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US 7,732,769 B2Granted
Apparatus and methods for use in flash detection
AssigneeGeneral Atomics
InventorsRobin Terry Snider, Jeffrey Dykes McGee, Michael Dale Perry
Life of this patent
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AssigneeGeneral Atomics
InventorsRobin Terry Snider, Jeffrey Dykes McGee, Michael Dale Perry
Estimating the term…
The present embodiments provide methods, systems and apparatuses that detect, classify and locate flash events. In some implementations, some of the methods detect a flash event, trigger an imaging system in response to detecting the flash event to capture an image of an area that includes the flash event, and determines a location of the flash event.
A method of detecting flash events, the method comprising:
A method of detecting flash events, the method comprising:
A method of detecting flash events, the method comprising:
A method of detecting flash events, the method comprising:
A method of detecting flash events, the method comprising:
A method of detecting flash events, the method comprising:
A method of detecting a flash, comprising:
A method of detecting a flash, comprising:
A method of detecting a flash, comprising:
A system that detects flash events, the system comprising:
A system that detects flash events, the system comprising:
A system that detects flash events, the system comprising:
A system that detects flash events, the system comprising:
A method of detecting flash events, the method comprising:
A method of detecting a flash, comprising:
A method of detecting a flash event from weaponry, comprising:
A method of detecting flash events, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO
From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Indirect aiming means: based on detection of a firing weapon
Context or environment of the image: surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects
Image analysis to detect motion of the intruder, e.g. by frame subtraction: recognition of a predetermined image pattern or behaviour pattern…
For generating image signals from different wavelengths: for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
About 9 months of term left · ends 6 Aug 2027 (estimated)
The present embodiments relate generally to detecting flashes, and more particularly to detecting relatively short duration flashes.
The necessity to provide persistent, wide-area surveillance of city size regions has emerged as a critical need for both law enforcement and military applications. Determination of the location and identity of flash events within the area under surveillance enables time critical decisions to be made on the allocation of resources. Only a limited number of technical approaches have been applied to this problem. To date, these approaches have suffered from limited range, the need for large amounts of processing power, large apparatus, or combinations of these which make employment on airborne platforms problematic. The present invention overcomes these limitations.
The present embodiments advantageously addresses the needs above as well as other needs through the provision of the methods, apparatuses and systems for use in detecting flashes produced in launching and/or firing of projectiles, such as but not limited to mortars, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), small rockets, artillery, bullets and/or other such projectiles. The system also addresses large events such as ignition of explosive devices (e.g., roadside bomb, car bomb, mortar detonation, etc). In some implementations, some of the methods detect a flash event, trigger an imaging system in response to detecting the flash event to capture a first image including at least a portion of the flash event, and determine a location of the flash event.
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a simplified block diagram of a detection system according to some embodiments;
FIG. 2 depicts an example of a block diagram basic operational time line for some embodiments of decoupled flash detection and geo-locating;
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention.
The present embodiments provide, at least in part, detection and location of the flash. Further, several embodiments detect short duration flashes (e.g., 0.1-10 ms or longer) over a wide field of view and determine the classification (e.g., type) of the flash. In some implementations, the detection, classification and locating functions are decoupled allowing for higher temporal resolution of the flash radiometry, lower data rates, spectral discrimination and/or other features and benefits. Some detect, classify and locating short duration events that are accompanied by light emission. Further, these events are often associated with thermal signatures.
Several embodiments allow for detection of short duration flashes over wide fields of view while providing high-fidelity time resolved data of the flash to allow for classification of the source, for example, by temporal and/or spectral characteristics. Detection and classification of the flash, in some embodiments, cues an imaging system and/or device to capture an image (e.g., take a digital image or picture) of a scene during the flash and a subsequent image after the flash has died off. The two images are compared and/or subtracted and the flash emerges as the location showing a large change from one image to the next. To reduce false-alarm rates, some embodiments further include a spectral analysis and spectral trigger that can be used in conjunction with the temporal detector to classify the flash as an event of a particular type.