, Eric Charles, Harmse, Jorgen Ernst, Bartlett, George Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): PIHULIC, DANIEL T
• Application Number:
  US12/329,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20100142328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 367/906, 367/118
• US Class Current: 367/118
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/147 based on detection of a firing weapon
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 1/02 Armoured or projectile- or missile-resistant garments; Composite protection fabrics F41H5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/06 Acoustic hit-indicating systems, i.e. detecting of shock waves F41J5/056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/801 Details G01S3/82, G01S3/84, G01S3/86 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/803 using amplitude comparison of signals derived from receiving transducers or transducer systems having differently-oriented directivity characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/906 Airborne shock-wave detection

Abstract

User-wearable sensor arrays for use with projectile-detection systems, and methods of detecting a projectile with user-wearable sensor arrays.

Claims

1. A user-wearable sensor array for use with a projectile-detection system, the sensor array comprising:

a plurality of sensors configured to detect at least one of sound waves and pressure waves caused by at least one of the muzzle blast and shockwave of a projectile; and

a collar that supports the sensors, the collar being configured to be wearable around at least a portion of a user'"'"'s neck.

2. The array of claim 1, where the plurality of sensors comprises 6 sensors.

3. The array of claim 2, where the plurality of sensors comprises 6 microphones.

4. The array of claim 3, where the plurality of sensors comprises one or more microphones each with a first sensitivity and one or more microphones each with a second sensitivity that is lower than the first sensitivity.

5. The array of claim 1, where the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of microphones and a plurality of pressure transducers.

6. The array of claim 5, where the plurality of sensors comprises 6 microphones and 6 pressure transducers.

7. The array of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of wind shields, each shielding at least one sensor.

8. The array of claim 7, where each of the plurality of wind shields is configured to shield at least one sensor from wind speeds of up to 10 miles per hour.

9. The array of claim 1, where the plurality of sensors are supported by the collar at positions that provide a 360-degree detection field of view.

10. The array of claim 1, where the plurality of sensors are supported at equiangular intervals by the collar.

11. The array of claim 1, where the collar is resilient.

12. The array of claim 1, where the collar comprises poly paraphenylene terephthalamide.

13. The array of claim 1, further comprising:

a vest having a vest collar coupled to the collar of the sensor array.

14. The array of claim 13, where the vest collar and the collar of the sensor array are of unitary construction.

15. The array of claim 13, where the vest comprises body armor.

16. The array of claim 15, where the vest is an improved outer tactical vest (IOTV).

17. The sensor array of claim 1, further comprising:

an inertial measurement unit configured to detect changes in the orientation of the collar.

18. The sensor array of claim 17, where the inertial measurement unit is configured to detect rotational changes in the orientation of collar.

19. The sensor array of claim 17, where the inertial measurement unit is configured to detect translational changes in the orientation of the collar.

20. The sensor array of claim 19, where the inertial measurement unit is also configured to detect rotational changes in the orientation of the collar.

21. The array of claim 1, where the collar is configured to be wearable around at least a portion of a user'"'"'s neck such that the sensors cooperate to define a sensor plane.

22. A method of detecting a projectile with a user-wearable sensor array, the method comprising:

positioning a user-wearable sensor array around at least a portion of a user'"'"'s neck, the sensor array comprising;

a plurality of sensors configured to detect at least one of sound waves and pressure waves caused by at least one of the muzzle blast and shockwave of a projectile; and

a collar that supports the sensors, the collar being configured to be wearable around at least a portion of a user'"'"'s neck; and

detecting with at least one of the plurality of sensors at least one of sound waves and pressure waves caused by at least one of the muzzle blast and shockwave of a projectile.

23. The method of claim 22, where the plurality of sensors are supported by the collar at positions that provide a 360-degree detection field of view.

24. The method of claim 22, where the sensor array further comprises a vest having a vest collar coupled to the collar of the sensor array, and where the positioning comprises positioning the vest on the user.

25. The method of claim 22, where the collar is configured to be wearable around at least a portion of a user'"'"'s neck such that the sensors cooperate to define a sensor plane.