U.S. patent application number 14/757010 was filed with the patent office on 2017-05-11 for multiple adversary suppression system (mass).
The applicant listed for this patent is John Isaac Boland. Invention is credited to John Isaac Boland.
Application Number | 20170131067 14/757010 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58663554 |
Filed Date | 2017-05-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170131067 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Boland; John Isaac |
May 11, 2017 |
Multiple Adversary Suppression System (MASS)
Abstract
The Multiple Adversary Suppression System (MASS) is an
integrated, digitally controlled nonlethal weapon system designed
to disable unshielded humans and interfere with susceptible
materiel. MASS emits photic and audio stimulation at intensities
designed to cause distress. MASS shields its users from direct
photic and analog audio stimulation, instead processing that data
digitally and filtering out the disruptive stimuli MASS emits. The
physical components of MASS consist of a computer controlled
headset with digital visual and audio processing equipment, and a
computer controlled emission rig with high intensity photic and
audio emission equipment.
Inventors: |
Boland; John Isaac;
(Baltimore, MD) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Boland; John Isaac |
Baltimore |
MD |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
58663554 |
Appl. No.: |
14/757010 |
Filed: |
November 7, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 2027/014 20130101;
G10K 11/178 20130101; G10K 2210/1081 20130101; F41H 13/0087
20130101; G02B 27/017 20130101; F41H 13/0081 20130101; G02B
2027/0138 20130101; F41H 13/0043 20130101; G02B 27/0172
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41H 13/00 20060101
F41H013/00; G02B 27/01 20060101 G02B027/01; G10K 11/178 20060101
G10K011/178 |
Claims
1. A method for projecting high-intensity light stimulation and
high-volume, high-frequency audio stimulation that temporarily
blinds, deafens, disorients and disables a target person or persons
while protecting the method's user from the photic and audio
effects, comprising: a) the use of high-intensity light sources
flashing at predetermined times, and b) the use of opaque goggles
or visors protecting said method's users from all analog photic
data, and c) the use of cameras sampling environmental visual data
at predetermined times and digitally recreating and displaying said
data upon the goggles or visor for the user, and d) the use of
audio speakers projecting high-volume, high-frequency audio
stimulation, and e) the use of headphones suppressing substantial
analog audio data reaching the user, and f) the use of microphones
electronically sampling and enhancing audio data and providing
communications to the user, whereby intense photic and audio
stimulations render a targeted person incapable of resisting an
attack by the user and incapable of mounting an attack against the
user and the user is shielded from all analog photic stimulation
and substantial audio stimulation while receiving digitally
selected and recreated visual and audio information.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Military and police forces confronting violent civilian
populations or military or para-military groups embedded within
civilian populations face difficulty in finding appropriate levels
of force that minimize civilian injuries and fatalities while
protecting the lives of military and police personnel. Objectives
such as restoring civil order or suppressing attacks originating
within an area populated by non-combatants may be compromised or
abandoned if the risk of casualties on both sides appears by some
standard prohibitive. As a result, military and police forces have
sought to employ non-lethal means of suppression. Military forces
may also seek to employ non-lethal means to reduce non-combatant
casualties while employing lethal force against an embedded
adversary that is heavily armed.
SUMMARY
[0002] Multiple Adversary Suppression System (MASS) is an
integrated, digitally controlled photic and audio stimulation
system that temporarily disables unshielded human as well as
susceptible mechanical targets. Users are shielded from all direct
(analog) photic data and from high-decibel audio data while
receiving digitally recreated information. MASS provides a means of
non-lethal suppression suitable for use in crowd control, in
suppression of civil disorder, and in certain military operations.
It temporarily blinds, deafens, disorients and disables targets
while causing no permanent injury to persons and it protects MASS
users from the disabling effects of the photic and audio
stimulation. The system also will disable targets' use of
image-enhancement (night-vision) equipment.
PRIOR ART
[0003] The following is a tabulation of some prior art that appears
relevant:
TABLE-US-00001 US Patents Patent Number Kind Code Issue Date
Patentee 8,721,105 B2 2014 May 13 Eisenberg 7,866,082 B2 2011 Jan.
