Abstract:
A programmable infrared beacon having an electronics circuit with a microprocessor contained within a transparent housing. A number of signaling infrared light emitting diodes are provided within the housing and connected to the electronics circuit. The beacon has a number of pins for inputting programs and controls and a number of color-coded light emitting diodes within the housing indicating the inputted program. An infrared received sub-circuit is provided to receive instructions from an external source. A programmer unit is also provided to prepare and transmit programs and controls to the beacon. Synchronization and cascading among beacons is provided with synchronization and delay programs within the microprocessor. An infrared detector is also provided to allow synchronization reception among beacons. In an alternate embodiment, a radio frequency transceiver and antenna is added to each beacon.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Applicants claim the priority benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/685,090, filed May 25, 2005. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to beacons, and more particularly to a beacon for use as a marker in conjunction with night vision applications and situations. 
   The inability of reconnaissance to determine friend or foe in low light or total darkness is a major failing in battlefield and law enforcement operations. The worst effect is that fratricide (the inadvertent killing of friendly forces by other friendly forces) occurs, and at best is a waste of time and resources attempting to confirm identification. Accurate intelligence allows deployment efforts to be maximized and focused. 
   Night vision equipment are light-intensifying systems and operate by amplifying visible and near infrared light. To assist in identification and recognition in low light conditions markers and beacons are used with this type of equipment. In this application a beacon emits a unique flashing Infrared (IR) signature that facilitates effortless nighttime identification and classification of a distant target or location by a remote observer using night vision equipment. Emissions generated by the beacon are invisible to the naked eye. The IR beacon signature is distinguished from operational surroundings by means of an intense concentrated energy pulse, coupled with a unique flashing sequence, referred to as the signaling code of the beacon. When viewed through a night vision device, the beacon signature cuts through fog, smoke and darkness. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides improvements to antifratricide beacons of the prior art by the addition of a number of technical features embodied in a variety of designs that individually and together:
         1. Extend the effective signaling range;   2. Improve battery utilization efficiency;   3. Maintain more constant brightness by continuous adjustment of the power applied to the IR signaling LEDs, thereby compensating for battery voltage deterioration as the battery is used up;   4. Increase the number of stored signaling codes;   5. Add factory installed fixed signaling codes which are permanent to the beacon;   6. Retain the signaling codes in non-volatile memory, thereby reducing the need for signaling code re-entry;   7. Provide good ergonomics associated with signaling code selection and entry;   8. Enable signaling code storage and management in a centralized location for code management and distribution;   9. Assure exact transfer of signaling codes from centralized storage into individual beacons;   10. Provide verification that the signaling codes which have been transferred from the centralized location to individual signaling beacons are identical to the source;   11. Synchronization of a number of beacons so that all beacons emit the identical signaling codes at exactly the same time, thereby providing a brighter composite signal and/or the capability for the identification of a group of items, individuals, or demarcation of geographical features such as targets, drop-zones, landing pads, runways, and the like;   12. Enable transfer and synchronization, and re-synchronization of signaling codes from beacon to beacon in the field without reliance on any support equipment; and   13. Provide for beacon activation by a trip-wire or other monitoring method for the detection of a disturbance or intrusion.       

   Prior art beacons provide emission of a covert signal visible at long ranges when viewed with night vision systems. The beacon flashes a constant frequency signal when a battery is attached. 
   The first invention beacon embodiment is a programmable infrared (IR) beacon designed for individual combat identification. It is excellent for covert marking and positive identification of individuals, airdrop bundles, vehicles, routes and landing zones. Any metallic object, such as a coin, can be used to enter and change the flashing code. The beacon may be coded, removed from the battery, and then, when reconnected, will emit the previously installed code. This allows the beacon to be used with an auxiliary power supply unit. An additional feature comprises the ability of the beacon to store multiple coded messages rather than one volatile code, which is lost whenever the battery is disconnected. 
   Typically the number of coded messages that are stored in the beacon is in the range from three to eight, and any of these coded messages can be pre-installed in the beacon at the time of building and made permanent if so desired. For example, a beacon may be designed to hold four variable messages and two fixed messages, e.g., “SOS” in Morse Code, a single letter in Morse Code, a fixed flash rate code, etc. The number of coded messages that are stored in the beacon is limited only by the amount of installed memory and the increasing complexity of locating the desired message and managing the message file. 
