RU2712340C1 - Means of creating "transparent" enclosed rooms, video-camouflage and video image of non-existing material objects - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: military equipment; masking.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the field of military equipment, namely to concealment and camouflage means, and can be used to improve the quality of camouflage, as well as to provide crews of combat equipment on the battlefield. Device comprises at least one layer of interconnected structural elements in parallel, which are segments of multimode lensed optical fiber, wherein on the first end surfaces of said optic fibers placed outside the room, on one side means for receiving the image from outside and fixing the image on the optical fiber connected to the processor are fixed, and on the second end surfaces of the other side there are means for reproducing the image which are also connected to the processor.EFFECT: technical result achieved when realizing the invention consists in improvement of protection of military equipment and personnel due to provision of video camouflage of military equipment objects, by creation of its quasi-vision, and provision of the possibility to observe the personnel of the zone of military operations from closed premises.3 cl, 4 dwg

Description

The invention relates to the field of military equipment, namely to means of shelter and camouflage, and can be used to improve the quality of camouflage, as well as to ensure the observation of the crews of military equipment battlefield.

At the moment, due to the sharp increase in the cost of military equipment and trained soldiers, interest in the problem of disguising military equipment and personnel of the armed forces has grown significantly.

Camouflage raincoats and capes are created on the principles of creating a boundary layer with full internal reflection, they are high-tech with high material costs for R&D, both in the USA and in China. The frequency spectrum of the layer with total internal reflection is quite narrow, as well as the temperature range of this camouflage. All developed options require a power supply with solid energy consumption, limited by climatic conditions.

For military equipment, the development of camouflage coatings is still at the stage of finding ways to solve the problem.

In a research program conducted by the U.S. Air Force research laboratory in 1990, threats to military pilots at promising theaters of military operations were examined, as well as requirements for promising cockpits of combat aircraft and image synthesis systems. The issues raised during the consideration of the program called PCCADS (Panoramic Cockpit Control and Display System) are aimed at solving the problem of providing the pilot with displays with a large useful screen area and NSCOI (Helmet Target Designation and Information Support System), providing guided weapons (MA) outside the line target sighting by airborne sensors.

Information on the search for video camouflage solutions and systems for changing the video signature of objects in the visible and infrared spectra for aircraft in open press was not found.

Currently, a number of foreign campaigns and research institutes are carrying out R&D to integrate information display systems (SDI) on aircraft with control systems.

Specialists of the American company Garmin International (Garmin International) are working on the implementation of modern aircraft technology, implemented in the creation of touch screens of cell phones and laptop computers, in the avionics. Testing of the developments will be carried out on Honda Jet and Piper Jet aircraft equipped with G3000 type SOI, which is different in that in addition to three widescreen liquid crystal display indicators (LCD EI, one for each crew member and one common average) in the cockpit sensory EI systems of aircraft navigation with controls (menu) similar to a personal computer were installed. This made it possible to abandon the buttons, switches and the key in favor of the intuitive control of avionics.

Since May 2009, with funding from the European Union, 30-month R&D has been carried out to create a prototype SDI, in which the dashboard and central control panel present a single screen. The program for creating the so-called multi-screen interactive display system for the cockpit ODICIS (One Display for Cockpit Interactive Solution) as part of the development of the human-machine interface HMI (Human-Machine Interface) is attended by nine companies and research organizations from seven European countries, led by French company "Thales Avionics".

A split-screen is characterized by the minimum possible (from the point of view of the development of modern technologies) distance between individual indicators. The image on a single surface is formed by a projector developed using the technology of manufacturing EI on DMD elements (DMD - Digital Mieromirror Device) or liquid crystal on silicon LCoS (Li-quid-Crystal-on-Siliconc) structures. In contrast to the traditional dashboard and control panels, the split-screen can be bent to improve ergonomics, taking into account the design features of the cab. The split-screen (PE) system is designed primarily to solve three main issues:

- reduction of the workload on the crew due to optimization of the user field of the screen;

- ensuring the continuity of information display, due to the fact that a single PI has multi-sensor capabilities and allows the crew to simultaneously manipulate various virtual controls and images, such as a keyboard and a map of the area.

- ensuring the flexibility of the avionics architecture, which makes it possible to change its composition without changing the instrumental equipment.

The solution of these issues will improve the efficiency of the crew and flight safety. Among the potential advantages, experts also mention the lower cost of both the equipment itself, the hook and its maintenance.

The ODICIS program is focused on achieving technological readiness of development in three to four years.

It was planned to equip the fifth generation F-35 Lightning-2 fighter with a multiscreen display system with a digital projection system and double redundancy. However, the required technologies were not created on time, and it was equipped with separate closely spaced sensor PEs, which function by analogy with a single screen space.