11 Eisenberg 7,497,586 B2 2009 Mar. 3 Eisenberg 7,220,957 B2 2007
May 22 Choi 6,767,108 B1 2004 Jul. 27 Blachowski 6,367,943 B1 2002
Apr. 9 Tocci 6,297,749 B1 2001 Oct. 2 Smith 5,756,989 A 1998 May 26
Bear 5,113,177 A 1992 May 12 Cohen 5,081,542 A 1992 Jan. 14 Efron
5,072,342 A 1991 Dec. 10 Minovich 5,296,854 A 1994 Mar. 22 Hamilton
3,565,069 A 1971 Feb. 23 Miller
TABLE-US-00002 U.S. Patent Application Publications Publication Nr.
Kind Code Publication Date Applicant 20060284791 A1 2006 Dec. 21
Chen 20020191003 A1 2002 Dec. 19 Hobgood
Nonpatent Literature Documents
[0004] Tech Times, "Google Cardboard Now Available in 100
Countries" (Oct. 14, 2015) [0005] Risen, Tom, U.S. News & World
Report, "Samsung, Oculus Make Virtual Reality Affordable" (Sep. 24,
2015) [0006] Kaufman, Michael, GeekDad, "Augmented Reality Making
Everyone the Expert" (Oct. 23, 2015) [0007] Pasternak, Alex,
Motherboard, "The New Sound of Crowd Control" (Dec. 17, 2014)
[0008] Systems created under prior art have encountered two related
problems. 1. Light and sound stimulation must be intense enough to
disorient and disable a targeted person but not so intense as to
cause permanent injury. 2. Users of the systems must be protected
from the effects of their own devices.
[0009] Narrowly targeted light (laser) solves the second problem,
but it risks permanent injury to the targets and is illegal under
certain international protocols. Use against civilian or military
targets is therefore unfeasible. Broadly disseminated light can be
projected at sufficient intensity to disorient and disable targets,
but the light affects users as well as targets. Systems designed to
protect users from the intense light have relied on equipment
including goggles employing mechanical "shutter"-like devices that
are timed to close against light bursts. Because the systems rely
on mechanical timing devices, any failure to maintain the devices'
calibration risks exposing users to disabling photic (light)
data.
[0010] Photic stimulation is the application of radiant energy to
an organism or electronic receiver or sensor at a frequency and
intensity to which the organism or electronic device will respond.
Audio stimulation is the application of variations in a medium such
as air created by vibrations at such a frequency as to stimulate an
organism's audio sensory system or a synthetic analog (such as an
electronic microphone) to respond.
[0011] Photic stimulation varies in its effect depending on
wavelength, intensity, duration and manner of application.
"High-intensity" photic stimulation interrupts the brain's ability
to process information and organize activity. Immediate effects
include temporary vision impairment, confusion, distress,
disorientation, fear and nausea. These effects disable a targeted
person's ability to resist an attack or to mount or continue an
attack. At certain levels "high-intensity" photic stimulation may
cause psychological or physical harm.
[0012] "High-intensity" in this context has an established meaning
in the art both as to level of stimulation and as to light
intensity.
[0013] Audio stimulation varies in its intensity, wavelength and
duration. High-intensity audio stimulation may cause distress,
disorientation, fear, pain, or psychological or physical harm to
targeted persons. Like "high-intensity" photic stimulation,
"high-intensity" audio stimulation has been shown to disrupt the
brain's ability to process information and organize activity,
rendering target individuals incapable or less capable of resisting
attack, launching counterattack or communicating.
[0014] A recognized application of high-intensity photic and audio
stimulation having an incapacitating effect is the "flash-bang"
grenades used by police and military forces. Grenades have the
shortcoming of being "one-time-use" devices.
[0015] The Convention On Prohibitions Or Restrictions On The Use Of
Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed To Be Excessively
Injurious Or To Have Indiscriminate Effects (1980), particularly
Protocol I V, Protocol Relating to Blinding Laser Weapons (1995),
(International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva, Switzerland),
prohibits the use of laser weapons causing blindness to the naked
eye or eye with corrective lenses.
[0016] A number of prior systems exist for the purpose of disabling
of target subjects with flashing light. None, however, employs
currently available technology for the digital reprocessing of
environmental data as part of a system protecting the user from the
effects of the photic stimulation.