   Thus, the beacon can be preprogrammed before a mission in a reduced stress situation and while access to other personnel is available. The codes can be installed and used to represent different situations. In this way the beacon can be used to identify a specific point or person. If the user wishes to communicate a change of situation while maintaining radio silence, one of the alternate codes can be initiated. The battery or other power source may then be removed. The unit is activated when the battery or auxiliary power unit is once again reconnected and the beacon will automatically revert to the most recently used signaling code. 
   The beacon has a third pin installed and three independent program indicator low light LEDs. The program is installed by shorting two of the pins using a center and outer left pin. An indicator shows the code installed. A second indicator shows when the register is full. The installed code can be checked. To install additional messages the center and right pin are shorted. An indicator shows that the unit is in the next register and then the code is installed. The code is tested by shorting across the left and center pin. 
   Operation of the beacon is performed by making contact between the metallic pins protruding at the top of the beacon with any convenient metal object while observing the response of the beacon on the visible indicator LEDs contained within the transparent envelope of the beacon. The number of metallic pins protruding at the top of the beacon may be two or more depending on the human factors choice of the user. While all operations of the beacon can be performed with the use of just two pins, the introduction of additional pins can be used to simplify operation as additional pins can then be dedicated to a single function. Similarly, the number of visible indicator LEDs for feedback to the user can be reduced by the use of various flashing patterns or flashing of the indicator LEDs in combination. In a typical design, a beacon with four variable operator installed signaling programs and two permanent signaling programs may be constructed with the use of four indicator LEDs of different colors with one each of the indicator LEDs lighting indicating a variable program and two indicators lighting together in combination to indicate the two permanent signaling programs. 
   In the two-pin design embodiment, all operations of the beacon are determined by making contact between the two pins. The resultant effect is determined by the duration and sequencing of each contact. The visible LEDs serve to provide feedback to the user of the pin connecting as it is made and the current state of operation. In normal operation, the beacon will be emitting the infrared signaling pattern and the indicator LEDs will be all turned off for improved covert operation. A very brief contact between the beacon pins will result in the lighting of the indicator LEDs that are associated with the current signaling program that is being emitted by the IR signaling LEDs. The lighted indicator LEDs will flash the signaling pattern for the next thirty seconds to show the user the signaling program that is being emitted by the beacon. A longer contact between the beacon pins will result in a change of signaling program from the current to the next one. Repeated longer contacts between the beacon pins allow for an endless-loop scan through all the programs stored on the beacon. A prolonged contact between the beacon pins of more than three seconds will result in erasure of the currently running variable program. The completion of erasure is communicated to the user by alternate flashing of the current program indicator LED and the indicator LEDs associated with the other programs. Once the current program has been erased, a new program may be entered into the beacon by alternately making contact and releasing contact between the pins in the sequence of the desired signaling pattern. Once the new signaling program has been entered, the beacon reverts to normal operation, the IR LEDs emitting the newly entered signaling program and for the next thirty seconds lighting the program indicator LEDs in the same lighting pattern to confirm to user that the new signaling program has been installed successfully and is being transmitted by the beacon. 
   A three-pin design of the beacon may utilize contact between pin  1  and  2  for identification of the currently running program and advance through the stored programs for program selection. Contact between pins  2  and  3  may then be dedicated to signaling program erasure and new signaling program entry. Similarly, a four-pin design of the beacon can be utilized to further separate the functions between the pins with less reliance on timing of the contracts that are made between the pins 
   A second beacon embodiment introduces the ability to receive signaling programs over an infrared serial communication link from a separate programming controller which contains a large memory for storing a multiplicity of signaling patterns and is provided with a convenient human interface for managing the stored signaling patterns and selection of signaling patterns for down loading into individual beacons. Every beacon of the second embodiment type monitors the arriving signal on the infrared signaling link listening for a special numerical code which identifies that the signal being received is from a beacon programming controller. Whenever the special numerical code is received, the beacon knows that the following data will first be a command which will identify in which programming location the following signaling pattern data should be stored. 
