186results about "Reflecting targets" patented technology

A low-cost airliner defense system utilizing self powered, retrievable, towed decoys against man portable heat-seeking missile (MANPAD) systems provides both high power and a large IR radiating surface area. An efficient and lightweight integrated turbine-alternator extracts sufficient electric power from an air stream directed through a small decoy deployed and towed behind an aircraft during the vulnerable phases of a flight to power a large and intense IR emitter. Unfurled IR radiator “petals” present large area arrays of rear-facing IR emitters. During the high-altitude cruise phase the radiating petals furl down folding around the retrieved decoy body as it is stowed in a streamlined housing for minimizing fuel consumption and maneuverability penalties.

A method for generating power in a device is provided. The method includes: generating power from an inherent characteristic of the device; and supplying the generated power to at least one power consuming element associated with the device. Preferably, the inherent characteristic of the device is an acceleration of the device and the generating includes providing a mass which is movable upon the acceleration of the device and converting a potential energy of the mass into an electrical power. Alternatively, the inherent characteristic of the device is a heat generation on at least a portion of the device and the generating includes converting a heat from the heat generation into an electrical power. In another alternative, the inherent characteristic of the device is a spinning of the device and the generating includes converting the spinning of the device into an electrical power.

In a method and apparatus for controlling the deployment of a towline connecting a mooring craft to an ejected object comprising the steps of monitoring velocity to determine when a point for optimum braking has been achieved and then engaging a brake system to retard deployment of the towline, a DC motor augments and controls the brake system. The DC motor further controls the retrieval of the object. A cutter mechanism uses a first blade to grip the towing cable to maintain tension thereon as a second blade cuts the cable. A spring biased boom in combination with spring biased fins on the ejected object rapidly deploys the object from its storage housing. A locking mechanism secures the deployment mechanism in a stable locked position upon the object reaching its fully extended position.

A commercial airliner (100) controls and is flown in formation with a drone aircraft (200) that includes missile detection and diversion equipment (215) capable of protecting the airliner from a man portable missile (130).

PCT No. PCT / US95 / 09407 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 8, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 8, 1997 PCT Filed Jul. 11, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO96 / 01912 PCT Pub. Date Jan. 25, 1996An article (130) comprising a non-conductive substrate (136), preferably of an environmentally degradeable character, having a thickness of an oxidizable metal coating (138) thereon, and optionally an oxidation enhancingly effective amount of a salt (140), e.g., from about 0.005 to about 25% by weight of salt, based on the weight of oxidizable metal, present on the oxidizable metal coating. Also disclosed is a related method of forming such article, comprising chemical vapor depositing the oxidizable metal coating on the substrate. When utilized in a form comprising fine-diameter substrate elements such as filaments, the resulting product may be usefully employed as an "evanescent" chaff. In the presence of atmospheric moisture, such evanescent chaff undergoes oxidization of the oxidizable metal coating so that the conductivity and radar absorbance / reflectance characteristics of the chaff transiently decays. The chaff may be packaged for use in a cartridge (120) or the chaff may be provided by precursor roving packages (204) which are cut to the desired dipole length by a suitable cutter device (200) for dissemination to the locus of use.

A method is disclosed wherein engineered particles are used as obscurants and taggants for vehicles. In some embodiments, the engineered particles are nano-crystals or micro-spheres (doped or un-doped). In some embodiments, the particles are engineered to re-radiate the energy that they receive at either the same wavelength or a different wavelength than that of the incident photons. Particles that scatter light at the same wavelength as the interrogating beam are advantageously used as taggants. Particles that scatter light at a different wavelength as the interrogating beam are advantageously used as obscurants. In some embodiments, the method comprises storing a quantity of particles in a first vehicle, and releasing a portion of the particles in an ambient environment of the first vehicle.

