Southwest Research Institute

Other

Colin Electronics Co., Ltd.

Nippon Colin Co., Ltd.

Thomas J Warnagiris

David J Stevens

Kirk A Marchand

Drew L Goodlin

Stephen Anthony Cerwin

Thomas C Untermeyer

William H McGinnis

Thomas J Minardo

Donald R Bannon

David Bing Jue Chang

Methods for remotely detecting a gun muzzle flash, using frequency-optimized detection methods. Small explosive charges are best detected at I/R and visible wavelengths, using optical detectors, whereas large explosive charges may also be detected with antennas. Details of the time course and spectral properties of the flash can be used to distinguish gun muzzle flashes from other radiation.

Frequency-optimized detection of gun muzzle flashes

A wideband multi-mode antenna having low VSWR operating characteristics. The antenna is has a shape similar to a helical antenna, but is formed from a right-triangularly shaped piece of conductive material. The result is a rolled planar antenna having a height and diameter predetermined to provide optimum VSWR for a given frequency range.

Wide bandwidth multi-mode antenna

A wideband multi-mode antenna having low VSWR operating characteristics. The antenna element is formed from a right-triangularly shaped piece of conductive material, which is rolled along the base dimension. Operational characteristics may be modified by spacing the antenna element from a ground plane using dielectric spacers, and the antenna element may be shorted to the ground plane.

Tapered area small helix antenna

A neuromuscular disrupter gun and associated projectile. The projectile contains a capacitor, having its dielectric made from liquid. The gun charges the projectile prior to discharge from the gun of the projectile. The projectile holds the charge in flight and discharges on impact. To provide appropriate contact points, the projectile either carries contact wires or is designed to open and emit the liquid upon impact.

Tetherless neuromuscular disrupter gun with liquid-based capacitor (liquid dielectric)

A neuromuscular disrupter gun and associated projectile. The projectile contains a capacitor, having either its dielectric or its plates made from liquid. The gun charges the projectile prior to discharge from the gun of the projectile. The projectile holds the charge in flight and discharges on impact. To provide appropriate contact points, the projectile is designed to open and emit the liquid upon impact.

Tetherless neuromuscular disrupter gun with liquid-based capacitor (spray discharge)

A neuromuscular disrupter gun and associated projectile. The projectile contains a capacitor, having either its dielectric or its plates made from liquid. The gun charges the projectile prior to discharge from the gun of the projectile. The projectile holds the charge in flight and discharges on impact. To provide appropriate contact points, the projectile either carries contact wires or is designed to open and emit the liquid upon impact.

Tetherless neuromuscular disrupter gun with liquid-based capacitor projectile

A counter-terrorism, reactive personnel protection system which detects the presence of a destructive object as it approaches a designated personnel target along an intersecting path. Before impact, an air bag is rapidly inflated and interposed between the destructive object and the target so as to provide a protective barrier. The air bag is constructed from polyethylene material or other anti-ballistic materials, and serves to halt or redirect the detected destructive force of the object and thereby protect the designated target from attack.

Reactive personnel protection system and method

A non-lethal kinetic energy system comprises a propellant means in mechanical communication with the combination of a personnel target proximity detection means, an air bag carried in an uninflated condition, and a means to inflate the air bag responsive to a signal provided by the proximity detection means as the system approaches a personnel target. The system may include a delay element for selective adjustment of the kinetic energy delivered to the personnel target. The invention also provides a method of operating a non-lethal kinetic energy system comprising the steps of deploying the system toward a personnel target, sensing the proximity of the target, sending a signal to an air bag inflation means at a predetermined distance from the target, and inflating the air bag before impacting the target.

Non-lethal kinetic energy weapon system and method

A counter-terrorism, reactive personnel protection system which detects the presence of a concussive shock wave or ballistic projectile as it approaches a designated personnel target. Before impact, an air bag is rapidly inflated and interposed between the destructive force and the target so as to provide a protective barrier. The air bag is constructed from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene material, and serves to halt or redirect the detected destructive force and thereby protect the designated target from attack.

Reactive personnel protection system

An electrically-short meandered-slot antenna having a plurality of switch-selected resonant frequencies is described. Meander slot sections are substantially parallel, closely coupled, electrically significant, and substantially equal in length to the overall monopole length of the antenna. Switching among resonant frequencies is accomplished with shunt switches across the antenna slot, the switches preferably being powered inductively and selectively at individual frequencies outside the operating band of the antenna.

Switch-tuned meandered-slot antenna

A remote, unpowered passive transmitter has a tank circuit, a coil and capacitor. The capacitor is variable to vary the frequency of the tank. This is coupled to a receiver having a hybrid splitter. With four ports, two balanced, opposing ports connect to two lines terminating in line impedance. The tank couples into one of the two line so that a difference signal is formed and output. Line loading forms a signal indicating tank frequency.

Induction field coupled transmission system incorporating a passive

A system for switching an antenna formed of multiple connected segments is set forth. The various segments are connected together by a switch means having, in the preferred embodiment, one or more FETs; a gate controlled terminal is connected with a bias circuit which is biased on or off by a bias circuit triggered to switch by light. The light is coupled through an optical fiber which directs light onto a portion of the bias circuit to cause operation. The bias circuit preferably includes a photo voltaic cell.

Fiber optic antenna radiation efficiency tuner

The communications system of the present invention defines a complete feedback path consisting of first and second transceivers and an appropriate signal path. Each transceiver comprises a detector and a signal source capable of generating a signal at one of two frequencies. The detector in each of the transceivers is a two state device tuned to respond only to a predetermined desired difference frequency. If the desired difference frequency signal is present, the detector provides and output signal in a first state; if the desired difference signal is not present, the detector provides an output signal which is in a second state. The signal source can be a voltage controlled oscillator, a pair of single frequency oscillators, a synthesizer, or any signal source capable of being electrically switched between two frequencies. Data can be exchanged between the transceiver pair only when the desired difference frequency is present.

Growing community of inventors

San Antonio, TX, United States of America

Thomas J Warnagiris