# US 2017/0284780 A1 · Projectile delivery of disruptive media for target protection from directed energy

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- Number: US 2017/0284780 A1
- Document ID: US20170284780A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/088,286
- Filed: 2016-04-01
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-01
- Assignees: The Boeing Company
- Applicants: The Boeing Company
- Inventors: Mark J. Clemen, JR.; Donald V. Drouin, JR.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284780A1

## CPC

- F42B 12/50: by dispersion
- F41H 13/0062: {causing structural damage to the target}
- F42B 12/48: smoke-producing {, e.g. infrared clouds}
- F42B 12/70: for dispensing radar chaff or infrared material (radar-reflector targets, active targets transmitting infrared radiation F41J2/00; radar-reflecting surfaces H01Q15/14)
- F42B 15/01: Arrangements thereon for guidance or control ({steering arrangements F42B10/60}; aircraft flight control B64C; guidance systems other than those installed aboard F41G7/00, F41G9/00; locating by use of radio or other waves G01S; flight control in general G05D1/00; computer aspects G06])
- F42C 13/02: operated by intensity of light or similar radiation
- F42B: EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION (explosive compositions C06B; fuzes F42C; blasting F42D)
- F41H: ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
- F42C: AMMUNITION FUZES (blasting cartridge initiators F42B3/10; chemical aspects C06C); ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR (filling fuzes F42B33/02; fitting or extracting primers in or from fuzes F42B33/04; containers for fuzes F42B39/30)

## Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems may protect a target from undesirable electromagnetic radiation by detecting electromagnetic radiation (including coherent radiation such as laser beams) aimed at a target from a source; calculating a first release position to disrupt the electromagnetic radiation thereby protecting the target; launching a projectile that may include a disruptive medium or a disruptive-medium precursor; directing the projectile to the first release position; and releasing the disruptive medium from the projectile at the first release position, such that the releasing of the disruptive medium forms a cloud of the disruptive medium.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method, comprising:
detecting electromagnetic radiation aimed at a target from a source;
calculating a first release position to disrupt the electromagnetic radiation thereby protecting the target;
launching a projectile comprising a disruptive medium or a disruptive-medium precursor;
directing the projectile to the first release position; and
releasing the disruptive medium from the projectile at the first release position;
wherein the releasing of the disruptive medium forms a cloud of the disruptive medium.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the detecting, the calculating, or the launching is performed at the target.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the detecting, the calculating, or the launching is performed remotely from the target.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the calculating of the first release position comprises;
computing a position of the source; and
computing a distance from the source at which the cloud obscures a predetermined range of a propagation angles (α) of the electromagnetic radiation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising
calculating a second release position to disrupt the electromagnetic radiation thereby continuing to protect the target;
directing the projectile to the second release position; and
releasing the disruptive medium from the projectile at the second release position;
wherein the releasing of the disruptive medium forms a cloud of the disruptive medium.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises tracking radiation;
wherein the calculating of the first release position comprises computing a time at which the source locks reliably onto a position of the target or a trajectory of the target.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises damaging radiation;
wherein the calculating of the first release position comprises computing a time at which the electromagnetic radiation causes an unacceptable amount of damage to the target.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the projectile is selected from a set of projectiles based on a sensed parameter of the electromagnetic radiation;
wherein the disruptive medium differs in composition, constituent size, quantity, or a number of charges between at least two members of the set of projectiles.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the launching comprises a use of at least one of gravity, compressed gas, expanding gas, an electromagnetic field, or an engine attached to the projectile.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising changing a course of the projectile after the launching.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing a change in the electromagnetic radiation or a relative position of the source and the target after the launching; and
re-calculating the first release position to compensate for the change.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein after the launching, the projectile is guided toward the first release position by a remote system.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein after the launching the projectile is guided toward the first release position by a system internal to the projectile.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the releasing is triggered by a system internal to the projectile.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the releasing comprises spraying, misting, burning, or explosion.

### Claim 16

A projectile, comprising:
a first container of a first disruptive medium or a disruptive-medium precursor;
a first release mechanism operable to release the first disruptive medium from the first container;
a controller in communication with the first release mechanism;
calculation logic in communication with the controller;
wherein the controller triggers the first release mechanism to release the first disruptive medium at a first release position;
wherein the calculation logic calculates the first release position in response to detection of electromagnetic radiation by a sensor in communication with the controller or with the calculation logic.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The projectile of claim 16, further comprising
a second container of a second disruptive medium or the disruptive-medium precursor having a second release mechanism in communication with the controller;
wherein the controller triggers the second release mechanism to release the second disruptive medium at a second release position; and
wherein the second release position differs from the first release position.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The projectile of claim 16, wherein at least one of the controller, the sensor, or the calculation logic are internal to the projectile.

### Claim 19

A system, comprising:
a sensor operable to detect electromagnetic radiation aimed at a target;
a measurement module operable to characterize the electromagnetic radiation;
calculation logic operable to calculate a first release position for a disruptive-medium cloud to protect the target based on a characterization by the measurement module;
at least two of a clock, a position sensor, or a velocimeter;
a projectile launcher;
a projectile operable to release the disruptive-medium cloud; and
control logic operable to trigger a release of the disruptive-medium cloud at the first release position.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, further comprising adaptive logic operable to change a course of the projectile or to recalculate the first release position in response to a change in the characterization while the projectile is in motion.