Threat detection method and system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11255644-B2
Application number	US-201716089877-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2017
Priority date	Apr 28, 2016
Publication date	Feb 22, 2022
Grant date	Feb 22, 2022

Abstract

This invention related to a method of and system for detecting a threat, particularly a threat to a vehicle associated with an explosive blast and/or detonations. The method typically comprises receiving electromagnetic signals, or data indicative thereof, via a suitable electromagnetic detector arrangement from a target area adjacent the vehicle, as well as receiving optical signals, or data indicative thereof, via a suitable optical sensor arrangement also from a target area adjacent the vehicle. The method then comprises generating a threat detect output in response to receiving an optical signal indicative of a threat subsequent to receiving an electromagnetic signal indicative of a threat. The system typically implements the method as described. The invention also extends to a vehicle comprising a system in accordance with the invention.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of detecting a threat to a vehicle from a detonation of a land mine buried beneath a surface on which the vehicle traverses, wherein the method comprises:
receiving electromagnetic signals, or data indicative thereof, via a suitable electromagnetic detector arrangement mounted to the vehicle, wherein the electromagnetic detector arrangement comprises a suitable electromagnetic sensing circuit and an antenna configured to sense and/or detect signals between 2 MHz and 8 MHz;
receiving optical signals, or data indicative thereof, via a suitable optical sensor arrangement comprising a suitable optical sensor in the form of a circuit comprising a suitable photodiode positioned under the vehicle; and
generating a threat detect output signal via a threat detect output module provided in the vehicle in response to receiving, from the optical sensor arrangement, an optical signal indicative of a threat to the vehicle, from a detonation of a land mine buried beneath the surface on which the vehicle traverses, in a pre-determined window period subsequent to receiving, from the electromagnetic detector arrangement, an electromagnetic signal, in a frequency range between 2 MHz and 8 MHz, indicative of a threat to the vehicle, from a detonation of a land mine buried beneath the surface on which the vehicle traverses, wherein the generated threat detect output signal is indicative of the detonation of a land mine adjacent or under the vehicle.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received electromagnetic signal satisfies a pre-determined condition associated with an electromagnetic signal being indicative of a threat;
detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received optical signal satisfies a pre-determined condition associated with an optical signal being indicative of a threat; and
generating the threat detect output signal in response to detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received optical signal satisfies the pre-determined condition in the pre-determined window period subsequent to detecting, or determining from data indicative thereof, that the received electromagnetic signal satisfies the pre-determined condition.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the pre-determined condition associated with the received electromagnetic signal includes a pre-determined condition selected from a group comprising a pre-determined frequency condition, a pre-determined amplitude condition, and pre-determined power content or energy density condition associated with the electromagnetic signal.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein in detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received electromagnetic signal satisfies the pre-determined frequency condition, the method comprises detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that a subsequent electromagnetic signal received, in a temporal fashion, has a frequency that satisfies a pre-determined frequency condition.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein in detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received electromagnetic signal satisfies the pre-determined amplitude condition, the method comprises detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received electromagnetic signal has an amplitude in a pre-determined amplitude range.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the method comprises detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received electromagnetic signal satisfies the pre-determined amplitude condition in response to detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received electromagnetic signal satisfies the pre-determined frequency condition.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein in detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received electromagnetic signal satisfies the pre-determined power density or energy density condition, the method comprises detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received electromagnetic signal has a power density or energy density in a pre-determined power density or energy density range.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the method comprises detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received electromagnetic signal satisfies the pre-determined power density or energy density condition in response to detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received electromagnetic signal satisfies the pre-determined amplitude condition.

9. A method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the pre-determined condition associated with the received optical signal includes a pre-determined condition selected from a group comprising a pre-determined wavelength condition, a pre-determined tempo condition, and pre-determined optical amplitude condition associated with the optical signal.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein in detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received optical signal satisfies the pre-determined wavelength condition, the method comprises detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received optical signal has a wavelength frequency wavelength between the ultra-violet and infra-red frequency wavelength ranges.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein in detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received optical signal satisfies the pre-determined tempo condition, the method comprises detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received optical signal has a tempo in a pre-determined tempo range.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the method comprises detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received optical signal satisfies the pre-determined tempo condition in response to detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received optical signal satisfies the pre-determined wavelength condition.

13. A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein in detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received optical signal satisfies the pre-determined amplitude condition, the method comprises detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received optical signal has an amplitude in a pre-determined amplitude range.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the method comprises detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received optical signal satisfies the pre-determined amplitude condition in response to detecting, or determining based on data indicative thereof, that the received optical signal satisfies the pre-determined tempo condition.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method comprises generating and emitting a coded optical signal.

16. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method comprises transmitting the threat detect output to a suitable blast threat interrupter (BTI) device.

17. A system for detecting a threat to a vehicle from a detonation of a land mine buried beneath a surface on which the vehicle traverses, wherein the system comprises:
an electromagnetic detector arrangement mounted to the vehicle for receiving electromagnetic signals, wherein the electromagnetic detector arrangement comprises a suitable electromagnetic sensing circuit and an antenna configured to sense and/or detect signals between 2 MH

Assignees

• Csir

Inventors

• Olivier Marius
• Mostert Frederik Johannes

Classifications

• F41H11/02

  Anti-aircraft or anti-guided missile {or anti-torpedo} defence installations or systems (cartridges or missiles for producing smoke or for dispensing radar chaff or infrared material F42B5/15, F42B12/48, F42B12/70; {informative reference: details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00; jamming or electronic countermeasures G01S7/38, G01S7/495, H04K3/00}) · CPC title

• F41H7/02 Primary

  Land vehicles with enclosing armour, e.g. tanks (endless-track vehicles, steering thereof B62D {; vehicles for placing portable or sectional bridges E01D15/127; vehicles carrying floating bridges E01D15/22}) · CPC title

• F41H5/007

  Reactive armour; Dynamic armour · CPC title

• F41H11/136 Primary

  Magnetic, electromagnetic, acoustic or radiation systems, e.g. ground penetrating radars or metal-detectors · CPC title

• G01V11/00

  Prospecting or detecting by methods combining techniques covered by two or more of main groups G01V1/00 - G01V9/00 · CPC title