Patent · US Active

Method and apparatus for protecting troops

US8754943B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
23References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 3, 2007
Grant dateJun 17, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 10, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60R2011/0075
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for protecting the troops when they exit an armored vehicle is provided by utilizing the universal tail light assembly and providing the assembly with wide field-of-view cameras and other sensors, with screens or displays located within the vehicle to provide situational awareness of the rear of the vehicle, thus to alert troops and their commanders as to external threats prior to troop deployment. In one embodiment, two wide-angle infrared cameras are retrofitted to existing universal tail light assemblies to either side of the vehicle, with the cameras having overlapping fields of view to permit generation of a panoramic view. Moreover, additional sensors such as ultrasonic sensors, LIDARs and laser range finders can be located in the universal tail light assembly, with the subject system not requiring breach of the already-existing armor for the vehicle.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.