US6281970B1 — Airborne IR fire surveillance system providing fi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 117 words

An aircraft borne system for detecting and locating forest or other fire spots, vehicles, and other IR emitting sources on a terrain, the system comprising: a means for establishing the position of the aircraft borne system within a reference frame; and a means for scanning terrain and receiving and measuring IR emitting source photons and determining the position of the IR emitting source relative to the aircraft borne system by determining position vectors from the aircraft borne system to the IR emitting sources which comprises a rotating optics head containing a rotating and nutating mirror contained in a spinner rotationally mounted to a pod which scans the terrain and reflects the IR photons to a photon detector.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 117 words

An aircraft borne system for detecting and locating forest or other fire spots, vehicles, and other IR emitting sources on a terrain, the system comprising: a means for establishing the position of the aircraft borne system within a reference frame; and a means for scanning terrain and receiving and measuring IR emitting source photons and determining the position of the IR emitting source relative to the aircraft borne system by determining position vectors from the aircraft borne system to the IR emitting sources which comprises a rotating optics head containing a rotating and nutating mirror contained in a spinner rotationally mounted to a pod which scans the terrain and reflects the IR photons to a photon detector.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 63 words

The aircraft borne system of claim 1 , wherein the means for establishing the position of the aircraft borne system within a reference frame, and the means for scanning terrain and receiving and measuring IR emitting source photons and determining the position of the IR emitting source relative to the aircraft borne system are contained in a pod detectably carried by an aircraft.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 20 words

The aircraft borne system of claim 2 , wherein the pod is self-contained and needs no power from the aircraft.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

The aircraft borne system of claim 1 , wherein the means for establishing the position of the aircraft borne system within the reference frame comprises a global positioning system.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 28 words

The aircraft borne system of claim 4 , wherein the means for establishing the position of the aircraft borne system within the reference frame further comprises an altimeter.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 38 words

The aircraft borne system of claim 5 , wherein the altimeter comprises one of a radio altimeter, a corrected precision barometric altimeter, or a GPS that gives vertical position plus a pre-set reference to a reference ground altitude.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

The aircraft borne system of claim 1 , wherein the means for establishing the position of the aircraft borne system within the reference frame further comprises means for determining the system's attitude.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

The aircraft borne system of claim 7 , wherein the means for determining the system's attitude comprises one of an inertial measurement means, and a radio direction finding means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 71 words

The aircraft borne system of claim 1 , wherein the means for scanning terrain and receiving and measuring IR emitting source photons and determining the position of the IR emitting source relative to the aircraft borne system further comprises an optical angle encoder which reads the rotation angle position of the mirror and a nutation angle reader to determine a directional vector from the aircraft borne system to the IR source.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

The aircraft borne system of claim 9 , wherein the nutation angle reader comprises a laser and a linear array of CCDs.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 28 words

The aircraft borne system of claim 1 , wherein the spinner has a propeller and is slipstream driven to rotate the spinner and in turn the optics head.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 22 words

The aircraft borne system of claim 2 , further comprising telemetry means for providing communication between the pod and a ground station.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 35 words

The aircraft borne system of claim 12 , further comprising a video camera and an IR camera which can be commanded from the ground station to pan and zoom via an onboard camera control unit.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 49 words

The aircraft borne system of claim 1 , wherein the means for scanning terrain and receiving and measuring IR emitting source photons and determining the position of the IR emitting source relative to the aircraft borne system further characterizes the IR emitting source target as to intensity and spectrum.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 75 words

The aircraft borne system of claim 2 , wherein the means for determining the position of the IR emitting source relative to the pod comprises means to compute the target location using the pod's GPS location data, IMU attitude data with respect to local North East Down coordinate frame which also determines true North, and the pod's altitude above ground determined by map memory ground elevation data matched to the pod's real time GPS coordinates.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 178 words

A system for detecting and locating forest or other fire spots, vehicles, and other IR emitting sources on a terrain, the system comprising: (a) a self-contained pod that is detachably attachable to an aircraft and does not need power from the aircraft, the pod having a means for establishing the position of the aircraft borne system within in a reference frame comprising a GPS, an altimeter, and means for determining the pod's attitude, a means for scanning terrain and receiving and measuring IR emitting source photons and determining the position of the IR emitting source relative to the aircraft borne system, comprising a rotating optics head containing a rotating and nutating mirror which scans the terrain and reflects the IR photons to a photon detector, an optical angle encoder which reads the rotation angle position of the mirror, and a nutation angle reader to determine a directional vector from the aircraft borne system to the IR source, and telemetry means; and (b) a ground station with telemetry means for communication with the telemetry means of the self-contained pod.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 178 words

