Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring a building having a plurality of rooms. A plurality of beacons is each arranged to transmit a light output signal. The apparatus also comprises a plurality of waveguides suitable for deployment in the building so that each of the plurality of rooms has at least one of the waveguides arranged to receive the light output signal from one or more of the beacons when said one or more of the beacons is active in that room. There is at least one signal capture unit arranged to receive, via the waveguides, the light output signals resulting from the beacons in the rooms. A signal processor is arranged to distinguish, in use, the light output signal from a first beacon in a first room from the light output signal from a second beacon in a second, different, room.

Abstract: A sensor for a missile seeker includes a primary, concave, reflector that is reflective to RF waves and to another kind of waves, but that includes a transmissive region, through which RF waves can pass. A secondary, convex, reflector is reflective to RF waves but transmissive, and not reflective, to the other kind of waves, and is arranged facing the primary reflector to further reflect RF waves reflected by the primary reflector through the transmissive region of the primary reflector. An RF detector is arranged on the opposite side of the primary reflector from the secondary reflector and arranged to detect the RF waves reflected by the secondary reflector through the transmissive region of the primary reflector. A second detector, for detecting the other kind of waves, is arranged on the opposite side of the secondary reflector from the primary reflector and is arranged to detect the other kind of waves after they are reflected by the primary reflector and transmitted through the secondary reflector.

Abstract: A method of detecting light is provided. The method includes the step of providing an integrating container and arranging at least two sensors of a first type such that the sensors receive light from the interior of the integrating container.

Abstract: A building comprising a plurality of rooms (10) includes a room occupancy sensing apparatus. A light source (20) emits a series of light pulses (22), a plurality of waveguides deliver light from the light source to output nodes (60) located in the rooms, and a signal capture unit (30) receives output signals resulting from light reflected by objects in the rooms. The apparatus detects movement, of for example a person (40), in a room and ascertains the room concerned by virtue of (i) detecting a difference between the shape of the waveform of the signal (24 i) received at the signal capture unit (30) in response to a first emitted light pulse and the shape of the waveform of the signal (24m) received at the signal capture unit in response to a second emitted light pulse and (ii) relating said reflected light pulses to the appropriate output node and therefore to the room (10) associated with that output node (60).

Abstract: A sensor for a missile seeker includes a primary, concave, reflector that is reflective to RF waves and to another kind of waves, but that includes a transmissive region, through which RF waves can pass. A secondary, convex, reflector is reflective to RF waves but transmissive, and not reflective, to the other kind of waves, and is arranged facing the primary reflector to further reflect RF waves reflected by the primary reflector through the transmissive region of the primary reflector. An RF detector is arranged on the opposite side of the primary reflector from the secondary reflector and arranged to detect the RF waves reflected by the secondary reflector through the transmissive region of the primary reflector. A second detector, for detecting the other kind of waves, is arranged on the opposite side of the secondary reflector from the primary reflector and is arranged to detect the other kind of waves after they are reflected by the primary reflector and transmitted through the secondary reflector.

Abstract: A building comprising a plurality of rooms (10) includes a room occupancy sensing apparatus. A light source (20) emits a series of light pulses (22), a plurality of waveguides deliver light from the light source to output nodes (60) located in the rooms, and a signal capture unit (30) receives output signals resulting from light reflected by objects in the rooms. The apparatus detects movement, of for example a person (40), in a room and ascertains the room concerned by virtue of (i) detecting a difference between the shape of the waveform of the signal (24 i) received at the signal capture unit (30) in response to a first emitted light pulse and the shape of the waveform of the signal (24m) received at the signal capture unit in response to a second emitted light pulse and (ii) relating said reflected light pulses to the appropriate output node and therefore to the room (10) associated with that output node (60).

Abstract: A guided munition (10) includes a warhead (20) within the nose section (60) and processing electronics (30) arranged within the munition (10) behind the warhead (20). A plurality of sensors (50) are arranged within the nose section (60) for sensing a target. The sensors (50) are remote from but in communication with the processing electronics (30).

