GB2122004A

GB2122004A - Apparatus for detection of incoming objects

Info

Publication number: GB2122004A
Application number: GB08312911A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yehiel Spector; Ilan Cohen
Original assignee: Spectronix Ltd
Current assignee: Spectronix Ltd
Priority date: 1982-05-27
Filing date: 1983-05-11
Publication date: 1984-01-04
Also published as: IL65906A; FR2527783B1; IL65906A0; DE3317925C2; GB2122004B; GB8312911D0; DE3317925A1; FR2527783A1

Abstract

Detection apparatus includes a proximity sensor and a radiation sensor, appropriate signals provided by both sensors activating an alarm indicator. The proximity sensor may include a detector 16 connected via amplifier 18 to a parallel combination of a slope detector 20 and a level detector 22. The radiation sensor may include a radiation detector 26 connected to appropriate processing circuitry 28. The alarm indicator may activate a destruction apparatus (such as explosives, electromagnetic radiation and optical impingement, using a laser beam or similar) arranged to destroy an incoming object which has been detected by the detection apparatus. A combination of ultra-violet, near infra-red and far infra-red radiations may be detected. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for detection of incoming objects The present invention relates to detection apparatus which can detect incoming objects and may be used to activate destruction apparatus to destroy the objects; more particularly, the invention relates to such apparatus which may include ultra-violet (UV) and infra-red (IR) detectors.

There are known a number of fire and explosion detection systems employing UV and IR detectors in combination. Examples of such systems are illustrated in U.S. Patent Nos.

3,665,440,3,653,016 and 4,270,613. The apparatus described in U.S. Patent 3,665,440 provides an alarm output when IR is detected in the absence of UV. The apparatus described in U.S. Patent 3,653,016 provides an alarm output when IR and UV are detected together but also includes a portion of the visible spectrum in the detection ranges of its detectors.

U.S. Patent 4,270,613 of the present applicantiassignee describes a particularly useful detection system which provides an output indication in response to coincident detection of UV and IR wherein the detection bands exclude the visible spectrum.

The present invention seeks to provide detection apparatus which is sensitive both to radiation and to the proximity of the radiation source.

Accordingly, the preset invention provides detection apparatus comprising a proximity sensing means, radiation detection means, and means for providing an alarm indication in response to outputs from said proximity sensing means and said radiation detection means.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the desired proximity indication is provided by sensing a plurality of radiation bands in combination. The rates of change of certain of the radiation bands are also sensed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detection apparatus comprises a UV sensor, a near IR sensor and a far IR sensor, apparatus for sensing the rate of change of the output of the near IR sensor and the far IR sensor, threshold apparatus receiving the output of the rate of change sensing apparatus operative to provide an output indication in response to exceedance of a predetermined threshold, and ANDing apparatus for receiving the outputs of the threshold apparatus and of the UV sensor for providing an alarm actuation signal.

The ANDing apparatus may comprise a plurality of AND gates, each receiving signals from a different combination of sensors and providing a corresponding output.

In accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detection apparatus comprises radiation detection apparatus including a UV detector and an IR detector whose outputs are ANDed, and proximity detection apparatus comprising a proximity detector and parallel level and slope threshold indicators, whose outputs are ANDed together with the output of the radiation detection apparatus to provide an alarm actuation signal.

Apparatus is also provided for sensing the position of incoming objects and for destroying same by means of explosives or electromagnetic radiation.

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, given by way of example, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a general logic diagram of missile detection circuitry constructed and operative in accordance with the present invention:: Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustration of missile detection circuitry constructed and operative in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 3 is a more detailed illustration of the circuitry of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a logic diagram illustration of an alternative embodiment of missile detector constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a block diagram illustration of the apparatus of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a part block diagram part schematic illustration of the apparatus of Figs. 4 and 5; Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustration of a detection system provided in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 8 is an illustration of actuation circuitry useful in the system of Fig. 7.

Reference is now made to Fig. 1 which illustrates in logic diagram form, the operation of missile detection circuitry constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the detection circuitry is in a continuing radiation detection interrogation mode 10. Only when radiation having predetermined characteristics is detected is there interrogation for proximity detection 12. Only when proximity detection criteria are fulfilled following radiation detection is an alarm indication provided at 14.

Referring now to Fig. 2 there is seen missile detection apparatus which produces the functions described above in connection with Fig. 1. A proximity sensor 1 6 provides an output to an amplifier 18. The output of amplifier 1 8 is supplied along two parallel paths, the first being to a slope detector 20 and the second being to a level detector 22. The outputs of the slope detector 20 and of the level detector 22 are supplies separately to logic circuitry 24.