A system for detecting and locating forest or other fire spots, vehicles, and other IR emitting sources on a terrain, the system comprising: (a) a self-contained pod that is detachably attachable to an aircraft and does not need power from the aircraft, the pod having a means for establishing the position of the aircraft borne system within in a reference frame comprising a GPS, an altimeter, and means for determining the pod's attitude, a means for scanning terrain and receiving and measuring IR emitting source photons and determining the position of the IR emitting source relative to the aircraft borne system, comprising a rotating optics head containing a rotating and nutating mirror which scans the terrain and reflects the IR photons to a photon detector, an optical angle encoder which reads the rotation angle position of the mirror, and a nutation angle reader to determine a directional vector from the aircraft borne system to the IR source, and telemetry means; and (b) a ground station with telemetry means for communication with the telemetry means of the self-contained pod.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 16 , wherein the nutation angle reader comprises a laser and a linear array of CCDs.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 17 , wherein the mirror is contained in a spinner rotationally mounted to a pod.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 18 , further comprising a video camera and an IR camera which can be commanded from the ground station to pan and zoom via an onboard camera control unit.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 47 words

The system of claim 16 , wherein the means for scanning terrain and receiving and measuring IR emitting source photons and determining the position of the IR emitting source relative to the aircraft borne system further characterizes the IR emitting source target as to intensity and spectrum.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 53 words

The system of claim 16 , the ground station pre-filters incoming telemetry from the pod on a map for ground station operator use, and the ground station includes a transceiver to communicate via a relay transceiver on the pod set to communicate with ground units at or closing in to the IR source.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system of claim 21 , wherein the ground station further includes an operator alarm triggered by a pre-set fire intensity and temperature level received from the pod telemetry.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system of claim 21 , wherein the ground station further includes archival recording of voice, telemetry/map display, video downlink which can be shared with other users.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 73 words

The system of claim 21 , wherein the means for determining the position of the IR emitting source relative to the pod comprises means to compute the target location using the pod's GPS location data, IMU attitude data with respect to local North East Down coordinate frame which also determines true North, and the pod's altitude above ground determined by map memory ground elevation data matched to the pod's real time GPS coordinates.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 47 words

The system of claim 21 , further including satellite relay capability on the pod and the ground station for transmission of all downlink video and telemetry plus uplink commands to the pod plus relay voice/data communications from the ground station via the pod to the ground units.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 83 words

The system of claim 16 , wherein the means for determining the position of the IR emitting source relative to the pod comprises means to compute the target location using the pod's GPS location data, a radio direction finder to determine a vector to a fixed beacon at a ground based location or a geosynchronous satellite and compass to determine true north, and the pod's altitude above ground determined by map memory ground elevation data matched to the pod's real time GPS coordinates.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 16 , wherein the aircraft is a remotely piloted vehicle.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 183 words

An aircraft borne system for detecting and locating forest or other fire spots, vehicles, and other IR emitting sources on a terrain, the system comprising: a means for establishing the position of the aircraft borne system within a reference frame; a means for scanning terrain and receiving and measuring IR emitting source photons and determining the position of the IR emitting source relative to the aircraft borne system by determining position vectors from the aircraft borne system to the IR emitting sources; and telemetry means for providing communication between the pod and a ground station; and a video camera and an IR camera which can be commanded from the ground station to pan and zoom via an onboard camera control unit wherein the means for establishing the position of the aircraft borne system within a reference frame, the means for scanning terrain and receiving and measuring IR emitting source photons and determining the position of the IR emitting source relative to the aircraft borne system, telemetry means, and video camera and IR camera are contained in a pod detectably carried by an aircraft.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 183 words

An aircraft borne system for detecting and locating forest or other fire spots, vehicles, and other IR emitting sources on a terrain, the system comprising: a means for establishing the position of the aircraft borne system within a reference frame; a means for scanning terrain and receiving and measuring IR emitting source photons and determining the position of the IR emitting source relative to the aircraft borne system by determining position vectors from the aircraft borne system to the IR emitting sources; and telemetry means for providing communication between the pod and a ground station; and a video camera and an IR camera which can be commanded from the ground station to pan and zoom via an onboard camera control unit wherein the means for establishing the position of the aircraft borne system within a reference frame, the means for scanning terrain and receiving and measuring IR emitting source photons and determining the position of the IR emitting source relative to the aircraft borne system, telemetry means, and video camera and IR camera are contained in a pod detectably carried by an aircraft.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-08-27	2005-02-26	2005-08-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-08-27	2009-02-26	2009-08-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-08-27	2013-02-26	2013-08-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Airborne IR fire surveillance system providing firespot geopositioning

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