Over the past seven years, under the auspices of the Department of Advanced Development and Research of the US Department of Defense (DARPA), the American corporation Universal Display has concluded a number of contracts with research organizations of the US Department of Defense for the development of their own technologies for creating PE. They are based on organic OLFDs (Organic Light- Emitting Diode), which in comparison with LCD EI have a higher color range, contrast and speed. On the basis of organic LEDs, it is possible to create flexible displays to replace, for example, printed flight cards and control sheets currently used by pilots.

In particular, under contracts with the ground forces and the US Air Force, Universal Display, together with LG Technologies and L-3 Communications, is working on introducing active-matrix organic LED technology into prototypes of flexible displays on a metal foil substrate.

Under a contract in June 2009, industrial companies supply the US Air Force with prototypes of portable full-color displays measuring 152 mm diagonally. Such - rolled up - EI are safe for ejection.

The Merkava IV tank may receive the helmet-mounted display system Iron Vision of the Elbit company, which will allow crew members to “monitor” the situation outside the tank using several external video cameras without opening it hatch.

Known (RU, patent 150960, publ. 03/10/2015) a camouflage cloak for military equipment made of mirror sheets of stainless steel with a width of 500 to 1000 mm, assembled into accordions by articulation, while the accordions are fastened together in the form of front, rear , lateral right and left parts, made to the size of military equipment, while the design is mounted on a ring having a locking device and mounted on top of the military equipment.

The well-known camouflage cape does not provide protection for either military equipment or personnel.

Known (RU, patent 2546470, publ. 04/10/2015) a camouflage network containing a carrier network of spaced in the transverse and longitudinal directions of the threads placed with free gaps relative to each other, electrically conductive from at least one side of the polymer tape with metal coating, a layer repeating on both sides the shape of the recesses and / or protrusions distributed on its surface, a camouflage color-bearing layer, the threads of the carrier network base being placed with the formation of cells, polymer tapes are made in the form of a layer repeating on both sides the shape of the recesses and (or) protrusions distributed on its surface, the metal coating is made reflective and applied to the surface of the polymer tapes from at least one side, a color-masking mask is applied to the corresponding reflective coating, and the recesses and the protrusions are made in the form of structures with a pointed or / and rounded apex, providing reflection on their side surfaces of the locating radiation in at least one direction other than the source radiation, while the polymer tape is placed in the transverse direction or in the longitudinal direction in the corresponding sequentially arranged cells with the possibility of their retention by the respective sides of the cells.

The well-known camouflage network does not provide protection for either military equipment or personnel.

There is a known (RU patent 2632271, publ. 03.10.2017) method of counteracting optoelectronic reconnaissance, which consists in applying to one or more surfaces of a camouflaged object, or a camouflage device, or camouflage fabric, or non-woven sheet material, masking the object, a set of incorrect spots forms representing a halftone raster, the frequency of which is chosen so that the elements of the raster are perceived as separate spots when observed from small distances, and when observed from large distances are grouped into large blocks, and the spots are created by combining and snapping in the spot contour fragments of the borders of the coastline of an arbitrarily selected continent, peninsula, or fragments of the borders of states (republics) on an electronic map using graphic editors, while for masking the object, spots are selected whose fractal dimension is as close as possible to the fractal dimension of the elements of the background area on which the object is masked.

The known method does not provide protection for either military equipment or personnel.

Known (RU, patent 2676574, publ. 01.29.2019) a multilayer low-emission material containing a textile base, an internal heat-reflecting layer, in addition, the material additionally contains on the outer surface of the textile base or a low-emission coating with a metal-dielectric structure Al ₂ O ₃ (55 nm) - Cu (10 nm) - Al ₂ O ₃ (55 nm), transparent in the visible and near infrared frequency ranges of electromagnetic radiation, or a low-emission coating, which uses an electrically conductive semiconductor such as oxide of tin doped with a thickness of 600 nm.

Known material does not provide protection for military equipment or personnel.

The technical problem that can be solved using the developed tool is that it is necessary to replace existing structures, since existing video displays, which are fundamentally suitable for use in video camouflage technology, have a limited ability to form curved screens, high technological complexity when creating an image source of arbitrary shape, and low mechanical strength and are subject to chemical, thermal effects.

The technical result achieved during the implementation of the invention is to increase the protection of military equipment and personnel by providing a video camouflage of military equipment, by creating its quasi-invisibility, and by providing personnel with the possibility of observing a war zone.

