ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150239558 | DELIVERING FLUIDS OR GRANULAR SUBSTANCES BY PROJECTING SHELLED PORTIONS THEREOF - A method of delivering over the air, shelled portions of fluids or granular substances containing effective ingredients, to a target, is provided herein. The method includes the following stages: selecting a type and a size of the shelled portions containing the required effective ingredients, based on mission parameters and physical data of a scene containing the target; conveying the shelled portions to a delivery point, based on the mission parameters and the physical data; and ballistically delivering the shelled portions towards the target, wherein the shelled portions comprise fluids or granular substances covered by shells that provide the shelled portions a ballistic coefficient that is significantly higher than a ballistic coefficient of similar portions without the shells. | 08-27-2015 |
20140355869 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING AIRCRAFTS FROM COLLIDING WITH OBJECTS ON THE GROUND - A safety system for preventing aircraft collisions with objects on the ground is provided herein. The safety system may include gated imaging sensors attached to the aircraft that capture overlapping gated images which are images that allow estimating the range of the imaged objects. The overlap zones are utilized to generate a three dimensional model of the aircraft surroundings. Additionally, aircraft contour data and aircraft kinematic data are used to construct an expected swept volume of the aircraft which is then projected onto the three dimensional model of the aircraft surroundings to derive an estimation of likelihood of collision of the aircraft with objects in its surroundings and corresponding warnings. | 12-04-2014 |
20140327971 | NIGHT VISION DEVICES AND METHODS - Image-intensifying devices (for example, glasses, goggles, etc.) suitable for certain commercial and entertainment applications by virtue of their light weight, small size, and economical production are disclosed. In one embodiment, input light passes through an Amici reflector, which is used to adjust the orientation of the intensified image to register it with the real world. In another embodiment, input light passes through at least two Amici reflectors, which are used to adjust the orientation of the intensified image to register it with the real world. In alternate embodiments, at least one Amici reflector folds the light at a non-perpendicular angle and/or input light is rotated by an angle other than (180°). Other embodiments include a field-flattening lens disposed in front of an image intensifier. The intensified image is then sent through a projective lens assembly to reach the viewer's eye. | 11-06-2014 |
20140222409 | SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR MAPPING A MAGNETIC FIELD - A system for mapping a magnetic-field in a volume-of-interest comprising a magnetic-field transmitter, generating a magnetic-field in the volume-of-interest, a freestanding magnetic-field detector operative to freely move within the volume-of-interest, a pose-information-acquisition-module and a processor. The detector acquires measurements of flux of the magnetic-field at a plurality of poses. The pose-information-acquisition-module measures information related to the pose of the detector. The processor determines pose-related-information respective of at least a portion of the measurements according to the information related to the pose of the detector. The processor estimates the entire set of parameters of a magnetic-field model template according to the magnetic-field flux measurement and the respective poses-related-information thereof. The processor incorporates the entire set of parameters into the magnetic-field model template, thereby determining the magnetic-field model. The entire set of parameters includes the coefficients, the order the number and location of the centers of expansion of the magnetic-field model. | 08-07-2014 |
20140195095 | AUTONOMOUS NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A MANEUVERABLE PLATFORM - An autonomous navigation system and method for a maneuverable platform are provided herein. The method may include: obtaining a plurality of objectives relating to a maneuverable platform; determining a plurality of options of direction and speed for the platform; autonomously selecting, one option of the plurality of options, in order to achieve said objectives, by calculating a weighted grade of each option based on the weights of the objectives and said grading scheme; and periodically repeating: the receiving with updated platform and obstacles data and the autonomously selecting with the updated platform and obstacles data, wherein the autonomously selecting is executed by a computer processor and includes, for each obstacle, calculating projected positions of the platform and of that obstacle to determine the distance between the platform and the obstacle at the closest point of approach and estimated time to arrive to the closest point of approach. | 07-10-2014 |
20140158814 | MUNITION GUIDANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME - A munition guidance system is disclosed. The system comprises a generally tubular enclosure, having an internal cavity adapted for receiving a munition, wherein an outer diameter of the enclosure is at most the largest outer diameter of the munition; and a processing and control unit enclosed within the enclosure and being configured for controlling guidance wings so as to maneuver the munition while flying. | 06-12-2014 |
