Active adaptive thermal stealth system
AssigneeEltics Ltd
InventorRONEN MEIR
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a thermal vision countermeasure system to enable concealment of objects from identification by thermal imaging night vision systems, including a screen made of thermoelectric modules, disposed between the target object and an IR detector. The screen, formed of at least one thermoelectric unit, is coupled to the target object, and the thermoelectric unit includes a Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC) module coupled to a plate formed of a material selected from aluminum, copper, or aluminum with copper, the plate being substantially larger than the TEC module.
Claims24
An infrared detection countermeasure system for a target object, the system comprising:
- a screen, including at least one thermoelectric unit, couplable to a target object;
- each said thermoelectric unit including at least one TEC module coupled to a plate;
- a power source coupled to each said TEC module;
- a controller for controlling individually each said at least one TEC module, said controller coupled to said power source for causing said power source to provide a level of power to each said thermoelectric unit, so as to generate a selected heat signature in at least part of said screen;
- a screen thermal imaging sensor facing said screen and collecting radiometric data of a portion of said screen and providing said data to said controller to compare said radiometric data with said selected heat signature said power source to minimize any radiometric differential therebetween.
An infrared detection countermeasure system for a target object, the system comprising:
- a screen, including at least one thermoelectric unit, couplable to a target object;
- each said thermoelectric unit including at least one TEC module coupled to a plate;
- a power source coupled to each said TEC module;
- a controller for controlling individually each said at least one TEC module, said controller coupled to said power source and controls said power source to deliver electrical current to the TEC modules, so as to generate a selected heat signature in at least part of said screen;
- at least one thermal sensor coupled to said thermoelectric unit providing thermal data of said thermoelectric unit to said controller;
- and
- a processor in said controller receiving said thermal data and causing said power source to provide a first pulse of selected power and length of time for creating a selected temperature of at least one of said TEC modules;
- and a plurality of pulses of lower power for selected lengths of time to maintain said selected temperature, in response to said thermal data.
A method for forming an infrared detection countermeasure system for a target object, the method comprising:
- forming a screen of at least one thermoelectric unit, couplable to a target object;
- forming said thermoelectric unit from a TEC module coupled to a plate;
- coupling a controller to each said thermoelectric unit for controlling individually each said thermoelectric unit;
- measuring temperature of one side of said thermoelectric unit and providing an indication thereof to said controller;
- coupling a power source to said thermoelectric unit;
- coupling said controller to said power source for causing said power source to provide a level of power to each said thermoelectric unit, so as to generate a selected heat signature in at least part of said screen;
- and
- mounting a screen thermal imaging sensor facing said screen and causing said screen thermal imaging sensor to collect radiometric data of a portion of said screen and provide said data to said controller to compare said radiometric data with said selected heat signature said power source to minimize any radiometric differential therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.