초록 ▼

A method of providing an indication of the direction of a target such as a sniper. A rifle mounted sensor array detects an acoustic pulse originating from the target. The signal is processed to estimate the direction of the target, and an indication is provided when the weapon is aligned with the es

A method of providing an indication of the direction of a target such as a sniper. A rifle mounted sensor array detects an acoustic pulse originating from the target. The signal is processed to estimate the direction of the target, and an indication is provided when the weapon is aligned with the estimated direction. The direction of arrival of an acoustic pulse is estimated by spectrally decomposing each signal from the sensor so as to generate one or more spectral components for each signal, and processing the spectral components to estimate the direction of arrival.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of providing an indication of the direction of a target, the method comprising the steps of detecting a signal originating from the target with a plurality of pairs of sensors so as to generate a plurality of pairs of sensor signals; spectrally decomposing each senso

What is claimed is: 1. A method of providing an indication of the direction of a target, the method comprising the steps of detecting a signal originating from the target with a plurality of pairs of sensors so as to generate a plurality of pairs of sensor signals; spectrally decomposing each sensor signal so as to generate a plurality of pairs of spectral components for each pair of sensor signals; calculating a phase delay between each pair of spectral components; estimating the direction of the target relative to a weapon in accordance with the calculated phase delays; and providing an indication when the weapon is aligned with the estimated direction of the target. 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the signal is an acoustic signal. 3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sensors are mounted on the weapon. 4. A method according claim 1 wherein the indication is provided by an indicator mounted on the weapon. 5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising detecting when the weapon is aligned with a vertical plane containing the estimated direction of the target; and providing an indication as a result of that detection. 6. A method according to claim 1 further comprising detecting when the weapon is aligned with a horizontal plane containing the estimated direction of the target; and providing an indication as a result of that detection. 7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the indication is provided by displaying a visual indicator. 8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of sensors are arranged in a volumetric array. 9. A method according to claim 1 comprising detecting a muzzle signal, and estimating the direction of the target from the detected muzzle signal. 10. A method according to claim 1 further comprising detecting a projectile shock wave, estimating a range of the target from the detected projectile shock wave; and providing an indication of the estimated range of the target. 11. Apparatus for providing an indication of the direction of a target, the apparatus comprising a plurality of pairs of sensors for detecting a signal originating from the target so as to generate a plurality of pairs of sensor signals; a processor for processing the sensor signals to estimate the direction of the target relative to a weapon; and a direction indicator for providing an indication when the weapon is aligned with the estimated direction of the target; wherein the processor is programmed to process the sensor signals by spectrally decomposing each sensor signal so as to generate a plurality of pairs of spectral components for each pair of sensor signals; calculating a phase delay between each pair of spectral components, and estimating the direction of the target relative to a weapon in accordance with the calculated phase delays. 12. Apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising a common housing containing the sensor, indicator and processor. 13. A weapon comprising apparatus according to claim 11. 14. A weapon according to claim 13 wherein the weapon is a hand-held weapon. 15. A weapon according to claim 13 comprising a sight, wherein the or each sensor is mounted on the sight. 16. A weapon according to claim 13 comprising a sight, wherein the direction indicator is mounted on the sight. 17. A weapon according to any of claims 13 to 16 comprising a sight, wherein a range indicator is mounted on the sight. 18. A method of estimating the direction of arrival of an acoustic pulse, the method comprising: a. detecting the pulse with a plurality of sensors so as to generate a plurality of sensor signals; b. spectrally decomposing each sensor signal so as to generate one or more spectral components for each signal; and c. processing the spectral components to estimate the direction of arrival of the acoustic pulse, wherein the pulse is detected with a volumetric array of three or more pairs of sensors in step a. so as to generate three or more pairs of sensors signals; wherein a plurality of pairs of spectral components are generated in step b. for each pair of sensor signals; and wherein step c. includes calculating a phase delay between each pair of spectral components, and estimating the direction of arrival of the acoustic pulse in accordance with the calculated phase delays. 19. A method of detecting the direction of a target, the method comprising detecting the direction of arrival of an acoustic pulse from the target by a method according to claim 18, and inferring the direction of the target from the estimated direction of arrival. 20. A method of detecting the trajectory of a projectile, the method comprising detecting the direction of arrival of an acoustic pulse from the projectile by a method according to claim 18, and inferring the trajectory of the projectile from the estimated direction of arrival. 21. Apparatus for detecting the direction of arrival of an acoustic pulse by a method according to claim 18, the apparatus comprising a plurality of sensors; and a processor programmed to perform steps b and c.