20140078517 | MEDICAL WIDE FIELD OF VIEW OPTICAL TRACKING SYSTEM - A medical Wide-Field-Of-View optical-tracking-system for determining the position and orientation of a target-object in a reference coordinate system. The system includes at least three light-emitters, at least one optical-detector and a processor. The processor is coupled with each optical-detector. One optical-detector is a Wide-Field-Of-View optical detector, which acquires an image of the light-emitters within the field-of-view thereof. Each Wide-Field-Of-View optical-detector includes an optical-sensor and two optical-receptors. The processor determines the position and orientation of the target-object in the reference coordinate system according to representations of the light-emitters. Each light-emitter is within the field-of-view of an optical-detector. Each optical-detector and each light-emitter is attached to one of the target-object and a reference-location. The target-object and the reference-location are respective elements in a tuple including two elements from a group consisting of a display, a patient-body-location, a-medical-tool, physician-body-location, and a fixed-position. | 03-20-2014 |
20130342406 | HF ANTENNA ASSEMBLY - Antenna assembly for providing HF radio communication in two different operating modes. The antenna assembly includes a whip antenna and at least two antenna wire segments. The whip antenna establishes short range HF radio communication with a communication target, via ground wave or low-efficiency skywave propagation, allowing communication when the antenna assembly is in motion. The antenna wire segments are deployable to form an inverted-V antenna using the whip antenna as a center mast. The inverted-V antenna establishes short or medium range HF radio communication with a communication target, via NVIS or directional skywave propagation, allowing rapid deployment of the antenna wire segments when the antenna assembly is stationary. The antenna assembly may be mounted aboard a mobile platform, such as a vehicle. | 12-26-2013 |
20130311011 | DYNAMIC LIMITATION OF MONOBLOCK FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES INCLINATIONS DURING STALL SUSCEPTIBILITY CONDITIONS - Method for dynamically limiting the inclinations of monoblock flight control surfaces (FCS) in an aircraft. Dynamic limitation of the FCS is activated if a stall susceptibility condition is detected in the current aircraft environment. The real-time calibrated airspeed of the aircraft, real-time angle of attack (AOA) of the aircraft, and real-time sideslip angle (AOS) of the aircraft are obtained. The aircraft parameters may be obtained via estimation if the measured values are deemed unsuitable. The real-time local AOA and AOS of the FCS are calculated based on the obtained aircraft parameters. The inclination of each of the FCS relative to the critical values is dynamically limited according to the calculated real-time local AOA and AOS of the FCS. The aircraft may be an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and/or a V-tail aircraft. The stall susceptibility condition may include icy conditions. | 11-21-2013 |
20130138275 | SYSTEM FOR GUIDING AN AIRCRAFT TO A REFERENCE POINT IN LOW VISIBILITY CONDITIONS - A method of visually guiding a pilot flying an aircraft using one or more conformal symbols whose position is dynamically updated throughout the guidance is provided herein. The method includes the following stages: determining a desired flight route of an aircraft, based on a user-selected maneuver; presenting to a pilot, on a display, at least one 3D visual symbol that is: (i) earth-space stabilized, and (ii) positioned along a future location along the desired route; computing an updated desired route based on repeatedly updated aircraft flight data that include at least one of: location, speed, and spatial angle, of the aircraft; and repeating the presenting of the at least one 3D visual symbol with its updated location along the updated desired route. | 05-30-2013 |
20130077142 | IMAGE GATING USING AN ARRAY OF REFLECTIVE ELEMENTS - A device for image gating using an array of reflective elements is provided herein. The device includes an array of reflective elements, wherein each one of the reflective elements is movable within a range of a plurality of tilt positions, wherein the array is located at an image plane of the device, wherein the array is perpendicular to an optical axis of the device. The device further includes a control unit configured to control the reflective elements such that in at least some of the tilt positions, the reflective elements reflect the radiant flux at said image plane, to one or more projection planes. A gradual rotation of the reflective elements along the plurality of tilt positions result in a gradual increase or decrease in the intensity of the image reflected from the array of reflective elements while maintaining the image integrity. | 03-28-2013 |
20130069819 | THREE DIMENSIONAL RADAR SYSTEM - A system and a method of generating a three-dimensional terrain model using one-dimensional interferometry of a rotating radar unit is provided herein. Height information is evaluated from phase differences between two echoes by applying a Kalman filter in relation to a phase confidence map that is generated from phase forward projections relating to formerly analyzed phase data. The radar system starts from a flat earth model and gathers height information of the actual terrain as the platform approaches it. Height ambiguities are corrected by removing redundant 2π multiples from the unwrapped phase difference between the echoes. | 03-21-2013 |
20130034266 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTION AND TRACKING EMPLOYING MULTI-VIEW MULTI-SPECTRAL IMAGING - Multi view multi spectral detection and tracking system comprising at lease one imager, at least one of the at least one imager being a multi spectral imager, the at least one imager acquiring at least two detection sequences, and at least two tracking sequences, each sequence including at least one image, each acquired image being associated with respective image attributes, an object detector, coupled with the at least one imager, detecting objects of interest in the scene, according to the detection sequence of images and the respective image attributes, an object tracker coupled with the object detector, the object tracker tracking the objects of interest in the scene and determining dynamic spatial characteristics and dynamic spectral characteristics for each object of interest according to the tracking sequences of images and the respective image attributes and an object classifier, coupled with the object tracker, classifying the objects of interest according to the dynamic spatial characteristics and the dynamic spectral characteristics. | 02-07-2013 |