Abstract: Described herein is an optical fuze for a guided missile that comprises an array of a large number of optical apertures distributed about the outer surface of the missile. An optical waveguide network selectively couples the array of apertures to a laser source and to a photodetector such that light from the laser source is emitted by selected ones of said apertures, and light returned from a target is received by selected ones of said apertures and directed by said optical waveguide network to said photodetector. These apertures might be arranged to form a composite target images in a particular direction, and/or may be arranged to perform a sensing operation along selected directions. The optical proximity fuze described herein provides inherent flexibility in the way the fuze can be configured in the missile for optimisation for different applications.

Abstract: A guided munition (10) includes a warhead (20) within the nose section (60) and processing electronics (30) arranged within the munition (10) behind the warhead (20). A plurality of sensors (50) are arranged within the nose section (60) for sensing a target. The sensors (50) are remote from but in communication with the processing electronics (30).

Abstract: A target scene generator for testing an imaging ladar in a Hard Ware in the Loop arrangement, such as might be employed for testing an optical seeker on a guided missile, the generator comprising an array of pixel elements, a photodetector for detecting incident light from a ladar a laser source for generating pulses of light representing returned ladar pulses, and a reconfigurable fiber network including an optical switch selectively coupling the laser to the pixel elements, and a controller which selectively reconfigures the fiber network, to present to selected pixel elements the pulses of light with selected time delay characteristics such that light emitted from the pixels represent light returned from a target illuminated by the ladar.

Abstract: A method of detecting the direction of incidence of an incoming modulated continuous wave light signal in a field of view of a detector comprising introducing a phase shift into the modulated light signal received by at least one portion of the field of view relative to the modulated light signal received by at least one other portion of the field of view and utilising the phase shift in determining the direction of incidence.

Abstract: Described herein is an optical fuze for a guided missile that comprises an array of a large number of optical apertures distributed about the outer surface of the missile. An optical waveguide network selectively couples the array of apertures to a laser source and to a photodetector such that light from the laser source is emitted by selected ones of said apertures, and light returned from a target is received by selected ones of said apertures and directed by said optical waveguide network to said photodetector. These apertures might be arranged to form a composite target images in a particular direction, and/or may be arranged to perform a sensing operation along selected directions. The optical proximity fuze described herein provides inherent flexibility in the way the fuze can be configured in the missile for optimisation for different applications.

Abstract: A target scene generator for testing an imaging ladar in a Hard Ware in the Loop arrangement, such as might be employed for testing an optical seeker on a guided missile, the generator comprising an array of pixel elements 10, a photodetector 20 for detecting incident light from a ladar a laser source 18 for generating pulses of light representing returned ladar pulses, and a reconfigurable fibre network 14 including an optical switch selectively coupling the laser 18 to the pixel elements, and a controller 22 which selectively reconfigures the fibre network, to present to selected pixel elements the pulses of light with selected time delay characteristics such that light emitted from the pixels represent light returned from a target illuminated by the ladar.

Abstract: A laser device and a method of pumping a laser gain medium (R) comprise directing pulses of laser light from a pump laser (10) to a series of separate locations (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17) arranged longitudinally along the gain medium (R) in the direction of laser propagation. Each pulse of laser light generates a population inversion in an associated portion of the gain medium (R) just ahead of the laser photons. The pulses from the pump laser (10) are transmitted by a splitter (18) to the series of separate locations by optical delay lines (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17) and each delay line is arranged to pump a different portion of the gain medium to cause a localised population inversion. The pulse transmission delays deliver a sequence of pulses to the portions of the gain medium (R) such that each portion will in turn contribute to amplification of a laser propagating within the gain medium (R).

Abstract: A laser device and a method of pumping a laser gain medium (R) comprise directing pulses of laser light from a pump laser (10) to a series of separate locations (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17) arranged longitudinally along the gain medium (R) in the direction of laser propagation. Each pulse of laser light generates a population inversion in an associated portion of the gain medium (R) just ahead of the laser photons. The pulses from the pump laser (10) are transmitted by a splitter (18) to the series of separate locations by optical delay lines (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17) and each delay line is arranged to pump a different portion of the gain medium to cause a localised population inversion. The pulse transmission delays deliver a sequence of pulses to the portions of the gain medium (R) such that each portion will in turn contribute to amplification of a laser propagating within the gain medium (R).