The proposed technical solution is able to work in:

- active mode, with digital signal processing, their correction, adding visual information from third-party sources. Active mode ensures that there is no possibility of laser radiation affecting the eyes of people protected by this camouflage system and transmitting video information. Video transmission is carried out by standard analog, or digital electronic methods;

- interactive (issuing visual information on screens + receiving information from helmet-mounted and other optical target indicators) with possible visual control of the pre-screen space and combination with touchpad technology.

Based on this technical solution it is possible:

- creation of a rigid structure for mounting on military equipment and use as an effective video camouflage (signature corrector in the visible and infrared spectrum), obtaining "transparent" enclosed and reserved rooms of military and other equipment of any shape, buried "transparent" booths of aviation, sea and ground technology, with almost any necessary fidelity and degree of interactivity.

- the creation of flexible materials of the type “fabric” for camouflage camouflage for equipment, objects simulating the presence of equipment and personnel.

To achieve the specified technical result, it is proposed to use a means of creating "transparent" enclosed spaces, camouflage and video images of non-existing material objects of a developed design. The specified tool contains at least one layer of parallel-mounted structural elements, which are segments of a multimode lensed optical fiber (transmitting the spectrum of the visible and infrared ranges), and on the first end surfaces of these optical fibers placed outdoors, on one side are fixed means for receiving an image from outside and transmitting this image via optical fiber, connected to the processor, and on the second end surfaces of the other side, Accepted means of receiving and reproducing images, also connected to the processor.

In some embodiments, the second end surfaces of the fiber layer are housed indoors. This makes the walls of the premises quasi transparent, allowing personnel of military equipment (tanks, aircraft infantry fighting vehicles, etc.) to see what is happening outside the premises, without leaving it and without endangering themselves.

In other embodiments, the second end surfaces of the fiber layer are placed outdoors on the other hand. In this case, on the indicated second ends of the fibers, an image of the area located in front of the first ends of the means will be designed, which ultimately masks the object on which the means is installed.

Achieving the indicated technical result is based on the use of a structure composed of optical fibers that transmit visible and infrared light (with lensing properties used in fiber optic bundles), but fastened together. Fiber optic plays a lensing role, reduces the influence of side reflections, is a mechanically stable and heat-resistant component of the structure.

In FIG. 1 shows an example implementation of the developed method.

In FIG. 1 shows two ends of a curved fiber optic bundle. If you put an object under the tourniquet, the observer (observing from the end) will not see him, he will see what is behind the other end of the tourniquet (optical camouflage). The end of each fiber in the bundle acts as a pixel of the video display device.

The disadvantage of such a solution is the use of huge volumes of fiber optic bundles. And the nature of such a solution is clearly redundant, there is no need to reproduce the image at any time, a standard video scanning system is enough.

The simplest way to use optical camouflage on a cylindrical surface for observing a given figure in profile is shown in FIG. 2

Optical fibers with a diameter determining the quality of the final image (image pixel size) are shown. The cylinder is completely covered with fiber optic (not shown)

As you know, optical fiber (we are talking about lensing and multimode, conducting the entire spectrum of visible light and the infrared range) conducts waves of light, the losses of which can be neglected over a short distance.

The observer from the side will see only what is behind the cylinder.

The developed technical solution can be implemented at the current level of development of the use of fiber optics.

In the future, we will consider (for simplification) the main component of the technical solution for the construction of a modified segment of the optical fiber (Fig. 3).

This structural element consists of a segment of a multimode lensing optical fiber, which has side A (to the microelectronic elements fixed to the end and the radiating-receiving side B.

A structure consisting of such modified structural elements fastened in parallel will be called a “camouflage coating” with side A and side B, respectively. Subsequently, the properties of the entire coating will be determined by the local properties (diameter) of the optical fibers that make up the camouflage coating. The diameter of the optical fiber determines the pixel size of the image on the camouflage coating, today it is 50 microns.

The end face “A” of the optical fiber is the side that simultaneously receives the image and emits (through the end face “B”) the image. The properties of the optical fiber - multimode, lensing, transmitting the visible spectrum and the infrared region of the spectrum, the diameter sets the characteristics of the reproduction. In addition, playback depends on the viewing sector of the observed object and on the distance between the object and the observer.

In FIG. 3 end face of fiber “A” is receiving and emitting at the same time. The end face of fiber optic B is only emitting. This is an analogue of the “protruding from the cylinder” (Fig. 2) optical fibers that play the role of radiating pixels of the image surface.

Side "A" is fixed on the camouflage object. On the side A are located (fixed by technical methods): 1. Subpixel 1 emitting a video image, subpixel 3 receiving a video image, wideband pixel 3 (infrared receiving and emitting range). Not the intersection of information from the sensors provides a separation of their work at the clock frequency. Technologically, the IR pixel can be divided into 2 different-function ones (one that emits in a wide spectrum to change the signature of the object in the infrared range, the other - direction-finding infrared radiation. In the case of the need for laser target designation (from helmet-mounted or other target designation, another sensor may be required (on side A), responsive to laser target designation.