20120320219 | IMAGE GATED CAMERA FOR DETECTING OBJECTS IN A MARINE ENVIRONMENT - System for detecting objects protruding from the surface of a body of water in a marine environment under low illumination conditions, the system comprising a gated light source, generating light pulses toward the body of water illuminating substantially an entire field of view, a gated camera, sensitive at least to wavelengths of the light generated by the gated light source, the gated camera receiving light reflected from at least one object, within the field of view, protruding from the surface of the body of water and acquiring a gated image of the reflected light, and a processor coupled with the gated light source and with the gated camera, the processor gating the gated camera to be set ‘OFF’ for at least the duration of time it takes the gated light source to produce a light pulse in its substantial entirety in addition to the time it takes the end of the light pulse to complete traversing a determined distance from the system and back to the gated camera, the processor further setting, for each pulse, the gated camera to be ‘ON’ for an ‘ON’ time duration until the light pulse, reflecting back from the object, is received by the gated camera. | 12-20-2012 |
20120105634 | AUTOMATIC VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD - Apparatus and method for automatic surveillance of a monitored area having one or more regions of interest using a video imaging device are disclosed. The method includes receiving data defining said one or more regions of interest and one or more characteristics of an object of interest; pointing the line of sight of the imaging device at a region of interest selected from said one or more regions of interest; automatically scanning the selected region of interest to detect said one or more characteristics of the object of interest and upon detection issuing an alert; and when said one or more regions of interest includes more than one region of interest, repeating the steps of pointing the line of sight of the imaging device and automatically scanning in a predetermined order of viewing of the regions of interest, and upon detection of said one or more characteristics of the object of interest issuing an alert, for each of the regions of interests. | 05-03-2012 |
20120104151 | POWERED PARAFOIL CARGO DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHOD - A powered parafoil device is disclosed. The device includes a main body provided with at least one thrust generator for imparting the main body thrust in a determined direction. The device is also includes a parafoil connected to the main body by cords attached to the main body at attachment positions, and a tilting mechanism for tilting the main body with respect to the parafoil, when airborne. The tilting mechanism is capable of tilting the main body between at least two states: in the first state the determined direction of the thrust is substantially parallel to the direction of flight of the device when airborne, and in the second state the determined direction of the thrust is tilted with respect to the direction of flight of the device when airborne, imparting the main body a thrust vector component in the vertical direction. A method for increasing lift of a powered parafoil device and methods for cargo delivery are also disclosed. | 05-03-2012 |
20120036779 | FOLDABLE AND DEPLOYABLE PANEL - A foldable deployable panel device attached to a body of an object is disclosed. The device includes a panel pivotally attached to the body by a first pivot element at first pivot position and a second pivot element at a second pivot position. The first pivot element is disengageable from the first pivot position, when the panel is aligned in a predetermined orientation. The second pivot element is fixed at the second pivot position, when the first pivot element is engaged at the first pivot position. The panel is urged by an energy storing element, when the first pivot element is disengaged from the first pivot position, to move into the deployed position. | 02-16-2012 |
20110288714 | AUTONOMOUS NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A MANEUVERABLE PLATFORM - An automated method for autonomous navigation of a maneuverable platform is disclosed. The method includes providing an autonomous navigation system that includes a situation awareness module to receive data from one or more sensors on one or more identifying parameters selected from the group of identifying parameters that includes position, course and speed, relating to the platform and obstacles in the vicinity of the platform. The platform also includes a decision module to choose course and speed for the platform based on the identifying parameters of the obstacles in the vicinity of the platform and the data on the position of the platform. The method further includes providing the decision module with information on a mission that includes at least one task assigned to the platform; and periodically obtaining the data and choosing a preferred option using the decision module, based on the identifying parameters, by assigning, for each option from a set of options, each option defining a distinct combination of course and speed, a grade which is indicative of the desirability of that option with respect to each of the obstacles and with respect to each of a plurality of objectives, for each option summing the grades assigned to that option with respect to all obstacles, wherein the preferred option is the option whose summed grades is indicative of the greatest desirability of that option. | 11-24-2011 |
