Patents Assigned to Rafael Armament Development Authority
  • Patent number: 8928750
    Abstract: An airborne reconnaissance system which comprises: (a) A focal plane array positioned at a focal plane of an optical unit, said focal plane array having an area A, and comprises a plurality of optical pixels sensitive to light; (b) Optical unit for acquiring light rays from a terrain portion, said optical unit comprises a plurality of optical components that are positioned along an optical path, and designed to maneuver said light rays to produce at the focal plane an image of said terrain portion, said image having an area which is several times larger than the focal plane array area A; (c) At least one light diversion optical component along said optical path which, for each acquired terrain portion image, switches between several n states, thereby causing in each state different diversion of said light rays within said path, thereby to impinge in each state another fraction of the terrain image on said focal plane array; and (d) Capturing means for recording in each state of the at least one light diversio
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Rafael-Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventors: Zvi Yavin, Gabriel Katlan
  • Publication number: 20140056795
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for manufacturing high density boron carbide by pressureless sintering, enabling to create sintered products of complex shapes and high strength. The robust process of the invention enables to employ low-cost raw powders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Rafael-Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventors: Shimshon Bar-ziv, Yehoshua Hachamo, David Gorni, Zohar Ophir, Itamar Gutman, Joseph Frey, Zvi Nisenholz
  • Patent number: 8527115
    Abstract: An airborne reconnaissance system comprising: (1) Gimbals having at least two degrees of freedom; (2) At least one array of light sensors positioned on the gimbals, for being directed by the same within at least two degrees of freedom; (3) Map storage means for storing at least one Digital Elevation Map of an area of interest, divided into portions; (4) Inertial Navigation System for real-time providing to a gimbals control unit navigation and orientation data of the aircraft with respect to a predefined global axes system; (5) Portion selection unit for selecting, one at a time, another area portion from the area of interest; and (6) servo means for directing the gimbals. The system uses data from the inertial navigation system and from the digital elevation map for real-time calculating direction to selected area portions, and for maintaining the direction during integration of light from the terrain, and for producing corresponding images of area portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventors: Israel Greenfeld, Zvi Yavin, Bernd Uhl
  • Patent number: 8267002
    Abstract: A ceramic armor tile for attaching internally behind a wall of a structure and for cooperation in conjunction therewith, such that the wall acts as an external protective layer of the armor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventors: Moshe Benyami, Yehiel Reifen, Ron Genussov
  • Patent number: 8223202
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an airborne reconnaissance system for capturing images in a wide field of regard which comprises: (a) An array of a plurality of n prisms being one next to the other, each prism having an essentially flat and rectangular front surface, and at least an output surface wherein: (a1) a front surface of each of the plurality of prism is being directed toward a different section of a strip of terrain transversal to the flight direction of the aircraft, thereby collecting light rays coming mostly from that terrain strip section; (a2) each output surface of each of the prisms directs light rays which are received through said front prism surface toward a front lens of an optical unit; (b) A focal plane array; (c) Optical unit comprising a front lens, the front lens receiving light separately but simultaneously through the output surfaces of all the prisms, said optical unit comprises addition optics for directing the light received from said lens thereby to produce separate correspond
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Rafael-Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventors: Eliezer Rosenblum, Zvi Yavin
  • Patent number: 8189047
    Abstract: The invention relates to an airborne laser image capturing system which comprises: (a) A laser source and laser focal plan array; (b) A pulse generator; (c) A scanning unit for providing to the gimbals a scanning signal for effecting a sequential stepping-scanning movement to scan an area in which the target is included; (d) A motion compensation unit; (e) A timing unit for: (e.i) Activating said pulse generator during a scanning period, thereby to produce over the target a series of illumination spots, each of said spots overlaps at least a portion of one or more adjacent spots; and (e.ii) Activating said laser focal plan array during the illumination of the target thereby to capture many of distinct spot-images (f) A correlating unit for correlating images; and (g) A combining unit for combining the spot-images to a complete image of the scanned area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Rafael-Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventor: Uzi Landau
  • Publication number: 20120107211
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing high density boron carbide by pressureless sintering, enabling to create sintered products of complex shapes and high strength. The process comprises mixing raw boron carbide powder with carbon precursor, such as a polysaccharide, compacting the mixture to create an object of the desired shape, and finally carbonizing and sintering the object at higher temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: RAFAEL-ARMAMENT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY LTD.
    Inventors: Shimshon Bar-ziv, Yehoshua Hachamo, David Gorni, Zohar Ophir, Itamar Gutman, Joseph Frey, Zvi Nisenholz
  • Patent number: 8085991
    Abstract: The present invention is an iterative method for normalization of a probe image against the Eigenspace learned from a database of images. The invention is also an iterative method for normalizing the n images in a database, wherein the normalization is carried out without using a predetermined criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Rafael-Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomer Michaeli
  • Patent number: 8063930
    Abstract: The invention is a method for converting a monoscopic video movie passively acquired using a single camera to a stereoscopic video movie. The method comprises generating stereoscopic pairs comprising, for each frame in the original sequence, a transformed original frame selected from the monoscopic video movie and a transformed alternate frame. The transformed frames are generated from the original and the alternate frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Rafael-Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventors: Efrat Rotem, Karni Wolowelsky, David Pelz
  • Publication number: 20110168950
    Abstract: Provided is a simulant material for simulating hazardous materials, including a quantity of at least one explosive material and at least one inert material. The simulant material is a non-explosive material and is in the form of a homogenous, flexible and non-particulated material. Also provided is a method for manufacturing such a simulant material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: RAFAEL ARMAMENT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY LTD.
