U.S. patent number 3,732,412 [Application Number 05/262,405] was granted by the patent office on 1973-05-08 for method and system for personnel control with blinding illumination.
Invention is credited to Jesse F. Tyroler.
United States Patent |
3,732,412 |
Tyroler |
May 8, 1973 |
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERSONNEL CONTROL WITH BLINDING
ILLUMINATION
Abstract
Unruly personnel, e.g. rioters, are subjected to continuous low
intensity illumination of one part of the visible spectrum, which
is sufficient for identification purposes, simultaneously with
flashes of high intensity light of a different part of the visible
spectrum, the latter is sufficient to blind the eye temporarily to
the low intensity illumination and cause movements to appear
confused and chaotic in the flashing high intensity illumination,
whereby the activity of the crowd is inhibited or arrested. Police
equipped with goggles, which are transparent to the continuous low
intensity illumination but opaque to the flashing high intensity
illumination, can see adequately under such conditions to remove
individual agitators.
Inventors: |
Tyroler; Jesse F. (Dover,
NJ) |
Family
ID: |
22997359 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/262,405 |
Filed: |
June 13, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/293;
89/1.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21S
8/00 (20130101); F41H 13/0087 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F21S
8/00 (20060101); F41H 13/00 (20060101); F21 () |
Field of
Search: |
;240/1 ;89/1A |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Matthews; Samuel S.
Assistant Examiner: Sheer; Richard M.
Claims
I claim:
1. An illuminating system for use in control of unruly personnel,
which comprises in combination:
means for subjecting said personnel to continuous, low-intensity
illumination, adequate for identification, with light of a part of
the visible spectrum;
means for subjecting said personnel to flashes of high intensity
illumination with light of a different part of the visible
spectrum; and
viewing means transparent to the light of said low intensity
illumination but opaque to the light of said high intensity
illumination.
2. A method for controlling unruly personnel, which comprises
subjecting said personnel to continuous low intensity illumination,
adequate for identification, by means of light of a part of the
visible spectrum simultaneously with flashes of high intensity
illumination with light of a different part of the visible spectrum
than said low intensity illumination, wherein the flashes of said
high intensity illumination occur with such frequency and intensity
that the naked eye is blinded to the low level illumination and is
unable to accommodate to the ever changing light level, whereby
movements appear confused and chaotic, and viewing said personnel
through a filter capable of transmitting the spectral wavelength of
the low intensity illumination but incapable of transmitting the
spectral wavelength of the high intensity illumination, thereby
protecting the viewer against the blinding and confusing effect of
the flashing high intensity illumination.
Description
The invention described herein may be manufactured, used and
licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposes without
the payment to me of any royalty thereon.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and system for
controlling unruly crowds of people by non-violent means.
Present methods for controlling people engaged in unlawful group
activities, such as riots, involve the use of force, such as the
intervention of armed policemen or soldiers, or the use of various
means of incapacitation, such as tear gas, vomiting gas, and the
like. Such violent methods are costly and inefficient and at times
result in injury and even death to participants. An urgent need
therefore exists for a method for controlling or restricting the
behavior of unruly personnel, which is effective and non-violent
and is not psychologically degrading as is the use of tear gas,
cattle probes, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to
provide a method, and system therefor, suitable for controlling
rioting crowds, etc., which is non-violent, quick and effective.
Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the
description of the invention.
In accordance with this invention, there is provided an effective,
economical and non-violent method for crowd control as well as a
system therefor, which utilize a combination of illumination and
optical viewing means. The illumination includes a continuous low
intensity light together with a high-intensity flashing light to
temporarily, "blind" the human eye. Under these conditions, police
equipped with optical filter means, e.g. goggles, which selectively
cut out, and thereby protect their eyes against, the "blinding"
flashing light, can enter the crowd and remove individual agitators
with a minimum of force and risk of injury to persons or
property.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a view of the illumination system of this invention being
utilized by police to control a street riot.
FIG. 2 shows the spectral transmission curves for light filters
suitable for use in the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
More specifically, this invention provides a novel method and
system for personnel control, which comprises two emission sources
of illumination, such as a searchlight or floodlight, in
combination with an optical filter. The two sources of illumination
may be separate or combined, as in a twin beam emission source. One
of these emission sources provides a low intensity, continuous
illumination in the area of interest, which is adequate for
identification purposes and is composed of light of only a part,
preferably a narrow part, of the visible spectrum. The other
illumination source provides flashes, i.e. brief periods, of light
of very high intensity and of a different part of the visible
spectrum at a suitable regular or random frequency. The optical
filter, which may be in the form of goggles or transparent face
shields worn by law enforcement personnel, is designed so that it
cuts off the spectral wavelengths of the high intensity light but
transmits the spectral wavelengths of the continuous, low intensity
light with little spectral transmission loss.