20110273722 | WIDE FIELD OF VIEW OPTICAL TRACKING SYSTEM - In an optical tracking system for determining the pose of a moving object in a reference coordinate system, the system including at least one light emitter, at least one optical detector for detecting the light emitted by the at least one light emitter and a pose processor, coupled with the at least one optical detector, and with the at least one light emitter, for determining the pose of the moving object according to the light detected by the at least one optical detector, one of the at least one optical detector and at least one light emitter being situated at a fixed position in the reference coordinate system, and the other of the at least one optical detector and at least one light emitter being attached to the moving object, the at least one optical detector being a Wide Field Of View (WFOV) optical detector, the WFOV optical detector comprising an optical sensor, for sensing light received from at least one of the at least one light emitter and at least two optical receptors, optically coupled with the optical sensor, the optical receptors being spatially spaced apart from each other, each of the optical receptors projecting a different angular section of an observed scene on the optical sensor, wherein, the pose processor associates at least one representation of the at least one light emitter on the optical sensor, with a respective one optical receptors projecting the light received from the at least one light emitter on the optical sensor, according the response of the optical sensor. | 11-10-2011 |
20110238399 | SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR MAPPING A MAGNETIC FIELD - A system for mapping a magnetic field in a volume of interest, the system includes a magnetic field transmitter, generating a magnetic field in the volume of interest, at least one freestanding magnetic field detector, operative to freely move within the volume of interest, the at least one freestanding magnetic field detector acquiring measurements of the flux of the magnetic field at a plurality of poses, and a processor, coupled with the magnetic field detector, the processor re estimating parameters characterizing the magnetic field model according to deviations between the measurements of the flux of the magnetic field and according to predictions of the flux, the predictions being determined according to a stored magnetic field model, thereby, the processor estimating a new magnetic field model. | 09-29-2011 |
20110209544 | SENSOR CLUSTER NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD - Device and method for providing inertial indications with high accuracy using micro inertial sensors with inherent very small size and low accuracy. The device and method of the invention disclose use of the cluster of multiple micro inertial sensors to receive from the multiple sensors an equivalent single inertial indication with high accuracy based on the multiple independent indications and mathematical manipulations for averaging the plurality of single readings and for eliminating common deviations based, for example, on measurements of the deviation of the single readings. | 09-01-2011 |
20110125346 | PROTECTION ENVELOPE SWITCHING - An apparatus defines a protection envelope in an aircraft, including a processor and at least one sensor, each sensor being coupled with the processor, the processor executing at least one neural network based algorithm. The at least one sensor monitors flight parameters of the aircraft thereby generating monitored flight parameters. The processor divides the performance envelope of the aircraft into predefined flight regimes, wherein for each predefined flight regime, the processor defines and stores a suitable protection envelope. The processor determines an estimated flight regime of the aircraft using the neural network based algorithm based on the monitored flight parameters. The processor selects a respective suitable protection envelope for the aircraft based on the estimated flight regime. | 05-26-2011 |
20110096414 | OPTICAL CONCENTRATOR - Apparatus for concentrating light rays arriving from at least one opening onto a receiver, individual beams of the light rays each arriving at the apparatus substantially collimated, the apparatus including a respective Fresnel lens assembly for each opening, the Fresnel lens assembly including a first Fresnel lens, and a second Fresnel lens, the first Fresnel lens being located between the opening and the receiver, the second Fresnel lens being located between the first Fresnel lens and the receiver, the first Fresnel lens collimating the light rays arriving from the opening, the second Fresnel lens converging the collimated light rays onto the receiver, the opening being located in front of the Fresnel lens assembly, on the focal plane of the first Fresnel lens, centered on the focal point of the first Fresnel lens, and the receiver being located behind the Fresnel lens assembly, on the focal point of the second Fresnel lens. | 04-28-2011 |
20110026774 | CONTROLLING AN IMAGING APPARATUS OVER A DELAYED COMMUNICATION LINK - Method that includes: enabling the user to track a user-identified target on a currently presented image of periodically transmitted images from an imaging apparatus; calculating a distance between the estimated location of the user-identified target in view of the user's tracking and the estimated location of the pointing point of the imaging apparatus at said future time, wherein the estimation relate to a future time future time by which a command control currently transmitted by the user reaches the imaging apparatus; and calculating a command control required for s directing the pointing point of the imaging apparatus onto the user-identified target, based on said calculated distance, the estimated average velocity of the user-identified target and further based on all previous control commands that had been already transmitted by the user but have not yet affected the currently presented image due to the delay in the communication link. | 02-03-2011 |
