초록 ▼

A number of apparatuses are provided, for sensing and/or emitting energy along one or more desired apparatus line of sights (LOS) with respect to the respective apparatus. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus includes an assembly that is rotatably mounted on a base with respect to a switching a

A number of apparatuses are provided, for sensing and/or emitting energy along one or more desired apparatus line of sights (LOS) with respect to the respective apparatus. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus includes an assembly that is rotatably mounted on a base with respect to a switching axis. The assembly has two or more sensing/emitting units, each having a respective sensing/emitting unit line of sight (ULOS). Each sensing/emitting unit has an operative state, wherein the respective unit ULOS is pointed along a LOS of the apparatus for sensing and/or emitting energy along the LOS, and a corresponding inoperative state, where the respective unit ULOS is pointed along a direction different from this LOS. A switching mechanism enables switching between the sensing/emitting units to selectively bring a desired sensing/emitting unit exclusively into its respective operative state while concurrently bringing a remainder of the sensing/emitting units each to a respective non-operative state. Corresponding systems and methods are also provided.

대표청구항 ▼

1. Apparatus for at least one of sensing and emitting energy along a desired apparatus line of sight (LOS) with respect to the apparatus, comprising: an assembly rotatably mounted on a base with respect to a switching axis, the assembly comprising at least two sensing/emitting units, each sensing/em

