US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Thomas P Reynolds

Samuel Edward Ebenstein

Thomas J Meitzler

Gregory Hugh Smith

Jason A Schrader

Ivan Wong

A system incorporating sensor enhanced composite armor structure. The structure has one layer including ceramic tiles and ceramic-material transducers, wherein the ceramic tiles and the transducers fit closely together so that the one layer is ballistically windowless. The structure has other layers composed of armor material stacked with the one layer, the one layer and the other layers forming a plate which as a unit has a set or group of fundamental frequencies. The system includes logic means to analyze only signals resulting from vibrations transmitted from the one transducer to the other transducer through the one layer. The logic means thereby derives a signal fingerprint which characterizes a state of damage to the plate.

Self diagnostic composite armor

A unit of modular armor. The module has a box-like, optically opaque outer shell of ballistic-protection material enclosed to exclude light from the module's interior. The shell contains transparent armor plates and the shell contains a self-diagnostic system for ascertaining whether the plates have been damaged. The self-diagnostic system includes a first PC board disposed along first edges of the plates, the board being divided into strips on which are mounted rows of lights. The self-diagnostic system further includes a second PC board at second, opposed edges of the plates divided into strips on which are mounted rows of light receptors. The PC boards incorporate circuitry for illuminating the rows of the lights in a row-by-row sequence, and for allowing activation only of the receptors directly opposed to illuminated lights. This circuitry has an analysis means for determining the health of the plates in response to signals from the receptors. The armor module has a transparent, elastomeric, adhesive matrix within the shell in which each of the plates and boards are suspended and encapsulated, wherein the matrix occupies all space not occupied by other elements within the shell.

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Warren, MI, United States of America

Thomas P Reynolds