20100231705 | AIRCRAFT LANDING ASSISTANCE - Enhanced vision system for assisting aircraft piloting, the system including a line-of-sight detector for determining the line-of-sight of the pilot of the aircraft, a head mounted display (HMD) worn by the pilot, and a processor which receives the determined line-of-sight from the line-of-sight detector, receives a spatial image of the external scene to the aircraft, generates symbolic information respective of the aircraft piloting, and superimposes the symbolic information onto the spatial image to produce a combined spatial and symbolic image, the HMD displaying the combined spatial and symbolic image to the pilot in real-time, in alignment with the determined line-of-sight. The spatial image may be an image combined from a sensor image and a synthetic image. A communication interface may be coupled to the HMD allowing the pilot to receive and confirm flight instructions. | 09-16-2010 |
20100060990 | WIDE FIELD OF VIEW COVERAGE HEAD-UP DISPLAY SYSTEM - Head-up display scenery alignment system, the head-up display being mounted in an aircraft and including an image projector and a combiner. The combiner is optically located between a user and a scenery of interest, optically transmitting a scene image of the scenery of interest to the user. The image projector projects an image toward the combiner, and the combiner reflects the image toward the user. The aircraft includes a heading angle sensor, determining the heading angle of the aircraft. The HUD scenery alignment system includes a moving mechanism coupled with the combiner; and a processor coupled with the heading angle sensor, with the moving mechanism and with the projector. The processor receives heading angle information from the heading angle sensor, and the processor determines the deviation of the heading of the aircraft from the longitudinal axis of the aircraft according to the heading angle information. The processor directs the moving mechanism, according to the deviation, to move the combiner to a position which is located between the scenery of interest and the user and which aligns the reflection of the image toward the user, with the scene image. | 03-11-2010 |
20090189734 | Security systems and methods relating to travelling vehicles - There is provided a method for identifying, at the moment of verification, the situation of a threat to a protected ground, airspace and/or sea limits by an approaching ground vehicle, aircraft or sea-going vessel. The method includes an authorized driver/pilot/captain to select first state in which the vehicle, aircraft or sea-going vessel is not considered to present a threat and a second state in which the vehicle, aircraft or sea-going vessel is considered to present a threat. The method further provides entering the first and second PIN codes into a smart card for generating a One Time Indicia (OTI) for each of the PIN codes and disclosing the state associated with each of the first and second OTI codes to at least one control center. Upon the control center receiving an OTI code, the control center obtains positive identification of the driver/pilot/captain and the degree of the threat that the vehicle, aircraft or sea-going vessel presents. | 07-30-2009 |
20090147331 | NEAR EYE DISPLAY SYSTEM - A near eye image display system includes an image projector, a beam combiner assembly, and an optical assembly, optically coupled between the image projector and the beam combiner assembly The image projector projects a display image toward an optical pathway, the optical pathway intersecting a viewing axis, the viewing axis extending from the eye of a user to an ambient scene The beam combiner assembly includes a plurality of beam combiners optically cascaded along the optical pathway, each of the beam combiners being disposed diagonally to the optical pathway and diagonally to the viewing axis Each of the beam combiners is arranged such that for each two adjacent beam combiners, the first of the adjacent beam combiners is optically located between the second of the adjacent beam combiners and the image projector The geometrical projection of the second beam combiner onto a first plane perpendicular to the optical pathway, is subsumed within the geometrical projection of the first beam combiner onto the first plane Each of the beam combiners is further arranged such that the partial geometric projection of each of the beam combiners onto a second plane perpendicular to the viewing axis forms a continuous geometric projection, the optical assembly directing display light of the display image from the image projector toward the beam combiner assembly along the optical pathway Each of the beam combiners reflects the display light toward the eye, and further directs ambient light emerging from the ambient scene toward the eye, thereby superimposing the display image onto the ambient scene. | 06-11-2009 |
20090017424 | COMBINED HEAD UP DISPLAY - System for displaying an auxiliary image on a head-up display, the system including a panoramic projection screen, at least one panoramic projector for projecting a panoramic image on the panoramic projection screen, a beam combiner located between the panoramic projection screen and the audience, and an auxiliary projector for projecting the auxiliary image toward the beam combiner, the panoramic image being viewed by an audience. The beam combiner produces a combined image of the panoramic image and the auxiliary image, for the audience, by transmitting at least part of the panoramic image toward the audience, and by reflecting the auxiliary image toward the audience, such that the auxiliary image appears closer to the audience than the panoramic image. | 01-15-2009 |