1. Apparatus for at least one of sensing and emitting energy along a desired apparatus line of sight (LOS) with respect to the apparatus, comprising: an assembly rotatably mounted on a base with respect to a switching axis, the assembly comprising at least two sensing/emitting units, each sensing/emitting unit configured for at least one of sensing and emitting energy along a respective sensing/emitting unit line of sight (ULOS), each sensing/emitting unit having an operative state, wherein the respective ULOS is pointed along the apparatus LOS for at least one of sensing and emitting energy along the LOS, and a corresponding inoperative state, where the respective ULOS is pointed along a direction different from the apparatus LOS;a switching mechanism for rotatably switching between the sensing/emitting units with respect to the switching axis to selectively bring a desired sensing/emitting unit exclusively into its respective operative state while concurrently bringing a remainder of the sensing/emitting units each to a respective non-operative state,the assembly being configured for being accommodated within a predefined envelope having a maximum width dimension located generally coaxial with said switching axis,wherein the at least two sensing/emitting units are configured for being enclosed within the envelope in a compact arrangement wherein the respective ULOS are arranged to each point in different directions one from another, andwherein at least one the sensing/emitting unit comprises a respective sensing/emitting unit aperture having an aperture width in a direction parallel to said switching axis, said aperture width being configured to provide optimal operation with respect to the maximum width dimension when the respective sensing/emitting unit is in its operative state while substantially avoiding interference with operation of each one of a remainder of the sensing/emitting units when the latter is in its respective operative state. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensing/emitting units are mechanically coupled and accommodated within a housing, the housing defining the envelope. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus defines an apparatus aperture substantially normal to the LOS, the apparatus aperture having a width dimension and a length dimension, wherein at least one of the width dimension and the length dimension is not greater than the maximum width dimension. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least one the sensing/emitting unit comprises the respective sensing/emitting unit aperture for one of sensing and transmitting energy therethrough, wherein operation of the or each the sensing/emitting unit is a function of the respective aperture of the sensing/emitting unit, and wherein the respective aperture has a value optimized with respect to a value of the apparatus aperture. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sensing/emitting unit aperture has a linear value associated therewith that is a proportion of the corresponding linear value associated with the apparatus aperture, wherein the proportion is a range within or is a combination of ranges selected from the group consisting of 0.5 to 0.6; 0.6 to 0.7; 0.7 to 0.8; 0.8 to 0.9; 0.9 to 1.0. 6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each sensing/emitting unit comprises a respective sensing/emitting unit aperture for one of sensing and transmitting energy therethrough, wherein in the operative state the respective unit aperture is exclusively comprised within the apparatus aperture. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the energy is electromagnetic energy. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each sensing/emitting unit is configured for operating along the LOS continuously when the respective ULOS is aligned to point along the LOS. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least two sensing/emitting units comprise a first sensing/emitting unit and a second sensing/emitting unit, wherein the first sensing/emitting unit is operable for at least detecting a target at a distance between the target and the apparatus greater than a first distance, and wherein the second sensing/emitting unit is operable for at least identifying the target at a distance between the target and the apparatus at or less than the first distance and wherein the second sensing/emitting unit comprises at least one electro-optical device. 10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first sensing/emitting unit comprises at least one radar system configured for at least enabling detecting a target along its respective ULOS. 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the envelope comprises a generally spherical volume, the first sensing/emitting unit comprises a first conformal radar antenna substantially conformal with a first portion of an imaginary spherical surface defining the envelope. 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the second sensing/emitting unit comprises at least one configuration selected from the group consisting of enabling providing images in at least one of the visible, infra red and ultraviolet electromagnetic spectrum; night vision; enabling providing pulsed laser designator for targeting; and enabling any suitable form of thermal imaging, and wherein the first sensing/emitting unit comprises a first the radar system having a first ULOS and the second sensing/emitting unit comprising the electro-optical system having a second ULOS, andwherein the first and second ULOS are angularly displaced one from the other with respect to the switching axis. 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a second the radar system having a third ULOS in a direction substantially opposed to the first ULOS. 14. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a suitable pointing mechanism, configured for enabling selectively defining the LOS in a desired direction at least within a field of regard (FOR), enabling a sensing/emitting unit having its respective ULOS aligned with the LOS to be selectively pointed in the desired direction therewith. 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the pointing mechanism comprises a pan and tilt mechanism. 16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each sensing/emitting unit is configured for providing data associated with at least one of surveillance, viewing, locating, sighting, detection, recognition, identification, tracking, targeting, marking, homing, tracking and imaging of a target. 17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured for first detecting a target by means of one sensing/emitting unit, and further configured for at least one of recognizing and identifying the target by means of another sensing/emitting unit. 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein one sensing/emitting unit comprises a radar system configured for at least detecting the target, and the other sensing/emitting unit comprises an electro-optical sensing unit for at least one of recognizing and identifying the target, and wherein the apparatus is further configured for determining the type of target detected or for detecting the presence of a target, and comprises a sensing/emitting unit configured for detecting and interpreting ESM, COMINT or ELINT signals emitted by the target. 19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured for surveillance and one sensing/emitting unit comprises an electro-optical unit having a wide angle field of view, and another sensing/emitting unit comprises an electro-optical sensing/emitting unit having a narrower field of view with greater resolution. 20. System for at least one of sensing and emitting energy along a desired line of sight (LOS) comprising the apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further comprising a controller for controlling operation of the apparatus. 21. The system according to claim 20, configured for aligning a first sensing/emitting unit to point its respective ULOS along the LOS when a distance between a desired target and the system along the LOS is greater than a first distance, and wherein the system is further configured for automatically switching to aligning the respective ULOS of a second sensing/emitting unit with the LOS when the distance is not greater than the first distance. 22. The system according to claim 20, further comprising a pod configured for being attachable to an air vehicle, wherein at least the apparatus is configured for being housed in the pod. 23. Apparatus for at least one of sensing and emitting energy along a desired discrete apparatus line of sight (LOS) with respect to the apparatus, comprising at least two sensing/emitting units, each sensing/emitting unit adapted for at least one of sensing and emitting energy along a respective unit line of sight (ULOS), the sensing/emitting units being mechanically coupled;each sensing/emitting unit having an operative state, wherein the respective ULOS is pointed continuously along the LOS for at least one of sensing and emitting energy, and a corresponding inoperative state, where the respective unit operating axis is pointed along a direction different from the LOS;a switching mechanism for switching between the units to selectively bring a desired unit exclusively into its respective operative state while concurrently bringing a remainder of the units each to a respective non-operative state. 24. Apparatus for at least one of sensing and emitting energy along a desired apparatus line of sight (LOS) with respect to the apparatus, comprising: at least two sensing/emitting units, each configured for at least one of sensing and emitting energy along a respective sensing/emitting unit line of sight (ULOS);each sensing/emitting unit having an operative state, wherein the respective ULOS is pointed along the LOS for at least one of sensing and emitting energy, and a corresponding inoperative state, where the respective ULOS is pointed along a direction different from the LOS;a switching mechanism for switching between the sensing/emitting units to selectively bring a desired sensing/emitting unit exclusively into its respective operative state while bringing a remainder of the sensing/emitting units each to a respective non-operative state; andwherein the apparatus is configured for selectively changing a direction of the LOS during operation of the apparatus with respect to at least two degrees of freedom independently of which one of the units is exclusively in its operative state. 25. Apparatus for at least one of sensing and emitting energy along a desired apparatus line of sight (LOS) with respect to said apparatus, comprising: an assembly rotatably mounted on a base with respect to a switching axis, said assembly comprising at least two sensing/emitting units, each said sensing/emitting unit adapted for at least one of sensing and emitting energy along a respective sensing/emitting unit line of sight (ULOS), each said sensing/emitting unit having an operative state, wherein the respective unit ULOS is pointed along said apparatus LOS for at least one of sensing and emitting energy along said LOS, and a corresponding inoperative state, where the respective unit ULOS is pointed along a direction different from said apparatus LOS;a switching mechanism for rotatably switching between said sensing/emitting units with respect to said switching axis to selectively bring a desired said sensing/emitting unit exclusively into its respective operative state while concurrently bringing a remainder of said sensing/emitting units each to a respective non-operative state,wherein at least one said sensing/emitting unit comprises a respective sensing/emitting unit aperture having an aperture width in a direction parallel to said switching axis, and wherein another at least one other said sensing/emitting unit comprises a respective ULOS defined on a plane that intersects said aperture width.