Abstract:
A reusable interdiction apparatus that makes use of a housing of dimensions making the housing suitable to be carried and thrown by an individual. A light source is disposed within the housing and adapted to project an optical signal through a portion of the housing. A controller is used for controlling operation of the light source. A power source is disposed within the housing and used for powering the controller and the light source.

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to interdiction devices and methods, and more particularly to a non-lethal interdiction device that can be re-used. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
     Interdiction devices such as non-lethal hand grenades, for example the M84 Stun Grenade, generally take the form of incendiary devices that are thrown or shot into a designated area. Such devices typically use a chemical mixture that is detonated. These devices are limited in that once the chemicals are detonated, they are depleted and the device is spent. The chemical bi-product of the exothermic reaction used to generate the effect, while non-hazardous, nevertheless produces smoke that can limit the operations of friendly forces in the area where the device has been deployed. 
     Furthermore, the use of such conventional, incendiary devices in confined areas is often limited, particularly when these areas may contain volatile substances, which would give rise to a risk of secondary explosions. Thus, situations frequently exist where it is not possible or advisable to use an incendiary type interdiction device. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect the present disclosure pertains to a reusable interdiction apparatus. The apparatus may comprise: a housing of dimensions making the housing suitable to be carried and thrown by an individual; a light source disposed within the housing and adapted to project an optical signal through a portion of the housing; a controller for controlling operation of the light source; and a power source disposed within the housing for powering the controller and the light source. 
     In another aspect the present disclosure relates to a reusable interdiction apparatus that may comprise: a housing made of an impact resistant material, and having dimensions making the housing suitable to be carried and thrown by an individual; a high intensity light emitting diode (LED) light source disposed within the housing and adapted to project an optical signal through a portion of the housing; a controller for controlling operation of the light source; an acoustic device for emitting a high intensity acoustic signal from the housing, and the acoustic device being controlled by the controller; and a power source for powering the controller, the LED light source and the acoustic device. 
     In still another aspect the present disclosure relates to a method for forming a reusable interdiction apparatus. The method may comprise: providing a housing suitable to be thrown and carried by an individual; disposing a high intensity light source within the housing such that the light source is able to emit a high intensity light signal through at least one opening in the housing; using a controller disposed within the housing to control the high intensity light source; and using a power source to power the controller and the high intensity light source. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of an apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is block diagram of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  illustrating various internal components that may be used in forming the apparatus; and 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart setting forth various operations in forming and using one embodiment of the apparatus of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  there is shown one embodiment of an interdiction apparatus  10  in accordance with the present disclosure. The apparatus  10  may include a housing  12  formed in any suitable shape that is convenient for an individual to handle. In this example the housing  12  is formed as a sphere, but other shapes such as squares, rectangles, pyramids, etc. may be employed. The housing  12  may be formed as a two piece (or possibly three or more piece) shell-like structure from high impact polycarbonate or carbon polymer material that is resistant to impacts. Other materials are usable provided same are relatively light in weight and able to survive an impact without breaking. This enables the housing  12  to be thrown by an individual or even potentially launched from an external tool such as a tear gas canister launcher. The housing  12  is of external dimensions that enable it to be easily handled, carried and/or thrown by a single individual. In various embodiments the housing  12  preferably has a diameter of typically between about 4-10 inches (102 mm-254 mm) and weighs preferably less than about five pounds (2.27 kg). 
     The housing  12  includes at least one high intensity light source, for example a high intensity light emitting diode (LED) array  14 , and more preferably a plurality of LED arrays  14  spaced circumferentially around the housing  12 . While only the upper half of the housing  12  is shown in  FIG. 1  as having the LED arrays  14 , it will be appreciated that the lower half of the housing could just as readily include an additional LED array or arrays spaced circumferentially around the lower half. Each of the LED arrays  14  are positioned within a respective opening  16  in the housing  12  so that the optical signals generated by the LED arrays  14  can be projected therefrom without interference by the housing  12 . The precise number of LEDs arrays  14  used may vary considerably, but in one example may be between four to six such arrays per hemisphere of the housing  12 . The number of LEDs included within each LED array  14  may also vary widely to suit the needs of a particular application, but in many instances it is expected that between about 25-150 LEDs will be suitable for forming each one of the LED arrays  14 . As will be explained further in the following paragraphs, each LED array  14  can emit continuous or pulsing light signals with a programmed repetition rate that significantly disrupt the ability of an individual in the vicinity of the apparatus  10  to see and optically navigate in areas close to the apparatus  10   
     The housing  12  may also include one or more groups of smaller clustered apertures  18  that are suitably dimensioned for enabling acoustic signals to pass therethrough. Still another plurality of openings  20  are arranged circumferentially around the housing  12  to enable one or more internal video or still cameras  22  to be housed within the housing  12  and be able to provide video or still picture information pertaining to activity in the vicinity of the housing  12 . Another plurality of openings  24  may be provided in the housing to enable optional acoustic sensors, such as microphones  26 , to pick up audio information present in the vicinity of the apparatus  10 . Openings  28  may be used to enable at least one motion sensor  30 , and more preferably a plurality of such motion sensors, to be arranged to detect motion occurring in the vicinity of the apparatus  10 . 