The invention discloses an all-weather speed-measuring sky screen target which is characterized in that horizontal straight line structured light lasers are arranged at both sides of a detection target body of a box type sky screen target of the traditional lens group; and a generated fan-shaped shiny surface and a sky screen generated by the lens group are on a same plane. In the invention, the horizontal straight line structured light lasers as auxiliary light sources are fixedly arranged on the detection target body so as to be used as a light source; the light screen position of the sky screen target is also indicated; the reflected light of a reflecting film body on lasers is enabled to enter a detection lens by utilizing the reflecting film body positioned right above the detection target body of the sky screen target; light flux generated when a pill passes through the light screen of the sky screen target and a light screen of the lasers is sent to a calculagraph or a data acquisition device through photoelectric conversion and signal processing; and corresponding circuits are designed for different reflecting film bodies. The invention realizes the all-weather testing without being influenced by the change of sky brightness, day and night alternation and the transformation of sunny and rainy weathers, has the advantages of simple cloth target, higher position fault tolerance and low manufacturing cost and realizes the all-weather testing of pill speed.

A method of aligning a point of aim with a point of impact for a projectile device is disclosed. Using a superposition device coupled to the projectile device, at least one reference point is superposed within a first target area with at least one beam of the superposition device. A position for at least one of the reference points is noted. A projectile is shot from the projectile device at a second target area, while the position of the at least one reference point is maintained, to create the point of impact. The point of aim for the projectile device is adjusted to correspond with the point of impact while the position of the at least one reference points is maintained.

An inexpensive, efficient and lightweight integrated small decoy system towed behind an aircraft to power an intense IR emitter for drawing in a missile with an IR sensitive guidance system away from vulnerable parts of a defended aircraft is combined with a system for simultaneously cloaking the aircraft with spectral bands of atmospherically scattered UV solar radiation reflected, and radiated from UV radiant sources mounted on the aircraft to defend against advanced MANPADS missiles with guidance systems sensitive to UV shadows cast by an aircraft in a background sky radiance of atmospherically scattered solar UV. Both the reflected and direct cloaking UV emittance may be spatially and / or temporally modulated to confuse an incoming missile. The UV aspect of this invention may also be combined with other C-MANPADS missiles, such as DIRCM, to provide additional defensive capability.

Methods and apparatus for a multi-spectral target apparatus, includes a target having at least one thermal emitting portion, a controller module in communication with a remote user, at least one brightness controller including an input electrically connected to the controller module and at least one output electrically connected to at least one thermal emitting portion of the target. The brightness controller is operable to vary a thermal emitting property of the at least one thermal emitting portion, wherein the at least one thermal emitting portion includes a thermal emitter layer further comprising a resistive layer having a front side and a back side, the resistive layer sandwiched between an electrode layer deposited on the front side and the back side of the resistive layer.

A thermal silhouette target including a high emissivity surface, a conductive layer, a heating coil, an insulative layer and a direct voltage source. A thermal zeroing silhouette target device further includes a mask with a zeroing grid and a pair of contacts for electrical connection to a direct voltage current source.

A rope light is provided comprising a plurality of infrared lamps that enable a user to stealthily operate the light under cover of darkness. The method of using the rope light comprises either signaling to an observer or operating on a workpiece. The rope light can be positioned to signal information such as the outlines of a runway or supply drop point. The observer, using appropriate goggles or other visualization devices, can then detect such signals. The rope light provided can also be used to operate on such things as an automobile engine under cover of darkness. The rope light can be flexibly positioned in such things as engine compartments to flood the compartment with infrared light, enabling a person to repair a workpiece such as an engine. Other embodiments use a rope light that radiates light visible to the human eye for both signaling and operating on a workpiece.

An arrangement for storing and launching payloads. An elongate body includes at least one launch opening. The elongate body is configured to store the payloads in compartments. The compartments include openings. The arrangement is configured to be mounted on a vehicle with a longitudinal direction of the elongate body essentially coinciding with a direction of motion of the vehicle. The elongate body includes deflectors configured to act on an air stream and to permanently create an air covering layer across and over the compartment openings during use.

