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US 11,279,455 B1Granted
Countermeasures apparatus and method
OwnerRichard D. Adamsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for countering an oncoming threat is disclosed. A location in front of the threat is selected, and a generally spherical volume is defined by a plurality of lines deployed from a centrally located communications unit. Sensors associated with the lines are connected to the communications unit and sense presence of the oncoming threat, whereupon countermeasures are activated responsive to the sensed oncoming threat.
Claims19
A system for protecting an asset above a surface of Earth from an oncoming threat, the system comprising:
- a body,
- a plurality of lines in the body so that when the plurality of lines are extended, the plurality of lines extend outward from the body in directions therefrom to define a generally spherical volume that the plurality of lines extend through,
- a plurality of line deployment mechanisms in the body, each line deployment mechanism of the plurality of line deployment mechanisms connected to one end of a respective one of the plurality of lines, the plurality of line deployment mechanisms configured so that when activated, the plurality of line deployment mechanisms each deploy a respective said line of the plurality of lines from the body in the directions to define the generally spherical volume above a surface of Earth,
- a communications medium in at least some of the plurality of lines,
- at least one sensor connected to the communications medium in a respective said line of the at least some of the plurality of lines, for sensing the oncoming threat,
- At least one defense mechanism responsive to the at least one sensor within the generally spherical volume,
- A launcher for deploying the body to a predetermined location above a surface of Earth where the plurality of lines including the at least one sensor are deployed in the generally spherical volume to defeat the oncoming threat.
4 more elements
A tube launched countermeasures system comprising:
- a plurality of launch tubes, each launch tube of the plurality of launch tubes containing a discrete countermeasure system, each discrete countermeasure system further comprising:
- a body,
- a body tow rocket motor for towing the body to a predetermined deployment point, the body tow rocket motor configured to release the body at the predetermined deployment point,
- a plurality of extendable lines within the body, the plurality of extendable lines each coupled at one end to the body at points selected such that when the plurality of extendable lines are extended straight out from the body, the plurality of extendable lines are within a generally spherical volume defined by the plurality of extendable lines,
- a plurality of line tow rocket motors in the body, each line tow rocket motor of the plurality of line tow rocket motors attached to an opposite end of a respective extendable line of the plurality of extendable lines, for towing the plurality of extendable lines into an extended position in order to define the generally spherical volume at the predetermined deployment point,
- one or more sensors on respective ones of the plurality of extendable lines, for sensing signals or disturbances in or around the generally spherical volume,
- A defense mechanism in the generally spherical volume and responsive to the one or more sensors, for implementing countermeasures.
4 more elements
A method for countering an oncoming threat comprising:
- selecting a location in front of the oncoming threat,
- using a plurality of lines, defining a generally spherical volume at the location in front of the oncoming threat,
- sensing the oncoming threat,
- using the lines for activating countermeasures within the generally spherical volume responsive to the sensing the oncoming threat.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.