Visual Obscurant System with Modulated Light and Non-Linear Cloud
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing obscurant systems conceal targets from both friendly and hostile forces, making it difficult to maintain visibility for friendly forces while obscuring targets from unfriendly forces, and they are ineffective against laser weapons.
Innovation Solution
A visual obscurant system that uses a sensor to detect laser beams and release an optically non-linear substance into the atmosphere to create a cloud, which is modulated by a controller to scatter or fluoresce light, allowing friendly sensors to view objects while obscuring them from hostile observers, and also dissipates laser energy by absorbing and re-emitting it as heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an obscurant is released to conceal a target from unfriendly forces, then the target is hidden from hostile sensors, but the target is also concealed from friendly forces
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the obscurant cloud into functionally distinct regions: a first portion positioned between the friendly force and target that is transparent to friendly sensors, and a second portion positioned between the hostile force and target that obscures the target from hostile sensors. This spatial segmentation allows differential visibility based on observer location.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the obscurant cloud are given different optical properties. The first portion has transparency characteristics optimized for friendly force observation, while the second portion has obscuration characteristics optimized for blocking hostile sensors. This local differentiation of optical properties resolves the contradiction between friendly visibility and hostile concealment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a traditional obscurant system is used to hide targets, then hostile forces cannot detect the target, but the system requires complex sensor integration and coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs sensors that automatically detect the presence and characteristics of hostile forces, with controllers that autonomously determine optimal obscurant deployment strategies. The system self-regulates the release timing, location, and characteristics of obscurant portions without requiring manual coordination, reducing operational complexity while maintaining effective concealment.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If an obscurant cloud is deployed to block visual and infrared sensors, then the target is concealed from detection, but the obscurant does not protect against laser weapons
Solution Approach 1:
The obscurant system is designed to perform multiple protective functions simultaneously: it obscures the target from visual and infrared sensors while also providing protection against laser weapons through the same cloud deployment. The obscurant material and positioning are selected to achieve both optical concealment and laser defense, making the system multi-functional rather than requiring separate systems for each threat type.
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 conceals targets from hostile forces while allowing friendly forces to maintain visibility and protects against laser weapons by scattering or absorbing their energy, improving situational awareness and defensive capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
the cloud is modulated by a controller to scatter or fluoresce light
Implementation Method 2
the cloud is modulated by a controller to scatter or fluoresce light
Implementation Method 3
dissipates laser energy by absorbing and re-emitting it as heat
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A visual obscurant system (10) for obscuring an object (32) from an observer (34) having a field of view (FOV), the system (10) comprising: a sensor (24) for detecting/observing the object (32); a light source (25) for emitting light in an electromagnetic spectrum; a source (20) for releasing an obscurant into atmosphere to create a cloud (22), wherein the obscurant reflects a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum into the FOV of the observer (34) so as to obscure the object (32); and a controller (30) in communication with at least the sensor (24) and the light source (25), the controller (30) modulating the light source (20) at a frequency sufficient such that the observer (34) interprets the light as being constant (eg. 10-100 MHz), wherein the controller (30) activates the sensor (24) during the time intervals in which the light source (25) does not emit light so as to allow the sensor (24) an undisturbed view on the object (32). Furthermore, a system (200) is disclosed for dissipating a laser beam generated by a laser weapon (210), the system (200) comprising: a source (200) for releasing an obscurant into atmosphere to create a cloud (222), wherein the obscurant is an optically non-linear substance (eg. quantum dots) externally energized/ionized by the laser beam generated by the laser weapon (210).