[0017] The United States Army's Active Denial System (ADS) is a
directed energy weapon intended to be nonlethal. It fires a beam of
95 GHz at a target, exciting water and fat molecules in the
subject's skin like a microwave oven. This particular frequency
only penetrates a fraction of an inch into the skin of the target,
limiting the heating effects to the very top layer, and hopefully
avoiding any internal damage. Like MASS, ADS is designed to
non-lethally suppress a crowd of enemies using light. Unlike MASS,
ADS can only be operated in short bursts as second-degree burns
have been observed in overexposed test subjects. Outside of
controlled conditions, such as on a battlefield or during a riot,
it is reasonable to believe that ADS would have increased potential
to cause lasting harm in the form of significant burns. ADS also
causes pain, rather than disorienting and confusing the target.
Waves at 95 GHz may be stopped by particularly thick clothing, such
as usual combat uniforms or a heavy jacket. ADS targets the entire
body for burning pain, while MASS only targets the eyes and ears
for temporary blindness and impairment of hearing. ADS also effects
all individuals in its field of operation, while MASS users can be
protected completely from the light and substantially from the
sound. As ADS is a coherent beam, it also has the potential to be
reflected back at the user by an ingenious subject wielding a
mirrored surface.
[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 7,220,957 B2 discloses a method and system to
provide high-intensity photic stimulation by trigger signals in
commanded patterns of duration and frequency. A user views a field
illuminated through a shutter viewer such as shutter goggles. The
goggles are gated to a light blocking state in response to trigger
pulses. The light blocking state has a wider time width than the
light flashes. Nonetheless, the system requires synchronization of
light pulses and the opacity of the shutter goggles. Because the
goggles deliver visual data directly to the user in analog form,
any failure of synchronization produces system failure exposing the
user to high-intensity photic stimulation. This system has no audio
stimulation/protection component.
[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,943 B1 discloses a shield combined with
light sources which produce light pulses. The light pulses are
directed to disable a target subject whom the user of the shield
wishes to capture or control. The light sources comprise lasers or
light emitting diodes (LEDs). These sources have particular
frequencies of light emission. The patent points out that if the
target subjects are aware of the value of the frequency used in
standard equipment, they can employ laser goggles to block the
light pulses. In one form, light sources of two different
frequencies are utilized, since two frequencies cannot easily be
blocked by wearing laser goggles. Providing for two different
wavelengths of light increases cost and complexity of the system.
Additionally, the laser embodiments of this system are subject to
the drawbacks of laser systems as described above. And further, the
shield must be directed only against the target, rendering it
impractical in a disordered environment.
[0020] An alternative to laser goggles is seen in U.S. Pat. No.
5,756,989 A, which discloses color night vision goggles using an
image intensifier to amplify input radiant energy from a
low-luminance field of view. A "bright source detector" is used to
detect incoming radiation from a laser jamming system. Output
pulses gate the image intensifier to disable the image intensifier
in synchronism with laser jamming pulses. The system is independent
of the jamming signal. It cannot be synchronized with the jamming
signal, but must operate in response to receipt of the jamming
signal.
[0021] U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,542 A discloses an eye protection device
including a liquid crystal light valve which provides a user an
image of a scene. The light valve comprises a mechanism for
absorbing energy from a laser threat directed at the user. However,
the light valve cannot simply turn substantially opaque to block
incoming radiation.
[0022] U.S. Pat. No. 6,767,108 B1 discloses a flash grenade
comprising a layer of flash lamps mounted in a cylindrical housing.
Light flashes are intended to disable hostages or non-combatants as
well as perpetrators. A trigger circuit for the flash lamps is
included in the grenade. There is no opportunity to remotely
control the ignition of the flash lamps.
[0023] U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,342 A discloses a hand-held pulsed light
focused by a reflector and mounted in a simulated gun. A user
points the gun at an assailant's head for the purpose of causing
temporary blindness. This apparatus has a limited field of
illumination, and is not suited for a user facing a number of
assailants.
