Abstract: Apparatus and a method for intercepting a rocket body during boost phase. A sensor is arranged to detect thermal emission in a range that is characteristic of a firing rocket body. The image detected by the sensor is applied to an analog-to-digital converter for digitization and application to a computer that includes a routine for separating the modulated photon energy of the detected image from the substantially unmodulated photon energy that characterizes rocket body emissions. The unmodulated photon energy, signature of the rocket body, may be utilized by a fire control system for tracking, targeting and aiming munitions at the firing rocket body.

Abstract: System and methods of target detection utilize quantum mechanical transition in surface material of a target, such as a weather balloon in flight against a background (sky, clouds), to produce an inflection in spectral reflectance. The system includes at least two filters alternating in front of the lens as the camera attempts to acquire alternate filtered data. The filters can include a rotating filter wheel with two filters alternately sampling the brightest and darkest points around an inflection point in the spectral reflectance curve of the target's material. Target material is observed to blink, or alternate between bright and dark, as filters alternate in front of the camera lens while the background is unchanging, rendering optimal first detection of the target, and may be readily automated. The described process can use a filter wheel, but use of an electrically tunable filter can provide a device with no moving parts.

Abstract: An optical detector senses the intensity of scattered light reflected by a surface coupled to a vibration source. If the vibration source is operating, the coupled surface vibrates at the same frequency. Incident light reflected by the surface is modulated by the vibration at a hypertemporal frequency. The detector produces a direct electrical current as a temporal function of the detected modulated light intensity. A transimpedance amplifier converts the current into a voltage. A voltage amplifier amplifies the voltage. An analog-to-digital converter converts the amplified voltage into digital signal. A digital signal processor converts the digital signal into a function of power spectral density and frequency using Fourier transform and principle component analyses. The vibration signature of the vibration source, if present, is discerned from a graphical display of the foregoing function.

Abstract: An optical detector senses the intensity of scattered light reflected by a surface coupled to a vibration source. If the vibration source is operating, the coupled surface vibrates at the same frequency. Incident light reflected by the surface is modulated by the vibration at a hypertemporal frequency. The detector produces a direct electrical current as a temporal function of the detected modulated light intensity. A transimpedance amplifier converts the current into a voltage. A voltage amplifier amplifies the voltage. An analog-to-digital converter converts the amplified voltage into digital signal. A digital signal processor converts the digital signal into a function of power spectral density and frequency using Fourier transform and principle component analyses. The vibration signature of the vibration source, if present, is discerned from a graphical display of the foregoing function.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for identifying a missile in flight. This process comprises the steps of: rapidly sampling radiometric detection signals of a source to collect power spectral density (PSD) characteristics that include the source's continuum in PSD space and PSD frequency; and identifying the source as a missile when the continuum in PSD space decreases as PSD frequency increases.