FIG. 1 shows a night riot scene, wherein searchlights 10 and 11 are
mounted on a police vehicle 12 and are directed at a crowd of
rioters 13 by operator 14. Searchlight 10 provides continuous, low
intensity illumination, which is sufficient for identification
purposes. Searchlight 10 is of the incandescent tungsten filament
type, and is fitted with a filter 15, which transmits light of only
a narrow part of the visible spectrum. Searchlight 11 provides
flashes of high intensity illumination and is fitted with a filter
16, which transmits only light of a different part of the visible
spectrum from that emitted from searchlight 10 through filter 15.
Operator 14 and police officers 17 are provided with goggles 18,
which are opaque to the flashing high intensity illumination but
transmit the continuous, low intensity illumination essentially
completely.
When the high intensity light from searchlight 11 is flashed at
suitable frequency, e.g. at 2 to 3 second intervals, the vision of
the crowd 13 is temporarily blinded so that the eye cannot see in
the low intensity illumination from searchlight 10, since it cannot
accommodate to the ever changing level of illumination, whereby
movements appear confused and chaotic. Under these conditions, the
activities of the crowd, due to the fact that it is temporarily
blinded and confused, become greatly restricted and possibly even
immobilized. Law enforcement personnel 17 equipped with face
goggles 18 are protected against the blinding effect of the
flashing high intensity light but are still able to see in the low
intensity continuous illumination, and therefore are able to move
unhindered into the crowd.
The method and system of this invention can be effectively utilized
under night and dusk conditions, when the level of daylight
illumination is insufficient to interfere with the efficient
operation of the invention. When the invention is utilized to
control crowds in city streets, etc. illuminated with artificial
light from conventional sources, e.g. tungsten bulb, mercury vapor
lamp, etc. such lighting is preferably turned off; or if necessary,
it can be reduced to a level where it either does not interfere or
is utilized as the continuous low level illumination in the system
and method of this invention.
Thus, this invention provides a number of important advantages and
advances in the art of controlling riots and related situations,
for example:
1. It is not physically injurious to anyone, including rioters,
innocent bystanders and police.
2. It is not psychologically degrading or immoral, such as is the
use of gases, cattle probes, etc.
3. It minimizes the amount of police force required as well as the
extent of injury to persons and property.
4. It is effective and economical.
5. It can be deployed and utilized in a short time. The
searchlights can be mounted permanently on a vehicle and utilized
quickly and effectively in a trouble area.
In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the high
intensity flashing light was provided by a xenon vapor flash lamp
with a Number 4-96 Corning glass filter. The continuous, low
intensity illumination was provided by a standard tungsten bulb
with a Number 2-64 Corning glass filter. The protective goggles
were fabricated from Number 2-58 Corning glass filters.
The spectral transmission characteristics of these filters are set
forth in the drawing. Thus, filter No. 4-96, used with the flashing
xenon vapor lamp, transmits light of wavelength between about 300
and 600 millimicrons, the per cent transmission rising to a maximum
of 80 percent at 500 millimicrons, and cuts off light of wavelength
above about 605 millimicrons. Filter No. 2-64, used with the
tungsten lamp, transmits about 80 percent of light of wavelength
680 millimicrons or higher and none of wavelengths below about 640
millimicrons. Filter No. 2-58, used in the goggles, cuts off
wavelengths of light below about 615 millimicrons and transmits
higher wavelengths, the percent transmission rising to about 90
percent for wavelengths of about 680 millimicrons and above.
Accordingly, in the particular system described above the goggles
almost completely transmitted the continuous low intensity
illumination and completely cut off the flashing high intensity
light.
The aforesaid embodiment was found to be effective when tested on
personnel in a dark room, wherein the continuous illumination from
the tungsten lamp was about 0.01 ft-candles and the high intensity
illumination peak illumination was about 200,000 ft-candles flashed
at intervals of 2 to 3 seconds, the duration of the flashes being
approximately 0.0005 second.
I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to
the exact detail of construction shown and described for obvious
modification will occur to a person skilled in the art.
* * * * *