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 an embodiment, an apparatus includes an assembly that is rotatably mounted on a base with respect to a switching axis. The as

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 an embodiment, an 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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for at least one of sensing and emitting energy along an apparatus line of sight (LOS) with respect to said apparatus, comprising: at least two sensing/emitting units, each said unit adapted for at least one of sensing and emitting energy along a respective unit line of sight (ULOS);

1. An apparatus for at least one of sensing and emitting energy along an apparatus line of sight (LOS) with respect to said apparatus, comprising: at least two sensing/emitting units, each said unit adapted for at least one of sensing and emitting energy along a respective unit line of sight (ULOS);each sensing/emitting unit having an operative state, wherein the respective ULOS is pointed along said LOS for at least one of sensing and emitting energy, and a corresponding inoperative state, where the ULOS is pointed along a direction different from said LOS;a switching mechanism for switching between said units to selectively bring a desired unit exclusively into its respective operative state while concurrently bringing a remainder of said units each to a respective non-operative state;wherein a first said sensing/emitting unit is configured for at least one of sensing and emitting energy when an operational parameter associated with operation of said device is greater than an operational threshold and wherein a second said sensing/emitting unit is configured for at least one of sensing and emitting energy when said operational parameter is at or less than said operational threshold. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said switching mechanism is configured for automatically reversibly switching between said units to bring said first unit or said second unit into its operative state, respectively, according to whether said operational parameter is greater than or not greater than said operational threshold. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said operational parameter includes a distance to said target, and wherein said operational threshold is a first distance. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said operational parameter includes a visibility range along said LOS, and wherein said operational threshold is visibility correlated with adverse weather conditions. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said operational threshold is zero visibility conditions. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first said sensing/emitting unit comprises at least one radar system configured for at least enabling detecting a target along its respective ULOS. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a second said sensing/emitting unit comprises at least one electro-optical device. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said second sensing/emitting unit is configured for at least one 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; enabling any suitable form of thermal imaging. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, said first sensing/emitting unit comprising a first said radar system having a first ULOS and said second sensing/emitting unit comprising said electro-optical system having a second ULOS, wherein said first and second ULOS are angularly displaced one from the other with respect to said switching axis. 10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a second said radar system having a third ULOS in a direction substantially opposed to said first ULOS. 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a suitable pointing mechanism, configured for enabling selectively defining said LOS in a desired direction at least within a field of regard (FOR), enabling a said sensing/emitting unit having its respective ULOS aligned with said LOS to be selectively pointed in said desired direction therewith. 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said 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. 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured for first detecting a target by means of one said sensing/emitting unit, and further configured for at least one of recognizing and identifying the target by means of another said sensing/emitting unit. 14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one said sensing/emitting unit comprises a radar system configured for at least detecting the target, and another said sensing/emitting unit comprises an electro-optical sensing unit for at least one of recognizing and identifying the target. 15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured for determining the type of target detected or for detecting the presence of a target, and comprises a said sensing/emitting unit configured for detecting and interpreting ESM, COMINT or ELINT signals emitted by the target. 16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured for targeting a target, and one said sensing/emitting unit comprises a laser designator for acquiring the target, or, wherein one said sensing/emitting unit is configured for jamming or otherwise electronically incapacitating a target. 17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured for surveillance and one said sensing/emitting unit an electro-optical unit having a wide angle field of view, and another said sensing/emitting unit comprises an electro-optical sensing/emitting unit having a narrower field of view with greater resolution. 18. A method for at least one of sensing and emitting energy along an apparatus line of sight (LOS) with respect to a target, comprising: selectively aligning a unit line of sight (ULOS) of a first sensing/emitting unit with said LOS when an operational parameter is greater than an operational threshold;one of sensing and emitting energy along said LOS with said first sensing/emitting unit;switching to aligning a ULOS of a second sensing/emitting unit along said LOS, when said operational parameter is at or less than said operational threshold; andone of sensing and emitting energy continuously along said LOS with said second sensing/emitting unit;wherein said first sensing/emitting unit and said second sensing/emitting unit are mechanically coupled. 19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising reversibly switching between said units to bring said first unit or said second unit into its operative state, respectively, according to whether said operational parameter is greater than or not greater than said operational threshold. 20. The method according to claim 18, wherein said operational parameter is a distance to said target, and wherein said operational threshold is a first distance. 21. The method according to claim 18, wherein said operational parameter includes a visibility range along said LOS, and wherein said operational threshold corresponding to a visibility correlated with adverse weather conditions. 22. The method according to claim 21 wherein said operational threshold is zero visibility conditions. 23. An apparatus for at least one of sensing and emitting energy concurrently along each of at least two different apparatus lines of sight (LOS) with respect to said apparatus, comprising: an 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) via a respective sensing/emitting unit aperture, wherein said sensing/emitting units are mechanically coupled;said assembly having a plurality of operative states, including at least a first operative state wherein at least two ULOS are pointed one each along a respective said LOS for at least one of sensing and emitting energy with respect thereto, and at least a second operative state wherein at least one said ULOS is pointed along a LOS different from the LOS in which it was pointing during said first operative state;a switching mechanism for switching between said units to selectively bring said assembly into a desired said operative state. 24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein at least one said sensing/emitting unit may be configured for locally varying the direction of its respective ULOS, to provide at least one degree of freedom for the or each respective sensing/emitting unit. 25. A method for at least one of sensing and emitting energy along an apparatus line of sight (LOS) with respect to a target, comprising: selectively aligning a unit line of sight (ULOS) of a first sensing/emitting unit with said LOS;one of sensing and emitting energy continuously along said LOS with said first sensing/emitting unit; andselectively switching to aligning a ULOS of a second sensing/emitting unit along said LOS and one of sensing and emitting energy continuously along said LOS with said second sensing/emitting unit;wherein said first sensing/emitting unit and said second sensing/emitting unit are mechanically coupled.