Cubic Corporation

Cubic-western Data

Cubic Defense Systems, Inc.

Cubic Automatic Revenue Collection Group

John B Roes

Deepak Varshneya

Guy M Kelly

Chandler R Deming

Robert F Case

Royal C Moore

Lew Goldberg

Tony Maryfield

David G Robinson

Wayne M Spani

Allen E Ripingill, Jr

James C Solinsky

Charles J Ingram

Charles L Hayman

Gabor Kulcsar

Jean Marc Delavoux

Bruce A Beach

Samuel B Walker

Billy B Winkles

Donald W Schuster

Gennady Tartakovsky

Mike Roes

Jean-Marc Delavoux

The present invention is directed toward systems for conducting laser range and enabling optical communication between a plurality of entities and to the application of such systems in a secure covert combat identification system. In one embodiment, the present invention uses a novel laser system that generates high pulse rates, as required for optical communications, while concurrently generating sufficiently high power levels, as required by laser range finding operations. One application of the present invention is in enabling secure covert communications between a plurality of parties. Another application of the present invention is in tracking and identifying the movement of objects.

Integrated optical communication and range finding system and application thereof

A modulating corner-cube retroreflector for remote communications is disclosed. The modulating corner-cube retroreflector includes a solid retroreflector with a front surface and three mutually perpendicular surfaces: a first surface, a second surface and a third surface. A first thin membrane is disposed relative to at least one of the three mutually perpendicular surfaces and covers at least a portion of the surface. A modulator is included that is adapted to cause the thin membrane to vibrate. The corner-cube retroreflector is configured to receive an incident beam of light from a source along a first path and is configured to return a reflected beam of light back towards the source along a second path that is substantially parallel to the first path. The first thin membrane is configured to substantially frustrate total internal reflection of the incident beam of light when the first thin membrane is moved relative to at least one surface of the retroreflector.

Shutters for infra red communication at moderate bandwidths

A combat IFF system, for use in a combat exercise or on the battlefield, including a helmet-mounted passive IFF response unit and a weapon-mounted IFF interrogatory unit for each soldier. Infrared (IR) signals are employed for both challenge and response. The IR response signal is a very narrowly-targeted reflection of the relatively narrow IR transmit signal, thereby minimizing interception opportunities. The transmit and response signals are encoded in a transaction that cannot be compromised even when either or both signals are intercepted and decoded by the enemy. The combat IFF system includes biometric anti-spoofing features that prevent any use by an enemy in possession of captured units. Military radio-frequency (RF) spectrum is not required so there are no bandwidth limitations on simultaneous IFF transactions in the battlefield. A combat IFF transaction is completed in milliseconds.

Secure covert combat identification friend-or-foe (IFF) system for the dismounted soldier

A multifunction sight is disclosed. The multifunction sight includes an body, a receiving aperture, an emitting aperture, a parabolic reflector, and an optical detector. The receiving aperture passes radiation in a first band and a second band into the body where the first band is different from the second band. The emitting aperture that passes the radiation in the first band out of the body. The parabolic reflector displays a point source such that the point source is visible from the emitting aperture. The point source appears aligned with where the multifunction sight is aimed irrespective of a visual alignment with the emitting aperture. The optical detector is affixed to the body and coupled to the radiation in the second band, and receives coded radiation with the second band.

Compact multifunction sight

Integrated optical communication and range finding system and applications thereof

A pulsed fiber laser and associated electronics contained in a miniature package is disclosed. The Pulsed Fiber Laser Source (PFLS) can be a single-stage high gain master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) type fiber laser source. The PFLS can include a distributed feedback (DFB) laser, a narrowband optical filter, a broad area high-power pump diode, and Erbium/Ytterbium (Er/Yb) double cladding doped fiber. Input electrical pulses drive the DFB laser diode to emit optical pulses that are then amplified by the optical amplifier. Active and passive cooling elements may be incorporated for continuous operation without rest time. Passive cooling for intermittent pulsed applications allows the laser source to be miniaturized by eliminating active cooling elements and associated power supplies and controllers. Low duty cycle relaxes drive requirements and further reduces the size. The PFLS can be used for long distance ranging, communication by retro-modulation, and communication in presence of atmospheric attenuation.

Miniature pulsed fiber laser source

A generally planar layer of a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) material is sandwiched between a pair of opposing interior surfaces of first and second substrates, at least one of which is transparent. Electrode layers are disposed on the exterior surfaces of the substrates, with the electrode layer overlying the transparent substrate being made of a substantially transparent electrically conductive material such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). The first and second electrode layers are configured for receiving a first electrical signal that causes the layer of PDLC material to assume a first optical state selected from the group consisting of transparent and opaque. A plurality of conductors are disposed in the PDLC material and are configured for receiving a second electrical signal that causes the layer of PDLC material to assume a second optical state that is different than the first optical state.