    Inventors: Yael COHEN-ARAZI, Tamar KAULLY, Edith SOKOL, Aviv NISAN
  • Patent number: 7932089
    Abstract: A simulant material for simulating hazardous materials is provided. The simulant material includes a quantity of at least one explosive material and at least one inert material. The simulant material is a non-explosive material and is in the form of a homogenous, flexible and non-particulated material. Also provided is a method for manufacturing such a simulant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventors: Yael Cohen-Arazi, Tamar Kaully, Edith Sokol, Aviv Nisan
  • Patent number: 7907081
    Abstract: An imaging system operative in a frequency range starting from X band and including the terahertz region has a receiving antenna having a spheroidal reflector. One or more arrays of detectors disposed at the focus adjacent to the reflector of the receiving antenna provides for imaging targets within a range of a few meters around the second focus of the spheroidal reflector. Images of targets such as of concealed objects under clothing are generated and displayed as is known in the art. A method for manufacturing reflectors of receiving antennae given a detection range and a focal range is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Rafael - Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventor: Yonatan Noyman
  • Patent number: 7845279
    Abstract: An armor module and an explosive material therefore, which explosive material is normally retained at a less sensitive position, and upon demand it is modified into a more sensitive position, where its initiation ability is upgraded and wherein the modification is carried out by heating the explosive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventors: Benjamin Keren, Yael Cohen-Arazi, Samuel Friling, Erez Hanina
  • Patent number: 7779742
    Abstract: An armor module having a rigid casing having a front face, a top face and a bottom face, and a plurality of multi-layer planner cassettes fixedly mounted within the casing. Each cassette has a top base plate and a bottom base plate, sandwiching between them at least a one other layer. The top base plate of an uppermost cassette constitutes the top face of the casing, and a bottom base plate of a lowermost cassette constitutes the bottom face of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventors: Moshe Benyami, Samuel Friling, Sony Helvanyo
  • Patent number: 7777671
    Abstract: The invention relates to a radar system which comprises: (a) at least two transmitting units for simultaneously, and in synchronization transmitting electromagnetic radiation in distinct frequencies f1, f2, f3 . . . towards a space of interest; and (b) at least one receiving unit tuned to a frequency of nf1+mf2+qf3 . . . , wherein n, m, q . . . being integers not equal to zero, for receiving a non-linear response of said radiation from objects located within the said space of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Rafael-Armament Development Authority, Ltd
    Inventors: Itzhak Schnitzer, Avner Rosenberg, Alon Deutsch
  • Patent number: 7777672
    Abstract: The invention relates to a radar system which comprises: (a) at least two transmitting units for simultaneously, and in synchronization transmitting electromagnetic radiation in distinct frequencies f1, f2, f3 . . . towards a space of interest; and (b) at least one receiving unit tuned to a frequency of nf1+mf2+qf3 . . . , wherein n, m, q . . . being integers not equal to zero, for receiving a non-linear response of said radiation from objects located within the said space of interest, and wherein the system is characterized in that said transmitted pulses are narrow pulses having duration in the range of between about 1 nanoseconds and about 100 nanoseconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Rafael-Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventors: Itzhak Schnitzer, Avner Rosenberg, Alon Deutsch
  • Publication number: 20100157040
    Abstract: A biometric facial surveillance system comprise at least one independent, stand-alone biometric unit operative to acquire and process biometric parameters to provide a complete verification or identification of a person. In a preferred embodiment, each biometric unit includes a camera operative to provide a two dimensional (2D) video stream and a 3D pixel depth data stream, and at least one processing unit operative to process the 2D video stream and a 3D pixel depth data stream into biometric parameters that verify or identify the particular person. In alternative embodiments, a plurality of biometric units is connected to a biometric server and an applications server which provide management functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: Rafael - Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventor: Alon OFIR
  • Publication number: 20100126335
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser based system for protecting a platform against an armament equipped with an optical homing head element, that includes a command and control assembly equipped with an interface to a detection and acquisition system that detects and locates a threatening armament and receives from it a warning about the detection of said threatening armament combined with data relating to it; and a laser source operable by the command and control assembly in order to produce the required energy for jamming the optical head of the threatening armament; and wherein the system is characterized by that it includes in addition a sectarian array of a plurality of end units that are connected unto the laser source for selectively routing laser energy from the source to an end unit that was selected by the command and control assembly as the end unit that is best suited under prevailing conditions for pointing at the threatening armament and attacking it by emitting a laser beam in its directio
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: Rafael Armament Development Authority LTD
    Inventors: Izhak Saban, Hanoch Miller, Doron Even-Sturlesi
  • Patent number: 7707922
    Abstract: A mobile projectile launcher is disclosed having a tiltable launching platform for supporting a plurality of canisters in each of which projectiles to be launched are stored and fired, a support plate pivotally connected to a horizontal cargo bed, and at least one linear actuator by which the support plate is swingable from a closed position substantially perpendicular to the cargo bed to an open position substantially parallel to the cargo bed. The support plate is made of a material that is resistant to the projectile plume following launching and is sufficiently sturdy to support a technician during the loading of projectiles when set in an open position, yet is adapted to protect and hide the loaded canisters when set in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Rafael-Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventor: Ehud Dekel
  • Patent number: 7679037
    Abstract: A reconnaissance system includes a projectile having an opening through which images of a target area are acquired, a portable launcher having a mechanism for affixing the launcher to a rifle for launching the projectile to fly along and above the target area, an image acquiring device within the projectile for acquiring images of the target area through the opening, a transmitter within the projectile for transmitting during its flight the acquired images to a remote station, a stabilizing mechanism for stabilizing at least one of the projectile and the image acquiring device while flying in a ballistic trajectory above the target area and a remote station. The remote station includes a receiver for receiving the images transmitted from the projectile and a monitor having a display for displaying the received images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Rafael-Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventors: Benjamin Z. Eden, Ronen Ben-Horin