     The above components and sensors have been described as enabling the monitoring or detection of activity within a “vicinity” of the apparatus  10 . It will be appreciated that the “vicinity” will be a range or area around the apparatus  10  that will depend on the sensitivity and capabilities of the specific monitoring/imaging components used in the apparatus  10 . Obviously, more sensitive components may extend the vicinity around the apparatus  10  within which effective monitoring/surveillance may be performed, but at the additional cost required by more sensitive components. Also, it will be appreciated that the specific arrangement of the various sensing/surveillance components shown in  FIG. 1  is merely illustrative of one specific embodiment. The various sensing/surveillance components employed within the apparatus  10  could be arranged on the housing  12  in other patterns or configurations to suit specific applications. Furthermore, various subcombinations of surveillance/monitoring components could be employed to meet the needs of specific applications. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  a block diagram of the apparatus  10  is shown. The apparatus  10  also may include a controller, such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) microprocessor  32  for controlling operation of each of the LED arrays  14 . The microprocessor  32  may also be used to control an acoustic device, such as an acoustic siren  34 , that emits high intensity audio signals through the openings  18  in the housing  12 . The acoustic signals from the acoustic siren  34  may be of a magnitude, for example 120 dB in sound level, that significantly disrupts the ability of individuals in the vicinity of the apparatus  10  to carry on conversations and/or causes significant physical ear pain to an individual not wearing any form of ear protection. The audio signals may be continuous or intermittent at a frequency and repetition rate controlled by the microprocessor  32 . 
     Still further the microprocessor  14  may be used to control operation of the camera or cameras  22  and the motion detector or detectors  30 . A battery  36  may be used to provide DC power to power the apparatus  10 , although it will be appreciated that any suitable power source may be employed for this purpose. For example, direct methanol fuel cells or electric double layer capacitors (i.e., “ultracapacitors”) could also be used as power sources. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 1 , the microprocessor  32  may also be in communication with a transmitter, or more preferably a transmitter/receiver (i.e., transceiver)  38 . The transceiver  38  may be used to facilitate two way wireless communications between the apparatus  10  and a remote controller  40 . In this example the remote controller  40  is located at some location remote from the apparatus  10 , for example at a central base station. The transceiver  38  may also include an encryption subsystem  42  for encrypting information sent from the transceiver  38  and for decrypting information sent to the transceiver  38  from the remote controller  40 . Any suitable communications protocol may be used between the transceiver  38  and the remote controller  40 , for example the 802.11g wireless communication standard. 
     The microprocessor  32  may be coupled to the camera or cameras  22  by a suitable interface  44 , for example an IEEE 1394 interface, or possibly PC/104, HSSI, USB, PCI or PCI/X interfaces. The microprocessor  32  may be in communication with the motion detector or detectors  30  so that it can be apprised by a signal (or signals) from one or more of the motion detectors  30  as to when motion has been sensed in the vicinity of the apparatus  10 . The microprocessor  32  may also be used to control operation of the LED arrays  14  to control the frequency and/or intensity of the light signals emitted by the LED arrays  14 . The microprocessor  32  may optionally also be used be used with beam forming optics (not shown) to provide even greater control over the pattern or distribution of light emitted from the LEDs in each LED array  14 . The LED arrays  14 , when operating, make it difficult for an individual to visually navigate towards the apparatus  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  a flowchart  100  of a method for forming and using the apparatus  10  is shown. At operation  102  the housing  12  is provided. At operation  104  at least one high intensity light source, such as at least one LED array  14 , is provided within the housing  12 . At operation  106  a controller, for example microprocessor  32 , is used to control operation of the light source so that high intensity light signals are generated therefrom. At operation  108  a power source, for example battery  36 , is used to provide power to the controller and the high intensity light source. 
     It is a principal advantage of the apparatus  10  that it is reusable. By providing a reusable interdiction device, the cost of implementing such a device is significantly reduced. Previously developed interdiction devices have traditionally been of the incendiary type where the device is essentially destroyed or rendered inoperable after one use. 
     The apparatus  10  also provides the advantage that because of its compact dimensions and relatively light weight, it can be easily thrown by an individual, or alternatively launched from a suitable launching device, into an area where interdiction is needed. The durable construction of the housing  12  prevents damage to the internal components of the apparatus  10  when the apparatus  10  impacts a surface such as a floor surface, a wall surface, a ground surface or another object or structure. Since the apparatus  10  does not make use of any incendiary components, there is virtually no risk of the apparatus  10  causing a secondary fire or explosion when used in areas where explosives or flammable materials are present. Thus, the apparatus  10  is expected to use in those situations where a traditional incendiary type interdiction device would not be useable. 
     The apparatus  10 , since it is relatively compact, may also be left in an area and activated remotely by wireless signals from the remote controller  40 . Alternatively, the microprocessor  32  may be programmed to allow the apparatus  10  to sit in a “sleep” mode with only a select number of internal components powered on, until motion or an audio signal is detected. At that point the microprocessor  32  may power on all, or a select subset, of the internal components of the apparatus  10  to make use of all or a select subset of interdiction/monitoring/surveillance capabilities of the apparatus  10 . Alternatively, the microprocessor  32  may be programmed to power on all or a limited subset of the internal components of the apparatus  10  at a specific day and time. 
     The microprocessor  32  may also be programmed to interrupt power to certain ones of the internal components in a specific order to conserve battery power and maximize the time duration that the apparatus  10  can be operated on a single battery or battery charge. For example, if it is expected that audio monitoring may be most important in a given application, the microprocessor  32  may be programmed to shut down battery power to the still or video camera(s)  22  when the battery power drops to a predetermined level. In this regard it will be appreciated that the microprocessor  32 , or some other suitable component, will need to be used to monitor the level of remaining battery power available from the battery  36 . Power to other components could be interrupted in successive steps as available battery power drops. 
     While various embodiments have been described, those skilled in the art will recognize modifications or variations which might be made without departing from the present disclosure. The examples illustrate the various embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Therefore, the description and claims should be interpreted liberally with only such limitation as is necessary in view of the pertinent prior art.