Below are possible options for implementing the developed technical solution.

In FIG. 4 shows an example of using the developed technical solution for camouflage.

The entire surface of the opaque cube is camouflaged. (For clarity, two fiber-optic structures from the entire coating are shown, fasteners not shown). The end face “A” of the fiber-optic structure (see Fig. 3) from side 1 by means of the RGB subpixel (3 in Fig. 3) takes color indicators of the light incident on it and after processing and signal transmission by digital electron-optical methods (transmission and processing channels of information conditionally not shown), this image is transmitted and reproduced by the RGB subpixel (1 in Fig. 3) on side 2. Due to the spacing of the work of all subpixels in clock frequency, the captured video information at the end A of fiber optic 1 by the RGB subpixel (3 in Fig. 3) will be mapped to end B opto fiber 2. Similarly, the video image is taken from side 2 (Fig. 4) and reproduced by the RGB subpixel 1 on side 1.

Thus, covering the opaque cube with a camouflage coating, 98% of the image for the observer from either side will consist of what is behind the opaque cube. The remaining 2% will be darkened noise in the video image. If you have an electronic database of video images, you can use this system not only as a "video camouflage", but also electronically display an image of any object (static or dynamic), "embed it in a common video background" and simulate any static or dynamic image using video images. The concept of “camouflage coating” in this context includes the installation of such structures (in the form of rigid structures, soft layered structures (for example, laid on the ground and depicting equipment not existing in this place), self-adhesive film, and the use of such “fabric coatings” with personal composition.

Camouflage coated hardware is capable of capturing all the video information around the hardware.

Having placed a similar layer of camouflage coating only with radiating subpixels 1 (Fig. 3) in a physically enclosed space (on internal structures and walls of an enclosed space), we get the possibility of online broadcasting of outdoor video with any given accuracy of reproduction (this depends only on the diameter of the optical fibers) making up the coating. The receiving subpixel 3 (Fig. 3) of the external coating with side A (Fig. 3 Fig. 4) captures the entire video image from the outside and broadcasts this video through digital systems through the subpixel 1 (Fig. 3) of the internal camouflage coating to the consumers of the reserved space. People do not see the walls of the internal space (to the extent necessary), only the external video image (which can be compiled in a convenient form, supplemented by information from third-party information sources by electronic methods). Obtaining video information in the reserved (closed) space does not depend on the availability of video cameras. Due to the multi-channel system, minor damage will lead to a slight deterioration in the outdoor video image.

In the version of "transparent" enclosed spaces, the developed technical solution works as follows.

Everything happens, as in the previous version, but on the side A (Fig. 3) of the camouflage coating of the enclosed space, a laser sensor is added that is configured for a helmet-mounted or other target designation system, making this system interactive with possible online video monitoring of the enclosed space (video transmission via radio channels to a third-party consumer), if necessary, video monitoring of everything that happens indoors), if necessary, it is not difficult to supplement the inside of the enclosed space with touch pad technology on camouflage side B coverings inside the reserved room.

In cases where the maximum authenticity of the external video is required, for example, for an airplane pilot, the orientation of the fiber-optic structures of the outer part of the camouflage coating on the device body (both inside and outside) is determined by the pilot's gaze.

On the outside of the enclosed space (on the A side of the fiber-optic structure) it is useful to place microbolometric matrices (they are not afraid of side illumination with this principle of placement), etc. to observe the surrounding area in infrared rays. It is also possible to place laser target designation sensors with a quick determination of the direction of the radiation source. All subpixels, emitters, and sensors operate separately due to clock diversity.

Since the optical fiber (especially bonded in this way) is mechanically strong, can withstand temperatures up to 1400 ° C, it makes sense to equip such camouflage surfaces (with partial functionality - image transmission) controlled and self-controlled (with image control) attack devices: drones, kamikaze drones , video-controlled missiles, ATGMs, etc., submarine survey periscopes, etc.

Claims (3)

1. A means of creating a "transparent" enclosed spaces, camouflage and video images of non-existent material objects, characterized in that it contains at least one layer of structural elements fastened together in parallel, which are pieces of multimode lensed optical fiber that passes the spectrum of the visible and infrared, and on the first end surfaces of these optical fibers placed outdoors, on the one hand, reception means are fixed and siderations outside and transmission of images by optical fiber connected to the processor, and the second end faces the other fixed means for receiving and reproducing images, also connected to the processor. 2. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the second end surfaces of the layer of optical fibers are placed indoors. 3. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the second end surfaces of the layer of optical fibers are placed outdoors on the other hand

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