# US 2014/0152840 A1 · Systems And Methods For Preventing Friendly Fire Through Infrared Recognition And Authentication > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0152840 A1 - Document ID: US20140152840A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/093,383 - Filed: 2013-11-29 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Waba Fun, LLC - Applicants: Waba Fun, LLC - Inventors: David C. McCloskey; Jeffrey L. Barnett; Stanley R. James - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152840A1 ## CPC - G01S 17/74: Systems using reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. IFF, i.e. identification of friend or foe - G01S 7/4802: {using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section} - H04N 23/20: for generating image signals from infrared radiation only - H04N 23/611: where the recognised objects include parts of the human body - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Systems and methods prevent friendly fire using infrared object recognition. An IR projector projects a beam of IR radiation at a first wavelength onto the object and an IR detector, having a field of view of the object, detects IR fluorescence from the object, where a wavelength of the fluorescence is a function of the first wavelength. The system includes a memory for storing software having machine readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform the steps of: (a) controlling the IR projector to generate IR at the first wavelength; (b) controlling the IR detector to capture the object fluorescence; and (c) identifying the object as friendly or non-friendly based upon the object fluorescence. The system further includes an inhibitor for preventing firing of a gun or missile when the object is identified as friendly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for preventing friendly fire using infrared (IR) object recognition, comprising: an IR projector for projecting a beam of IR radiation at a first wavelength onto the object; an IR detector having a field of view of the object for detecting IR fluorescence from the object, a wavelength of the fluorescence being a function of the first wavelength; a processor executing an algorithm to perform the steps of: controlling the IR projector to generate IR at the first wavelength and project the IR onto the object; controlling the IR detector to detect the object fluorescence; and identifying the object as friendly when the object fluorescence is detected; and an inhibitor for preventing firing of a gun or missile when the object is identified as friendly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising an activator for initiating projection by the IR projector, the activator being in communication with or configured with an activating area of the gun or missile. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, the activating area being the trigger of a gun. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, the inhibitor being or being in communication with an electronic safety of the gun, to lock the gun when the object is identified as friendly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a band-pass filter for filtering out IR at wavelengths other than fluorescence wavelengths of friendly IR fluorescing material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory storing an IR wavelength list of inhibitory wavelengths; wherein the inhibitor is activated when the IR detector detects IR with an inhibitory wavelength. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system is incorporated with a gun. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system is incorporated with a military aircraft. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system is incorporated with a tank. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system is incorporated with an anti-aircraft gun. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system is incorporated with heavy artillery. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, the IR projector and the IR detector being configured with a cartridge that permanently or removably attaches with the gun. ### Claim 13 A system for preventing friendly fire using infrared object recognition, comprising: an IR projector for projecting a beam of IR radiation at a first wavelength onto the object; an IR detector having a field of view of the object for detecting IR fluorescence from the object, a wavelength of the fluorescence being a function of the first wavelength; an RGB camera for capturing a still or moving picture of the object; a processor; a memory for storing software having machine readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform the steps of: identifying the object from an object list, based upon the still or moving picture from the RGB camera; controlling the IR projector to generate IR at the first wavelength; controlling the IR detector to capture the object fluorescence; and identifying the object as friendly or non-friendly based upon the object fluorescence; and an inhibitor for preventing firing of a gun or missile when the object is identified as friendly. ### Claim 14 A system for preventing friendly fire using infrared (IR) recognition of an object, comprising: an IR detector having a field of view of the object for detecting IR fluorescence from the object when illuminated by an IR beam; a processor executing an algorithm to perform the steps of: controlling the IR detector to detect the object fluorescence; and identifying the object as friendly or non-friendly based upon whether the object fluorescence is detected; and an inhibitor for preventing firing of a gun or missile when the object is identified as friendly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising a memory storing an IR wavelength list of inhibitory wavelengths; wherein the inhibitor is activated when the IR detector detects IR with an inhibitory wavelength.