Helmet-Mounted Fiber Optic Emitter For Individual Soldier Identification

Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes a fully integrated soldier identifier based on a "leaky" emission optical fiber (i.e. thread) interlaced into a soldiers combat uniform. A low power, battery operative infrared (IR) light source provides the optical fiber pattern detection from all angles and required distances by ground-based night vision devices. In order to minimize possible interception and counterfeiting, the identifier will have an option of remote activation in a pulsed regime. A short emitted pulse will be unnoticeable by an enemy's IR vision device but will be reliably detected by the designated observer due to synchronous framing. The identifier will be made of inexpensive and commercially available parts. Only minor modification is required for the night vision device in order to perform synchronous detection. The Phase I part of the program will deliver a fully operational identifier prototype and IR detection system.