[0024] The above-described prior art systems do not place emphasis
on protecting the user who is employing the system from the effects
of high-intensity flashing illumination or, when protection is
attempted, nonetheless expose the user to analog data (directly
observed light) that leaves open the possibility that the user may
be disabled as well as the target. Nor do the prior art systems
incorporate an audio projection/protection component.
[0025] While military research has identified "high-intensity
ultrasound" as causing lung, intestinal and cardio damage, a
long-range acoustic device (LRAD) has been employed successfully
against sea pirates and used by police departments. The system
covered by the MASS patent application employs lower megahertz
ranges intended to disorient suitable for use in non-lethal
systems.
[0026] MASS uniquely integrates photic and audio stimulation with
user protection.
Description
[0027] Multiple Adversary Suppression System (MASS) is illustrated
in the Figures below. The system has two main components: a
Projector component and a Shield component.
[0028] The Projector component comprises: [0029] 1. A MASS Visual
Suppressant Component, referred to as the "Dazzler" [0030] 2. A
MASS Auditory Suppressant Component, referred to as the
"Screamer"
[0031] The Shield component comprises: [0032] 1. A MASS Visual
Shield, referred to as the "Shades" [0033] 2. A MASS Auditory
Shield, referred to as "Insulator"
Operation
[0034] Dazzler and Shades Function:
[0035] The Dazzler consists of a device emitting bright light that
temporarily blinds, disorients, and disables human targets and
causes optic overload to certain devices such as light enhancement
(night-vision) equipment. The Dazzler is set to flash on and off
rapidly with a set pattern of X. The pattern of X can be varied
constantly by the user to combat countermeasures.
[0036] The Shades consist of a digital headset that blocks all
direct (analog) light data while the headset camera selectively
transmits digitized visual information. The camera is set to sample
at a certain pattern Y, and display those frames to the user.
[0037] Relationship Between Pattern X and Y:
[0038] The pattern Y is automatically derived from the pattern X in
that the frames sampled by Y (then displayed to the user) fall
between the flashes of X. By this relationship, if X and Y are
sufficiently rapid, the user is presented with the illusion of
clear and constant video, while in reality the user is only seeing
the frames that are not illuminated by the Dazzler. This is the
unique strength of the Shades component: the user is completely
shielded from the light flashes emitted by the Dazzler. The Y
pattern of data sampling also shields user's electronic equipment
from overload.
[0039] Screamer and Insulator Function:
[0040] The Screamer consists of high-volume speakers specialized
for a high-pitched frequency range. The Screamer emits sounds such
as pure tones (such as bangs) or human voices (such as screams).
The Screamer prevents targets from hearing and communicating
effectively, and disorients them.
[0041] The Insulator is a set of headphones that substantially
block high-volume sound while enhancing low-volume sound. The
Insulator has external microphones that pick up and digitize all
sound, filtering out the known frequencies emitted by Screamer.
After filtering out of the Screamer, digitally reproduced sound is
delivered to the user's ear.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] FIG. 1 is a diagram of the basic components of the
invention.
[0043] The Projector components consist of a high-frequency,
high-volume audio projector (Screamer (1)) and a high-intensity
light projector (Dazzler (2)). The Shield components consist of
headgear incorporating sound-suppressing headphones (Insulators
(3)), light-blocking goggles or visor (Shades (4)), audio receiver
(5), and camera (6). User(s) activate the Projectors delivering
electronically regulated bursts ("pulses") of high-frequency,
high-volume audio and high-intensity light (7) against Target
individuals or groups. Insulators substantially suppress intense
analog sound waves (8) reaching the User while audio receivers
enhance lower-volume audio and deliver communications data. Shades
block all analog light (9) from reaching the User while the camera
samples photic data between the light bursts and displays digitally
recreated images inside the goggles or visor. Targets are
disoriented and disabled. User receives environmental information
stripped of disabling high-intensity audio and photic
information.
[0044] Activation can occur in various ways including a User
switching it on manually or unit leaders or a Central Command
triggering the system by radio or similar means. Shield components
are worn by the User or Users. Screamer and Dazzler components are
deployable in a number of configurations, not limited to mounted on
a user, mounted on tripods, mounted on ground or air vehicles.