Combined IR-RF combat identification friend-or-foe (IFF) system for a ground targets, such as dismounted soldiers, vehicles or military platforms comprising IR-RF interrogator mounted on a firearm and IR-RF transponder mounted on a friendly target. RF channel operates in Ka-band providing brief information about friendly targets that could be in attacked area, and if they are, develop alert signal: “Friendly soldiers are in the area”. The interrogator additionally contains RF channel receiving reflected signal that allows recognize armed foe. IR channel of the system prevents friendly fire in the case of direct sighting to a friendly soldier.

The invention pertains to a device for signature adaptation, comprising at least one surface element (100; 300; 500) arranged to assume a determined thermal distribution, wherein said surface element comprises at least one temperature generating element (150; 450a, 450b, 450c) arranged to generate at least one predetermined temperature gradient to a portion of said at least one surface element. Said surface element (100; 300; 500) comprising at least one display surface (50), wherein said display surface (50) is arranged to radiate at least one predetermined spectrum. The invention also pertains to a method for signature adaptation and an object such as a craft provided with the device according to the invention.

Disclosed is an active RF decoy simulation apparatus for simulating an active RF decoy system in virtual environment, comprising: a missile seeker which radiates RF signals and detects reflection signals from the target ship, a target motion simulator for implementing the moving trajectory of active RF decoy, in which an antenna for radiating the reflected signal of the target ship and another antenna for radiating the deception signal of the active RF decoy according to the transmitted missile signal are mounted, a microwave device which transfers the detected signal radiated from the missile to the antenna so that the reflected signal of the target ship is radiated by the target motion simulator and which receives the signal radiated from the missile, amplifies the received signal and transfers the signal to the antenna so that a repeated delay signal of the RF decoy simulator which is greater than the reflected signal of the target ship is radiated by the target motion simulator, a missile seeker control device which controls the missile seeker, a target motion simulator control device which controls the target motion simulator, and a virtual environment simulation device which controls the microwave device which controls the radiation of the signal of the RF decoy simulator, and the missile seeker control device.

The present invention provides a heatable long range metal target capable of providing acoustic feedback to the user on impact and is durable to withstand the repeated vibration stress that occurs during repeated use. In a preferred embodiment, target includes a reactive target body for generating an audible feedback signal on impact by a firearm round (such as a metal gong), a heating element and a fastening structure connectable to the target body for mounting of the heating element to the target body. The target body has a front, impact surface and a rear surface and is constructed of hardened steel for withstanding repeated impact by high velocity rounds on the impact surface without penetration. The heating element heats a target region of the target and the fastening structure connects the heating element to the target body away from the impact surface. The fastening structure includes a vibration dampening portion for at least partially insulating the heating element from vibrations of the target body generated on impact by the firearm round. Attachment of the heating structure to the reactive target body is made more reliable by using a fastening structure including vibration dampening features, such as an elastic mounting structure.

A three-dimensional molded thermal signature target form comprising a conductive polymer material suitable for conducting infrared radiation such that a thermal signature is created and viewable by any number of suitable IR imaging or viewing systems. The thermal signature target form includes embedded busbars attached to a power source. The thermal signature target form can provide a realistic, inexpensive and safe live-fire target for training in thermal image recognition and shooting.

A buoyant target or ship decoy comprises an inflatable structure with a drogue chute attached to the periphery of the bottom of the inflatable structure. The drogue chute is an open flexible structure with a bottom end weighted with ballast to deploy it, and with ports through its side to permit water to flow into and out of it. A laser reflector member is attached to an exterior surface of the inflatable structure. The laser reflector member comprises a body having one or more laser reflective surfaces.

A missile decoy countermeasures radiation source that provides a controlled radiation source that emulates jet aircraft engines, wherein the radiation generating elements utilizes specific catalysts, dopings and fuel additives burned within a reticulated ceramic matrix. Further a variable speed multi-element rotating blade structure is incorporated to provide the chopping of the radiation. The reticulated ceramic burner is doped such that radiation spectral lines are highest in those bands that are of interest to anti-aircraft missile seekers. The outermost surface of the decoy body is fabricated from reticulated ceramics that are transparent to the select lines of radiant energy, is breathable and a smooth, providing an aerodynamic surface for fast moving aircraft. Further the injection of specific catalysts, dopings and fuel additives provide for real-time spectral management and the injection of oxidizers allows for high altitude operations.