   The form of the signaling pattern is in compressed data form, which can be sent at much higher speed that the signaling pattern which the data represents. Also, as the signaling pattern is transmitted as data rather than contact timings, transmission of the signaling pattern using this means incurs no loss of fidelity. Furthermore, the incorporation of check sum and/or error correction information as part of the data transmission allows for verification that the data transmission has occurred correctly or may be repaired using the error correction information. 
   A third beacon embodiment is also provided, i.e., a synchro beacon. This embodiment provides the ability to synchronize the signal flashing of beacons so that, once synchronized, all beacons flash the same signaling program in exact unison. Any synchro beacon can be the original programming source for the signaling pattern and any other synchro beacon can copy that pattern and then flash in exact synchronism with the source beacon. The underlying feature that makes the synchro beacons possible is the inclusion of a very precise clock in every beacon that is accurate to less than 0.1 seconds over 24 hours. These clocks are synchronized when a signaling pattern is copied from one beacon to another. 
   A synchro beacon design is produced by the addition of serial infrared communications transmission hardware and the addition of a very precise clock to the second embodiment of the beacon described previously. During normal operation, the clock within the synchro beacon triggers the signaling message start time and precisely paces the rate of the signaling message emission. Once every message emission cycle, every synchro beacon always transmits the data that describes the signaling message that is being emitted and a time strobe when the signaling message begins using the infrared serial communications link. The light from this infrared link is emitted orthogonally to the beacon signaling LEDs and, having relatively low power, does not noticeably interfere with the IR signal emitted by the beacon. Another synchro beacon, when placed in the path of the serial infrared signal of a running synchro beacon, is able to receive the coded message when given the command to do so. This command is given by electrically shorting the “copy” pin with the common pin on the receiving synchro beacon. That shorting action activates the infrared receiver on the synchro beacon which will then monitor the data arriving on its serial infrared receiver. The data arriving from another synchro beacon will first of all be modulated at a frequency such as 38 KHz to help differentiate the serial infrared data of another synchro beacon from other infrared light activity which might interfere with signal reception integrity. Next, all synchro beacons first transmit a synchro beacon identification number code that is utilized to confirm that the data being received is from another synchro beacon. Once the identification number is validated, the synchro beacon then receives data that describes a signaling pattern which is transmitted in compressed form and stores that data in its non-volatile program in the same manner as any other signaling program. Finally, the transmitting synchro beacon sends a check sum of the transmitted data which allows the receiving synchro beacon to validate the integrity of the received signaling program. The last bit of the transmitted check sum provides the time mark for synchronizing the internal clock in the synchro beacon. Upon receipt of the final bit, the synchro beacon resets the internal clock to the beginning of the signaling cycle, disables reception on the infrared serial link receiver, and starts normal emission operation of the newly received signaling code. The timing of the emission of the signaling code is controlled by the very accurate clock, which having been synchronized with the beacon that was the source of the signaling program, now runs the emitted code in exact synchronism with the source beacon. As all synchro beacons can be both the source and/or receiver of a signaling pattern, the signaling patterns can be copied sequentially from one beacon to the next with the only limitation being the very small hardware timing errors introduced in the synchronization of the clocks. 
   Any time that any group of synchro beacons begins to drift out of synchronization, it is possible to re-copy the signaling programs and timing to bring them back into synchronism. As the signaling pattern data is transmitted in digital form and validated upon reception with the use of the check-sum, recopying of signaling programs from synchro beacon to synchro beacon does not incur cumulative errors. 
   These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a physical top view of a first embodiment of the invention 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic circuit diagram thereof with three program-indicator LEDs. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic circuit diagram thereof with four program-indicator LEDs. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic circuit diagram of a second antifratricide beacon embodiment comprising a two-channel signaling beacon. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the programmer control panel for a two-channel, signaling beacon. 