A radiation detector 26 or any desired combination of radiation detectors provides an output signal to radiation processing circuitry 28, which provides an output signal to logic circuitry 24. In response to receipt of suitable inputs from the slope detector 20, level detector 22 and radiation processing circuitry 28, the logic circuitry is operative to provide an output indication of detection of a projectile having predetermined characteristics.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3 which is a partially schematic partially block diagram illustration of the circuitry of Fig. 2. Here it is seen that the proximity sensor 1 6 outputs to amplifier 18 and then in parallel to a level detector 22 and to a series combination of slope detector circuit 21 and a level detector 23. Detectors 22 and 23 both output to an AND gate 30 which also receives an input from an AND gate 32. AND gate 32 receives a first input from an IR detector assembly comprising a detector element 34 and an amplifier-level detector 36. The second input to AND gate 32 is provided by a counter 38 which receives detector pulses from a UV detector 40 which is supplied with a voltage by a source 42.

Reference is now made to Fig. 4 which is a logic diagram illustration of an alternative embodiment of missile detector constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Here three types of basic detection interrogations are provided, inquiring whether there is detection of near IR (in the approximate range about 0.95 yam), far IR (in the approximate range about 4,us) and UV. These interrogations are indicated by reference numerals 50, 52 and 54 respectively.

Simultaneous detection of radiation in all three ranges is indicated at 56, while the three permutations of detections in the various ranges are indicated at 58 (IR Near and IR Far), 60 (UV and IR Near) and 62 (UV and IR Far).

The structure of the circuitry whose operation is outlined in Fig. 4 is shown in block diagram form in Fig. 5. A UV sensor 70 outputs to a counter 72 and thence to inputs of three AND gates 74, 76 and 78. A Near IR sensor 80 outputs to an amplifier 82; and thence to a slope detector 84 and a level detector 86. The output of level detector is supplied in parallel to AND gates 74, 78 and an AND gate 88. A Far IR sensor 90 outputs to an amplifier 92 and thence to a slope detector 94 and a level detector 96. The output of level detector 96 is supplied in parallel to AND gates 76, 78 and 88.AND gate 74 provides an output indication of simultaneous detection of UV and Near IR; AND gate 76 provides an output indication of simultaneous detection of UV and Far IR; AND gate 78 provides an output indication of simultaneous detection of UV, Near IR and Far IR and AND gate 88 provides an output indication of simultaneous detection of Near IR and Far IR.

The Far IR sensor may typically be a lead solenoid detector, such as a model 5036 made by IR Inc.

of the U.S.A. The near IR sensor may be typically a Model 51337 made by Hamamatsu of Japan.

Alternatively Thermofile detectors made by Honeywell may be employed.

Fig. 6 is a partially schematic, partially block diagram illustration of the circuitry of Fig. 5. It is seen from Fig. 6 that the U.V. sensor 70 is of conventional construction and incorporates a high voltage power source and a phototube, while the construction of the remainder of the circuitry is also of conventional design.

Reference is now made to Fig. 7 which illustrates a protective system constructed and operative in accordance with the present invention and employing the detection apparatus described hereinabove. The protective system is arranged to protect a protected area 80 from one or more sides. A detection system of the type described hereinabove, or a plurality of such detection systems are disposed so as to detect incoming objects coming from the indicated direction. Detection by the detection system or systems provides an operating signal to object destruction apparatus 82 which is operative to destroy the incoming object. The destruction apparatus 82 may comprise any suitable destruction means, such as explosives, electromagnetic radiation and optical impingement, using a laser beam or similar apparatus.

Driver circuitry for typical destruction apparatus is illustrated in Fig. 8. The detection signal output from the detection system is supplied to a driver circuit 84, typically comprising a pair of transistors arranged in a Darlington arrangement. The output of the driver circuit is supplied to conventional actuation circuitry for explosives or magnetic field generation. The driver circuit output may be transmitted by any suitable wire or wireless means.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims which follow.

Claims

1. Detection apparatus comprising a proximity sensing means, radiation detection means, and means for providing an alarm indication in response to outputs from said proximity sensing means and said radiation detection means.

2. Detection apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said proximity sensing means comprises means for sensing simultaneous radiation detection in a plurality of different ranges.

3. Detection apparatus according to claim 2 and wherein said plurality of different ranges comprise Near IR and Far IR.

4. Detection apparatus according to claim 1,2 or 3, and wherein said radiation detection means comprises an IR detector.

5. Detection apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and wherein said proximity sensing means includes means for sensing the rate of change in detection of radiation in at least one range.

6. Detection apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said proximity sensing means comprises a Near IR sensor, a Far IR sensor, means for sensing the rate of change of the output of the Near IR sensor and the Far IR sensor, threshold means for receiving the output of the rate of change sensing means and providing an output indication of exceedance of a predetermined threshold, and ANDing means for receiving the outputs of said threshold means and of said radiation detection means for providing an alarm actuation signal.

7. Detection apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and wherein said proximity sensing means comprises parallel level and slope threshold indicators.

8. Detection apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1-6 of the accompanying drawings.

9. Apparatus for detection and destruction of incoming objects comprising detection apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and destruction apparatus actuated by said detection apparatus for destroying an incoming object.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 and including multiple sensing means for providing an output indication of the location of the incoming object.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10 and wherein said destruction apparatus comprises an explosive barrier.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10 and wherein said destruction apparatus comprises electromagnetic energy generating means.

1 3. Apparatus for detection and destruction of incoming objects substantially as herein described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.