A process to detect the entry of a target into a zone, such process wherein it has the following stages:an illuminating beam is projected in the direction of the target by at least one source,the beam reflected on the target after its projection by one or more sources is received by at least two detectors placed in proximity to the zone and whose fields of detection incorporate a common part, each detector being synchronized to at least one of the sources,each travel distance separating the source and each detector via the target is computed or else only one of these distances is computed and then associated with a target presence criterion supplied by another detector,a target detection signal is delivered when the distance or distances thus computed, as well as qany presence criterion or criteria supplied, allow a point located geometrically in the zone under surveillance to be defined.

A modular RCS (Radar Cross Section) and IR (Infra-Red) signal generation device includes: a plastic bag which is normally stored in a folded state, and inflated when gas is introduced into the bag as desired; a radar reflector received in the plastic bag, the radar reflector being configured in a multi-hedral reflector structure having a reflection characteristic similar to that of a naval vessel to be protected; hot air tubes formed through the plastic bag, hot air being capable of generating IR signals by flowing through the hot air tubes; and connection patches positioned on one of the surfaces of the plastic bag at the points where the ends of the hot air tubes intersect with the surfaces, respectively, the connection patches being adapted to be attached to those of adjacent modular RCS and IR signal generation devices, respectively, so as to interconnect the hot air tubes with those of the adjacent modular RCS and IR signal generation devices.

A projectile including: at least one power consuming element, and a power supply which generates power from an acceleration of the projectile and supplies such power to the at least one power consuming element, the power supply including a device for storing potential energy upon the acceleration of the projectile and a device for converting the stored potential energy to electrical energy. Where the device for storing potential energy upon the acceleration of the projectile includes a movable mass and an energy storage device for storing energy upon the acceleration of the movable mass and the energy storage device is a chamber having a compressible fluid therein, the chamber being acted upon by the movable mass to reduce the volume of the chamber subsequent to acceleration of the movable mass.

A system and method for an aircraft (10) that provides an IR decoy (12) for an incoming missile (18) to track instead of an engine (14) of the aircraft (10) is disclosed. The IR decoy (12) is deployed during or just after take off, and prior to landing to provide a signature (16) for any incoming missile (18). The IR decoy (12) provides a heat source (16) that has a higher radiant intensity than the hottest heat source on the aircraft (10), which is typically the engine (14), thereby providing a more attractive heat source for the missile (18). In another embodiment, a warning system (20) for an aircraft (10) detects an incoming missile (18), and deploys IR decoy (12) and creates an engine mask (22) by injecting an additive into the exhaust stream of the engine (14), thereby obscuring the radiation emanating from the engine (14).

A target device for firing practice. At least one thermal target surface is heated by an electrically current passing through same. The thermal target surface includes a number of current coils arranged so as to conduct the current from a first area of the target surface to a second area. Each current coil includes current conductors disposed essentially in parallel with one another at a first distance from one another. The current conductors are connected to one another at their ends so that they form the current coil from the first area to the second area. Proximate current coils are mutually connected via bridges.

A dispenser unit including a plurality of compartments, each being adapted for storing and launching a payload and including an opening through which the payload is launched by a control unit. A door is associated with the opening and is driven by a driver. The dispenser unit includes one common door being arranged in such way that it is drivable to cover the openings of the compartments from which the payloads have been launched.

A decoy device and system for anti-missile protection and an associated method are provided. The decoy device includes a propellant and a tank containing the propellant. The decoy device also includes an outlet defined in the tank, and a catalyst contained within the tank and capable of exothermically reacting with the propellant to emit a gas having a heat and pressure. The heat generated by the reaction is radiated by the decoy device is capable of attracting a missile, while the gas is expelled through the outlet to provide thrust to the decoy device.