       FIG. 6  is an architectural block diagram of a third antifratricide beacon embodiment comprising the synchro beacon. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic circuit diagram thereof. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the first embodiment of the invention,  FIG. 1  being a physical top view,  FIG. 2  being a schematic circuit diagram with three program indicator LEDs  15 , and  FIG. 3  being a schematic circuit diagram with four indicator LEDs  23 . The first invention beacon embodiment is a programmable infrared (IR) beacon designed for individual combat identification. The beacon may be coded, removed from the battery, and then when reconnected will emit the previously installed code. This allows the beacon to be used with an auxiliary power supply unit. An additional feature comprises the ability of the beacon to store multiple coded messages rather than one volatile code which is lost whenever the battery is disconnected. 
   The first beacon embodiment circuit  10  has a transparent housing  11  containing microprocessor-based electronics circuitry  12  operating the beacon  10 . The circuitry  12  is powered by with a 9 volt battery input  13 . Reversed battery protection subcircuitry  9  is also provided. Three signaling IR LEDs  14  are contained within the housing  11  and are electrically connected to the microprocessor  19 . Three program indicator LEDs  15  are also contained within the beacon housing  11  and are electrically connected to the microprocessor  19 . The program indicator LEDs  15  are color coded, e.g., green, red, and yellow. The housing  11  has a program select “B” pin  16 , program input “A” pin  17 , and a common ground pin  18 . The three pins  16 ,  17 ,  18  are electrically connected to the circuitry  12 . 
   Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , another beacon circuit embodiment  20  constructed according to the principles of the first embodiment is shown. The beacon  20  has a transparent housing  21  containing microprocessor-based electronics circuitry  27  operating the beacon  20 . Three signaling IR LEDs  22  are mounted in the housing  21  and are electrically connected to the microprocessor  28 . Four program indicator LEDs  23  are also mounted in the beacon housing  21  and are electrically connected to the microprocessor  28 . The program indicator LEDs  23  are color coded, e.g., green, red, amber, and yellow. The housing  21  has a program select “B” pin  24 , program input “A” pin  25 , and a common pin  26 . The three pins  24 ,  25 ,  26  are electrically connected to the circuitry  27 . 
   Referring more particularly to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a schematic circuit diagram of the second beacon embodiment  50 . Most of the circuit layout is identical to the embodiment described above with the following exceptions. An IR link  51  is provided for inputting commands and programs. An external programming pin  52  is also provided. 
   The present invention also provides a programmer  60  for the beacons, especially the second beacon embodiment. See  FIG. 5 . A user can pre-install up to 20 programs in the programmer memory. The programs can be reviewed for accuracy prior to transferring the message code to a beacon. Selected codes can be changed by the user at any time. Once recorded the programs can be selectively transferred from memory with a single keystroke to as many beacons as required assuring that the transferred program codes are identical. The code installer has the option of selecting and installing up to 8 pre-programmed codes into the fourth embodiment beacon of the 20 codes in the programmer or manually installing codes in as many as 8 programming slots as desired to make each beacon completely unique. Each signaling program is stand alone so a series of units can have groups of codes all the same and other that are different allowing the observer to distinguish between individual beacons. 
   Referring more particularly to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a beacon programmer control panel  61 . The programmer top  62  has battery snaps  63  which will accept any of the invention beacons. A programming pin “C”  64  for programming beacons is provided. An IR serial emitter link  65  is also provided for programming the fourth embodiment beacon. A photo sensor  66  is provided, said photo sensor detecting the beacon IR emission signaling pattern and converting that to a red color display that is visible to the naked eye. Momentary action push-button switches  67  for controlling the programmer functions are provided. A plurality of LED indicators are also provided. The programmer has an ON/OFF push button  69  for turning the programmer ON and OFF. The programmer turns off automatically after 5 minutes if no buttons are actuated. A test button  70  is provided. Pressing this button applies power to the beacon which, if working correctly, will go into normal operational mode and emit the IR signaling pattern. The signaling pattern will be detected by the photo sensor  66  and the emitted signaling pattern will be duplicated by a confirm LED at a wavelength visible to the naked eye. A controller stored program number indicator  72  and beacon slot destination numeric indicator  73  and LED indicator  74  are also provided. A battery low indicator LED  75  is also provided. 