Screamer and Dazzler are shown here separately (to illustrate their
separate functions); in practice the functions can be combined in a
single device.
[0045] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a system incorporating an embodiment
of the invention.
[0046] Command Center (1) electronically activates tank-mounted (2)
high-intensity light (Dazzler) and aerially (UAV) deployed (3)
high-intensity audio component (Screamer) against Targets (4) as
User force (5) protected by Shield (6) components (Shades and
Insulators) advances. Individual members of the User force, along
with the Command Center and tank operators and remote UAV pilots,
receive environmental information (7) from which all analog effects
of Dazzler have been removed and audio stimulation from the
Screamer has been substantially reduced by the Shield component.
The Targets are disoriented and disabled by the pulses of
high-intensity light and high-volume and high-frequency sound,
while the User force remains substantially unaffected.
[0047] There are several benefits to this embodiment. Among them:
i) It frees individual Users from carrying Dazzlers and Screamers.
ii) The vehicle electrical system provides a stronger and more
reliable power source than an individual User's battery pack. iii)
The embodiment is scalable: single or multiple Dazzlers and
Screamers can be deployed against individual Targets or
varied-sized Target groups. Dazzler and Screamer are shown here as
separate devices but can be combined in a single device.
[0048] A similar configuration could employ piloted aircraft such
as helicopters. The system could be incorporated into an entirely
unmanned embodiment employing remotely controlled air and ground
vehicles and mechanical User forces.
Technical Descriptions
[0049] MASS projects photic stimulation flashes (pulses) at a high
intensity sufficient to induce partial and temporary blindness in a
human being but at less than the intensity that may cause permanent
damage to the human eye.
[0050] MASS projects audio stimulation pulses at frequencies and
decibels that induce pain, disorientation and other disabling
effects in a human being but at less than the frequency and decibel
levels that are likely to cause permanent damage.
[0051] The photic Shades component of MASS comprises opaque goggles
or visors that admit no analog photic data to the user. A camera
picks up "samples") environmental visual data between the photic
pulses and produces a visual display for the user inside the
goggles or visor. A fail-safe aspect of Shades is that the
recreated environmental photic information can be limited in its
intensity to protect the user from the effects of light bursts
produced by an adversary.
[0052] The audio Insulator components of MASS comprises headphones
employing passive noise suppression and active noise-cancellation
(ANC) and/or sound-activated compression (SAC) to reduce decibels
experienced by the user. The same headphones provide microphones
collecting low-decibel data and delivering radio communications
among individual users and a Central Command.
ADVANTAGES
[0053] MASS affords a highly flexible system for control of crowds,
police targets or military targets while reducing the likelihood of
fatal injuries to the targets, to non-combatants, and to users. It
is scalable from single user to multiple users. It can be deployed
in circumstances in which the user faces a small number of
adversaries or against a larger force. It can be deployed against
relatively low-violence resistance or against a military or
terrorist group in conjunction with lethal force. The user may
employ the light source (Dazzler) alone or in combination with the
high-frequency, high-volume audio stimulation source (Screamer).
Because the patterns and intensity are set by the user (directly or
by a Central Command), they can be varied according to
circumstances. The user Shield blocks unwanted photic data from
reaching the user and substantially reduces disorienting audio data
reaching the user while maintaining the flow of valuable
environmental information.
[0054] The key improvements that MASS affords over previous systems
are:
[0055] a) the combination of photic and audio stimulation against
adversaries;
[0056] b) the digital processing of photic information that reaches
the user. This processing is carried out through digital visual
sampling and recreation of images and through audio suppression,
filtering and enhancement.
[0057] c) adaptable technology for stimulation of targets and
protection of users is commercially available.
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATION AND SCOPE
[0058] This non-lethal system is suitable for domestic crowd
control during civil unrest, for peace-keeping operations in
hostile environments, for prisoner control, for refugee control, or
in military suppression of hostile populations or forces in which
the use of exdusively lethal methods--as when the hostile force is
embedded within a civilian population--is undesirable. The
non-lethal system is also suitable for use in conjunction with
other, including lethal, suppression methods. The system enables a
user to narrow its use of lethal methods to actual combatants as
they become vulnerable through disabling light and sound.
* * * * *