The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 17, 2014
Filed:
Apr. 03, 2007
Mark A. Klaerner, Round Rock, TX (US);
Evan Corwin, Bastrop, TX (US);
Mark A. Middione, Scotts Valley, CA (US);
Christopher J. Kelly, San Jose, CA (US);
Mark A. Klaerner, Round Rock, TX (US);
Evan Corwin, Bastrop, TX (US);
Mark A. Middione, Scotts Valley, CA (US);
Christopher J. Kelly, San Jose, CA (US);
BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc., Nashua, NH (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for protecting the troops when they exit an armored vehicle is provided by utilizing the universal tail light assembly and providing the assembly with wide field-of-view cameras and other sensors, with screens or displays located within the vehicle to provide situational awareness of the rear of the vehicle, thus to alert troops and their commanders as to external threats prior to troop deployment. In one embodiment, two wide-angle infrared cameras are retrofitted to existing universal tail light assemblies to either side of the vehicle, with the cameras having overlapping fields of view to permit generation of a panoramic view. Moreover, additional sensors such as ultrasonic sensors, LIDARs and laser range finders can be located in the universal tail light assembly, with the subject system not requiring breach of the already-existing armor for the vehicle.