IR Sensor Jamming System with Multi-Wavelength Laser Diodes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current antimissile protection systems for civil aircraft are too large, heavy, and expensive, with high aerodynamic drag, and fail to meet the constraints of size, weight, and cost, while also lacking sufficient scrambling codes and ensuring eye safety, especially when integrated on helicopters or other civil aircraft.

Innovation Solution

An IR sensor jamming system with a reduced size optronic module, utilizing multiple laser diodes capable of emitting at different wavelengths in quasi-continuous mode, combined with an IR detector and damage equipment, featuring a harmonization device for both channels and a common entrance pupil, allowing for increased scrambling codes and improved eye safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a military-grade antimissile protection system is used, then missile detection and jamming capability is improved, but system size, weight, and aerodynamic drag increase excessively for civil aircraft

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemissile detection and jamming capabilityVSAvoidsystem weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into separate functional modules: a detection module with UV and IR detectors, a processing module for signal analysis, and a jamming module with laser diodes. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently, reducing overall system weight while maintaining military-grade capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system integrates multiple functions into a single compact unit: UV detection for missile launch, IR detection for tracking, signal processing for code generation, and laser jamming for countermeasures. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate systems, significantly reducing weight and aerodynamic drag for civil aircraft.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If traditional laser jamming systems are used, then missile seeker neutralization is improved, but the number of scrambling codes is limited due to short pulse duration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemissile seeker neutralizationVSAvoidnumber of scrambling codes
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The laser diodes operate in quasi-continuous mode with pulse durations extended to several microseconds instead of nanoseconds. This continuous action allows multiple scrambling codes to be transmitted within each pulse, dramatically increasing the number of available codes from limited quantities to over 100 distinct codes, thereby improving adaptability against different missile types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If high-power damaging laser is used, then missile damage capability is improved, but eye safety is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemissile damage capabilityVSAvoideye safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The damaging laser is configured to deliver high power only at the focal point on the missile seeker, while maintaining low power density along the beam path. This localized energy concentration achieves effective missile damage capability at long ranges while keeping the beam safe for passing aircraft and personnel, resolving the eye safety contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Adaptability or versatility

If a system with separate jamming and damage channels is implemented, then functional versatility is improved, but system dimensions become excessively large for airborne installation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional versatilityVSAvoidsystem volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The detection module, processing module, and both jamming and damaging laser channels are merged into a single integrated optronic module. Shared components include the UV and IR detectors, the signal processing unit, and the laser diode array that can operate in multiple modes. This consolidation achieves functional versatility while reducing system volume to fit within civil aircraft constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system achieves a higher number of scrambling codes and ensures eye safety without increasing system size, enabling effective jamming and damage capabilities within the constraints of civil aircraft, with a detection rate of approximately 20 kHz and reduced noise, thus meeting the requirements of size, weight, and cost.

Implementation Method 1

an IR emission device for jamming, comprising several laser diodes (111), each laser diode being capable of emitting at a different wavelength λ

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission from laser diodes: Laser

Implementation Method 2

a pulse detector comprising a matrix of IR photodetectors, each photodetector comprising a transducer and an integrator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric detection: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2232293B1System for jamming and damaging an IR sensor
Publication Date: 2014.01.01 THALES SA
  • EP2232293B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2232293B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2232293B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to an IR-sensor jamming device that includes: an IR transmission device for jamming; a pulse detector (100) that comprises an IR photodetector matrix, each photodetector including a transducer (1) and an integrator (2). The IR transmission device for jamming includes a plurality of laser diodes (111), each laser diode being capable of: i) transmission at a different wavelength ?; ii) operation in quasi continuous mode, i.e. with a shape factor > 0.3. Each photodetector includes a means for opening the integrator during the reception of each pulse and for closing the integrator between two receptions, for summing the charges integrated by the integrator over a plurality of pulses, and for reading the sum of the charges integrated on a plurality of pulses.