IP Library Granted Patent US 9,400,341
Granted Patent B2
US 9,400,341 · App. 13/799,519 · Granted Jul 26, 2016

Multi-spectral detection device including an acoustic array

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,400,341
App. No.
13/799,519
Granted
Jul 26, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A multi-spectral detection device is provided that includes a housing, a bezel spacer, a microphone, an end cap and electro-optical sensors mounted to the end cap. The housing has an inner chamber that holds sensor components. The bezel spacer has a first end and an opposed, second end. The first end of the bezel spacer extends from a first end of the housing. The bezel spacer has a central bezel passage leading to the inner chamber of the housing. The bezel spacer further has at least four side walls. Each side wall is positioned 90 degrees away from an adjacent side wall. A microphone is coupled to each side wall of the bezel spacer in such a manner that each microphone is faced 90 degrees with respect to an adjacent microphone to form a compact acoustic array. The end cap is coupled to the second end of the bezel spacer and the electro-optical sensors are mounted to the end cap.

Claims (46)

1. A multi-spectral detection device comprising:

a sensor housing configured to be mounted to an object to be protected;

electro-optical sensors mounted to the sensor housing; and

an acoustic array coupled to the sensor housing; and

a bezel spacer coupled to the sensor housing, wherein the acoustic array is coupled to the bezel spacer, wherein:

the bezel spacer includes a first end and an opposed, second end, the first end of the bezel spacer extending from a first end of the housing, the bezel spacer having a central bezel passage leading to an inner chamber of the housing, the bezel spacer further having at least four side walls, each side wall positioned 90 degrees away from an adjacent side wall; and

the acoustic array includes four microphones, each microphone coupled to a respective side wall of the bezel spacer in such a manner that each microphone is faced 90 degrees away from an adjacent microphone.

2. The multi-spectral detection device of claim 1 , further comprising:

an end cap coupled to the second end of the bezel spacer; and

the electro-optical sensors mounted to the end cap.

3. The multi-spectral detection device of claim 1 , further comprising:

the bezel spacer further having at least one tangent side wall, the at least one tangent side wall being tangent to an outer curvature of the sensor housing.

4. The multi-spectral detection device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a windscreen for each microphone, each windscreen mounted to the bezel spacer covering an associated microphone.

5. The multi-spectral detection device of claim 3 , wherein each windscreen has at least a pair of beveled edges.

6. The multi-spectral detection device of claim 1 , further comprising:

the sensor housing having a flange extending from a first end of the sensor housing, the flange having a plurality of spaced flange apertures for mounting the acoustic array to an object.

7. The multi-spectral detection device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a controller in communication with the acoustic array and the electro-optical sensors, the controller configured to determine threads based at least in part on signals received from the acoustic array; and

an alarm system configured to provide a warning based on a thread determination from the controller.

8. The multi-spectral detection device of claim 1 , wherein the electro-optical sensors include at least one of an ultraviolet sensor, a visible-near infrared sensor and a mid-wave infrared sensor.

9. A multi-spectral detection device comprising:

a housing having an inner chamber to hold sensor components;

a bezel spacer having a first end and an opposed, second end, the first end of the bezel spacer extending from a first end of the housing, the bezel spacer having a central bezel passage leading to the inner chamber of the housing, the bezel spacer further having at least four side walls, each side wall positioned 90 degrees away from an adjacent side wall;

a microphone coupled to each side wall of the bezel spacer in such a manner that each microphone is faced 90 degrees away from an adjacent microphone to form an acoustic array;

an end cap coupled to the second end of the bezel spacer; and

electro-optical sensors mounted to the end cap.

10. The multi-spectral detection device of claim 9 , further comprising:

the housing having a flange extending from the first end of the housing, the flange having a plurality of spaced flange apertures for mounting the acoustic array to an object.

11. The multi-spectral detection device of claim 9 , further comprising:

a windscreen for each microphone, each windscreen mounted to the bezel spacer covering an associated microphone.

12. The multi-spectral detection device of claim 9 , wherein each windscreen has at least a pair of beveled edges.

13. The multi-spectral detection device of claim 9 , further comprising:

the bezel spacer further having at least one tangent side wall, the at least one tangent side wall being tangent to an outer curvature of the housing.

14. The multi-spectral detection device of claim 9 , further comprising:

a controller in communication with the acoustic array, the controller configured to determine threats based at least in part from signals received by the acoustic array.

15. The multi-spectral detection device of claim 9 , wherein the electro-optical sensors include at least one of an ultraviolet sensor, a visible-near infrared sensor and a mid-wave infrared sensor.

16. A multi-spectral detection device comprising:

a sensor housing configured to be mounted to an object to be protected, the sensor housing having an interior chamber, the sensor housing further having a first end and a second end;

a bezel spacer having at least one side wall extending from the first end of the sensor housing and terminating at a bezel spacer end, the bezel spacer having a central bezel passage that leads toward the interior of the chamber, the at least one side wall including a plurality of selectively positioned microphone apertures;

a mount cap coupled proximate the bezel spacer end and covering the central bezel passage, the mount cap having a plurality of sensor apertures leading toward the central bezel passage;

an electro-optical sensor mounted in each sensor aperture of the mount cap; and

an acoustic array including a microphone mounted in each microphone aperture of the at least one side wall of the bezel spacer.

17. The multi-spectral detection device of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of selectively positioned microphone apertures is positioned so that each microphone aperture is positioned 90 degrees away from an adjacent microphone aperture.

18. The multi-spectral detection system of claim 16 , further comprising:

a controller in communication with the electro-optical sensors and the acoustic array, the controller configured to determine threats based on signals from the electro-optical sensors and the acoustic array.

Assignments (12)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2021
From: NORTHROP GRUMMAN INNOVATION SYSTEMS LLC
To: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055256/0892 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 4, 2021
From: NORTHROP GRUMMAN INNOVATION SYSTEMS, INC.
To: NORTHROP GRUMMAN INNOVATION SYSTEMS LLC
Reel/Frame 055223/0425 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 1, 2018
From: ORBITAL ATK, INC.
To: NORTHROP GRUMMAN INNOVATION SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 047400/0381 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jun 6, 2018
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ORBITAL ATK, INC.
Reel/Frame 046477/0874 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2015
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE CO.; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; AMMUNITION ACCESSORIES, INC.; ORBITAL ATK, INC. (F/K/A ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.)
Reel/Frame 036816/0624 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 30, 2015
From: ORBITAL ATK, INC.; ORBITAL SCIENCES CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 036732/0170 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 22, 2015
From: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
To: ORBITAL ATK, INC.
Reel/Frame 035752/0471 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 26, 2013
From: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.; CALIBER COMPANY; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; SAVAGE ARMS, INC.; SAVAGE RANGE SYSTEMS, INC.; SAVAGE SPORTS CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 031731/0281 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Aug 26, 2013
From: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 031081/0622 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 23, 2013
From: MEDEROS, RAYMOND; CARTER, JONATHAN L.; KENYON, JOHN R.
To: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
Reel/Frame 030264/0394 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 23, 2013
From: SCIENTIFIC APPLICATIONS AND RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC.
To: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
Reel/Frame 030264/0506 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2013
From: CLECKLER, JAY B.; WALKER, MARK E.
To: SCIENTIFIC APPLICATIONS & RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC.
Reel/Frame 030181/0675 →