Directed Energy Beam Virtual Fence Relay System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current millimeter-wave directed energy systems for deterring intruders lack effectiveness in preventing crossing of boundaries, as they may not provide sufficient power density and beam width to cause intolerable pain consistently, and are vulnerable to interruption or circumvention.
Innovation Solution
A directed energy beam virtual fence system employing a high power millimeter-wave energy beam with a source unit, relay units, and a beam terminator, which recollimates and redirects the beam to maintain power and ensure delivery across a boundary, with detectors to conserve energy and maintain beam integrity, and terrain modifications to prevent physical breaches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If millimeter-wave directed energy beams are used for deterring intruders, then the system can provide a non-lethal warning, but the beam may not penetrate deep enough to cause intolerable pain consistently
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the boundary into multiple segments with relay units positioned at intervals, allowing the beam to be redirected and maintained at high power density along the entire boundary length. This segmentation enables the beam to stay within effective penetration depth while maintaining sufficient power density to cause pain at each segment location.
Solution Approach 2:
Relay units act as intermediaries that receive the millimeter-wave beam and recollimate it to maintain the beam's directional integrity and power density over long distances. These intermediaries enable the beam to traverse the boundary effectively without diverging or losing intensity, thus maintaining both penetration depth and pain-inducing power density.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If high power millimeter-wave beams are used to ensure pain threshold is reached, then deterrence effectiveness improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs detectors that monitor beam interruptions and trigger full-power operation only when necessary. The millimeter-wave source operates at reduced power during normal conditions and increases to full power only when intruders approach or when beam interruptions are detected, creating a periodic action pattern that reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining deterrence effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
Detectors positioned along the boundary provide feedback about beam interruptions and intruder presence to the control system. This feedback enables the system to adjust power output dynamically, operating at high power only when intruders are detected or the beam is interrupted, thereby reducing energy consumption during idle periods while maintaining effectiveness when needed.
3Reliability
If the beam path is made continuous along the boundary, then deterrence coverage improves, but the system becomes vulnerable to interruption and circumvention
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous beam path is achieved through segmentation into discrete relay units positioned at intervals along the boundary. Each relay unit receives the beam from the previous unit and recollimates it for the next segment, creating a modular system that maintains continuity while allowing for easier maintenance and reduced vulnerability at any single point.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-point beam to a multi-dimensional boundary coverage by positioning relay units along the entire boundary length. This dimensional extension creates a continuous protective barrier that is difficult to circumvent and maintains deterrence continuity across the entire protected area.
4Power
If relay units are added to recollimate and redirect the beam, then beam integrity and power delivery improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses relay units only at strategic intervals along the boundary rather than continuously, applying partial action where needed to maintain beam integrity. This approach provides sufficient power density delivery while minimizing the number of relay units required, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
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 effectively deters intruders by maintaining sufficient power density and beam width to cause pain, while minimizing energy consumption and preventing physical breaches, ensuring a continuous and effective deterrent.
Implementation Method 1
Millimeter-wave directed energy beams are a known method for repelling or deterring intruders. A millimeter-wave beam, such as a W-band millimeter-wave beam having frequency about 94 GHz, may penetrate the skin of an intruder person to only a depth of 1/64 th
Data Source
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AI summary
There is disclosed apparatus and methods for a directed energy beam virtual fence. The directed energy beam virtual fence may include a source unit to provide an energy beam and a sequence of relay units disposed at intervals along the length of the virtual fence. Each relay unit in the sequence may receive the energy beam from a previous unit and may recollimate and redirect the energy beam towards a subsequent unit.