Patent ID: 7781721

Claim:
A threat detection system for the detection of a potential weapon having an optic element with respect to an object to be protected, said threat detection system comprising: a laser energy source, said laser source for generating a laser beam in response to a laser energy source control signal; at least one oscillator, coupled to said laser energy source, said at least one oscillator responsive to an oscillator control signal and configured for modulating said laser beam to generate a laser signal to be transmitted toward at least a scene to be inspected for a potential weapon, said laser signal having a predetermined frequency and pulse time controlled by said at least one oscillator, wherein said pulse time is selected to be short enough to cause a reflection of said laser signal from an optic element of an optical guidance system of said potential weapon that is much greater than a reflection of said laser signal from other elements of the scene including said potential weapon; a controller, coupled to said laser energy source and to said at least one oscillator, and configured for providing said laser energy source control signal and said at least one oscillator control signal, said laser energy source control signal for activating the laser source, said at least one oscillator control signal for regulating the frequency of said at least one oscillator; an emitter, coupled to said oscillator, and configured for transmitting said generated laser signal non-directionally; a receiver, configured for receiving at least a portion of a laser signal transmitted by said emitter that has reflected off the optic element of said potential weapon; and a comparer, coupled to said receiver, and configured for analyzing and comparing said reflected laser signal with said transmitted laser signal to determine a direction, a distance, and a speed of said potential weapon with respect to said object to be protected, said comparer configured for identifying selected characteristics of said reflected laser signal, wherein said selected characteristics include two or more characteristics selected from the group of characteristics consisting of: reflected laser signal energy pulses having the shortest time duration; reflected laser signal energy pulses having a large magnitude compared to reflected laser signal energy pulses from adjacent areas in the scene; and reflected laser signal energy pulses occupying a very small portion of the scene.