Persistent marking of a target
AssigneeBAE SYSTEMS plc
InventorAntony Mrozicki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method of marking and identifying a target, and in particular, a method of using a Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) to heat a target without damaging it so that the target may be clearly identified by detectors and systems using thermally sensitive imaging.
Claims20
A method of marking at least two targets, the method comprising:
- illuminating the at least two targets with a directed energy weapon;
- heating up each of the at least two targets using the directed energy weapon without damaging the at least two targets, wherein a different pre-determined temperature is induced in each of the at least two targets;
- ceasing illumination of the at least two targets with the directed energy weapon;
- identifying and distinguishing the at least two targets based on the different pre-determined temperatures induced in each of the at least two targets using thermal imaging;
- and
- carrying out a specific task on at least one of the at least two targets based on the identification.
A directed energy weapon adapted to engage at least two targets in order to induce an enduring increase in temperature in the targets without damaging the targets, wherein a different pre-determined temperature is induced in each of the at least two targets.
The directed energy weapon according to 8, wherein the power level of the weapon can be adjusted.
A method of marking targets, the method comprising:
- distinguishably heating, via one or more directed energy weapons, a first surface of a first target to a first temperature and/or with a first thermal pattern, and a second surface of a second target to a second temperature and/or with a second thermal pattern;
- identifying at least one of the first and second targets by using thermal imaging to detect temperature and/or thermal pattern of a corresponding target surface;
- and
- carrying out a specific task on at least one of the first and second targets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.