   A USB connection is provided with each programmer  60  for connection to a personal computer/laptop/Ipod for signaling program management. With a personal computer used as a warehouse for codes, the number of codes that can be stored and management is substantial. The codes can be selectively downloaded into each programmer which can then be further selectively downloaded to each beacon assigned to an individual. With this capability, a field commander will be able to identify units and individuals by observing the signal codes and using a lookup table in the computer. 
   Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 6-7  there is shown the third beacon embodiment which is a synchro beacon  30 . Referring more particularly to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a block diagram of the main elements of the synchro beacon architecture. The synchro beacon elements are tied together and driven by a microprocessor  37 . The microprocessor  37  records and stores in memory three 6-second long signaling programs which are then emitted on a plurality of IR signaling LEDs  33 . The emitted signal is frequency modulated to improve sensing by another synchro beacon and pulse-width modulated to control the power input to the signaling LEDs  33 . Once every signaling cycle the microprocessor measures the current being drawn by the LEDs  33  and re-calculates the maximum permissible power input to the LEDs taking into account the power density of the signal program that is running. 
   Three signaling IR LEDs  33  are connected to and controlled by the microprocessor  37 . Four program indicator LEDs  34 , color coded, e.g., green, red, amber, and yellow, are driven directly by the microprocessor  37 . The synchro beacon  30  has two input pins and a ground pin sensed directly by the microprocessor  37 . One input pin is the program input “A” pin  35 . The “A” pin  35  is used for signaling program selection and recording new signaling programs the same way as the prior embodiments. The main functional difference with the prior embodiments is the addition of the second input pin, i.e., the “B” synchro pin  36 , which is used exclusively for initiating signal program copying among synchro beacons. The synchro beacon  30  has an IR detector  38  which is tuned to receive the IR signal from another synchro beacon. The IR detector  38  is sensed directly by the microprocessor  37 . 
   A 22.00 MHz crystal  40  followed by a 16:1 frequency divider  41  which in turn is followed by a 8,388,608:1 divider  42  form a clock  43  that produces a 6-second timing pulse to an accuracy of less than 0.1 seconds over a 24-hour period. This clock  43  is used for the timing of the IR signal program emitted by a synchro beacon and is locked to a “Master” synchro beacon when a signaling program is copied from one beacon to another. The “locking” is controlled by the microprocessor by resetting the clock based on the signaling program that is received. 
   Referring more particularly to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a schematic circuit diagram of a synchro beacon  30 . A linear voltage regulator U 2  provides voltage to the microprocessor  37  and also provides power to the clock  43 . The microprocessor  37  drives the program indicator LEDs  34  directly with array resistors R 4   a  through R 4   d  providing current limiting. The microprocessor  37  drives an N-MOS gate  39  which controls the application of the battery voltage to the three IR signaling LED diodes  33 . The R5 resistor in series with the source terminal of the N-MOS gate  39  provides feedback to the microprocessor of the current through the three signaling LEDs  33  which are connected to the drain side of the N-MOS gate  39 . 
   The IR detector  38  is tuned for reception to a frequency matching the frequency emitted by all synchro beacons. Clock synchronization is performed by the microprocessor based on pattern recognition of the IR signaling program of another synchro beacon received by the IR detector  38 . When the microprocessor  37  recognizes an appropriate synchronization pattern received from the other beacon, the microprocessor issues a clock reset command to the clock divider  42  and begins recording the receive pattern. 
   This embodiment of the invention may be enhanced by adding a two-channel signaling capability. The beacon&#39;s storage capability is 8 messages in non-volatile memory so that once installed the messages are retained regardless of the power being connected. The beacon has indicators showing which program is active. Channel  1  (the default code) is programmed in-shop with a special encoder  60 . Channel  2  has a user-programmable temporary memory which can be installed in the field using any metallic object such as a coin. The beacon has indicators which show which program is active. 
   A cascade effect may be made with a number of beacons by inserting a delay into successive synchro beacons. This may be done in the microprocessor memory. To cascade a number of beacons, the beacons must be synchronized, numbered, programmed and installed in sequence. 
   In another embodiment of the invention, a radio frequency transceiver  54  with a radio frequency antenna  55  may be added to each beacon. See  FIG. 6 . This provides a means of beacon control which does not require line-of-sight between controller and beacon. 
   It is understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.