Pattern enhancer The pattern enhancer ( also known as a transport enhancer or transporter enhancer ) was a piece of Federation equipment designed to aid in the reception and rematerialization sequence of an in - garrisoned transporter system . The cylindrical pattern enhancers were typically one meter in height from the surface upon which they rested to their apex . They were composed of four distinct sections , from bottom to top : the trio of legs which were encased within the body of the equipment while not in use , the highly - polished silver - colored main body encasing the primary portion of the actual equipment , the black control cuff upon which controls for specific manipulation of the enhancer were set , and the sensor array contained within the clear , roughly conical top . The casing of the pattern enhancers contained sophisticated and relatively powerful localized sensor s as well as powerful and adaptive communication equipment . Typically , the use of a pattern enhancer was dictated by the inability of a transporter chief to acquire a solid transporter lock on the intended subjects at a location not equipped with equitable transporter technology . This inability could be a result of transporter jamming , natural interference , or any other phenomenon that disrupted normal sensor operation . When unable to achieve this requisite lock , pattern enhancers were used to define , scan , and relay information about a small , localized area through varying types of interference to the recipient transporter system . This highly specified and powerful communication to the transporter system allowed it to make a better analytical decision regarding the matter specified for transport as well as location information relative to known markers . The inclusion of pattern enhancers in an away team ' s equipment complement was usually left to the discretion of the team commander . However that decision was influenced , when pattern enhancers were used , their operating procedure was very standardized to prevent problematic operation while in a chaotic situation . Pattern enhancers could be used either as a group of three or singularly . ( ) Used as a trio , the enhancers were set up in an equilateral triangular formation , roughly one to ten meters apart . First the legs were extended by means of a switch or lever on the main body of the device ; these allowed for steady placement regardless of terrain . Second , the conical top and the attached control cuff of the device were rotated approximately 70 - 90° clockwise ; once the top was lit , the enhancer was active . Once activated , all pattern enhancers immediately began sensor data transmission of whatever was contained within the confines of the trio of deployed enhancers . Despite their obvious complexity and value , unless the conditions which necessitated the enhancers use in the first place was expected to dissipate or be negated , the enhancers were remained in place upon successful transport . On previous versions of the Federation pattern enhancer , once all three were activated they would attach between the group a vibrant blue , permeable strand of energy ; however by 2375 this feature had been eliminated for reasons unknown . " In 2263 of the alternate reality , came up with the idea of modifying pulse beacon s from the to act as pattern enhancers to enable an away team to beam the trapped crew of the out of Krall ' s base . These makeshift pattern enhancers successfully enabled Scott and to beam the " Enterprise " crewmembers , twenty at a time , to the " Franklin " . " ( )