Fast PDLC device

A laser small arms transmitter (SAT) includes a housing having a hollow interior and a clamp structure connected to the housing for rigidly securing the housing to a barrel of a weapon such as an M16A1 rifle. A spyglass shaped metal laser tube is rigidly mounted inside the housing. A lens is mounted in a forward segment of the laser tube and positioned in alignment with a bore in a forward side of the housing. A cylindrical laser diode can is mounted in a rearward segment of the laser tube. A circuit including a photo-optic sensor is mounted inside the housing and selectively energizes the laser diode to cause the same to emit a laser beam through the lens when a blank cartridge is fired. The rear segment of the laser tube is dimensioned and configured so that it can permanently bent to align the laser beam emitted by the laser diode with the barrel of the weapon. When the conventional sights of the M16A1 rifle are zeroed the laser beam will hit the same target reticle as a bullet fired from the rifle at a pre-determined target range.

Method of aligning a laser beam of a SAT

A relatively inexpensive system is provided for detecting and visually indicating the relative location of the impact on a target of an invisible infrared laser beam emitted from a small arms transmitter (SAT) mounted on a combat rifle. A plurality of red LEDs are mounted on a planar PCB that serves as the target and are arranged along X and Y axes corresponding to azimuth and elevation. A plurality of photo-diodes are mounted on the PCB for generating output signals when struck by the laser beam. The photo-diodes are clustered around the intersection of the X and Y axes. A circuit mounted on a reverse side of the PCB is connected to the plurality of photo-diodes for receiving their output signals. The circuit energizes one or more of the red LEDs to provide a pattern of illumination of the LEDs that represents azimuth and elevation deviation of the laser hit from the intersection of the axes when the SAT is fired with the intersection of the axes in the iron sights of the rifle. The LEDs and photo-diodes are spatially arranged on the PCB to provide an effective magnification of a variation in azimuth and elevation of the location of the impact of the laser beam relative to the intersection of the axes. The circuit also increases the duration of the illumination of the LEDs compared to short duration laser pulses to increase visibility to the soldier. A pair of laser diodes can be mounted on the PCB so that visible red light beams emitted therefrom will criss-cross at the appropriate distance and overlap on the soldier's chest. This tells the soldier to fire the SAT-equipped rifle at the target at this location.

Infrared laser transmitter alignment verifier and targeting system

Low cost laser small arms transmitter and method of aligning the same

A radio frequency (RF) sync pulse is transmitted throughout a building having a plurality of rooms to be traversed by a plurality of players during, for example, an assault training exercise. Ultra-sound pulses are transmitted from fixed piezoelectric transducers mounted at each corner of each room. The ultra-sound pulses with encoded room identity information are generated in a predetermined timed sequence by different ultra-sound transducers after each RF sync pulse. Each player carries an RF receiver for receiving the RF sync pulses. Each player also carries multiple microphones for receiving the ultra-sound pulses transmitted in a room in which the player is currently located. Timing circuitry carried by each player generates signals representative of the delays between each RF sync pulse and the receipt of each of the ultra-sound pulses sequentially received thereafter. Each player carries an RF transmitter for transmitting an RF tracking signal representing an identity of the room an identity of the player and the respective delays that each ultra-sound pulse is received after each RF sync pulse. A control facility receives all of the RF tracking signals from all of the players and determines each player's current position within one of the rooms based upon the room identity code and the delays that each ultra-sound pulse is received after each RF sync pulse for each player. The control facility displays the identity and current location of each player as each player moves within the rooms and moves from room to room. The azimuth and elevation of each player along with the articulation of a weapon held by each player can also be determined and displayed.

Acoustical system and method for simultaneously locating and tracking multiple personnel in rooms of a building

A transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit couple inductively to allow data communication between a mass transit vehicle farebox and an external computer. Data communication may be performed simultaneously with removal of coins from the farebox via a vacuum hose. Two mating connectors each carry a wire coil; one coil is connected to the transmitter circuit and the other is connected to the receiver circuit. Furthermore, the same connectors that carry the coils may be used to form the vacuum hose connection. A modulated signal representing encoded binary data is applied to the transmitter coil to cause corresponding flux changes. When placed in close proximity to one another, the magnetic flux changes across the gap induce a corresponding modulated signal in the receiver coil. The induced signal in the receiver coil is then decoded to recover the original binary data. The coils thus function as halves of a transformer.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

John B Roes