Active chaff

Abstract

An active chaff may be released by an aircraft to assist the aircraft in evading at least one of radar detection and a missile. The active chaff may include a signal generator, a signal spreading device, a microprocessor, a power source, and a substantially high-drag aerodynamic envelope. The signal generator may emit a signal to assist the aircraft in evading radar detection and/or a missile. The signal spreading device may spread the generated signal. The microprocessor may control the signal generator and the signal spreading device. The power source may power the signal generator and the microprocessor. Each of the signal generator, signal spreading device, microprocessor, and power source may be located on or within the substantially high drag aerodynamic envelope

1 . An active chaff to be released by an aircraft to assist the aircraft in evading at least one of radar detection and a missile, comprising:
 a light emitting diode configured to generate visual light or ultraviolet light to assist an aircraft in evading at least one of radar detection or a missile;   a signal spreading device configured to spread the generated visual or ultraviolet light;   a microprocessor configured to control the light emitting diode and the signal spreading device;   a power source configured to power the light emitting diode and the microprocessor; and   a substantially high-drag aerodynamic envelope and wherein the substantially high-drag aerodynamic envelope allows the active chaff to fall in air with high-drag under a force of gravity, prolonging a time the active chaff remains in the air, without the active chaff being self-propelled to fly.   
     
     
         2 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The active chaff of  claim 1 , wherein the active chaff comprises a spoked-disk-shape having spokes extending from a disk. 
     
     
         5 . The active chaff of  claim 1 , wherein the active chaff has a longest dimension in a first range of 4 to 25 millimeters, and a weight in a second range of 25 to 100 milligrams. 
     
     
         6 . The active chaff of  claim 1 , further comprising a physical substrate for mounting of the light emitting diode, the signal spreading device, the microprocessor, and the power source. 
     
     
         7 . The active chaff of  claim 1 , wherein the light emitting diode, the signal spreading device, the microprocessor, and the power source are disposed at least one of on or within the substantially high-drag aerodynamic envelope. 
     
     
         8 . The active chaff of  claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises at least one of a battery, a fuel cell, or a capacitor. 
     
     
         9 . The active chaff of  claim 1 , wherein the signal spreading device comprises at least one of a dispersive lens or an optical scattering device. 
     
     
         10 . The active chaff of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially high-drag aerodynamic envelope comprises a sphere. 
     
     
         11 . An active chaff to be released by an aircraft to assist the aircraft in evading at least one of radar detection and a missile, comprising:
 a light emitting diode configured to generate light to assist an aircraft in evading at least one of radar detection or a missile;   a signal spreading device configured to spread the generated light;   a microprocessor configured to control the light emitting diode and the signal spreading device;   a power source configured to power the light emitting diode and the microprocessor; and   a substantially high-drag aerodynamic envelope and wherein the substantially high-drag aerodynamic envelope allows the active chaff to fall in air with high-drag under a force of gravity, prolonging a time the active chaff remains in the air, without the active chaff being self-propelled to fly, wherein the active chaff has a longest dimension in a first range of 4 to 25 millimeters, and a weight in a second range of 25 to 100 milligrams.   
     
     
         12 . The active chaff of  claim 11 , wherein the active chaff comprises a spoked-disk-shape having spokes extending from a disk. 
     
     
         13 . The active chaff of  claim 11 , further comprising a physical substrate for mounting of the light emitting diode, the signal spreading device, the microprocessor, and the power source. 
     
     
         14 . The active chaff of  claim 11 , wherein the light emitting diode, the signal spreading device, the microprocessor, and the power source are disposed at least one of on or within the substantially high-drag aerodynamic envelope. 
     
     
         15 . The active chaff of  claim 11 , wherein the power source comprises at least one of a battery, a fuel cell, or a capacitor. 
     
     
         16 . The active chaff of  claim 11 , wherein the signal spreading device comprises at least one of a dispersive lens or an optical scattering device. 
     
     
         17 . The active chaff of  claim 11 , wherein the substantially high-drag aerodynamic envelope comprises a sphere. 
     
     
         18 . A method of an aircraft evading at least one of radar detection or a missile comprising:
 releasing an active chaff, comprising a longest dimension in a range of 4 to 25 millimeters and a weight in a range of 25 to 100 milligrams, into air during flight of an aircraft, the released active chaff falling through the air solely under the force of gravity without the released active chaff being self-propelled to fly;   generating light from a light emitting diode to assist the aircraft in evading at least one of radar detection or a missile;   spreading the light using a signal spreading device;   controlling the light emitting diode and the signal spreading device using a microprocessor; and   powering the light emitting diode and the microprocessor using a power source.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the light is spread using at least one of a dispersive lens or an optical scattering device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the light is visual light or ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         21 . A method of an aircraft evading at least one of radar detection or a missile comprising:
 releasing an active chaff into air during flight of an aircraft, the released active chaff falling through the air solely under the force of gravity without the released active chaff being self-propelled to fly;   generating visual light or ultraviolet light from a light emitting diode to assist the aircraft in evading at least one of radar detection or a missile;   spreading the light using a signal spreading device;   controlling the light emitting diode and the signal spreading device using a microprocessor; and   powering the light emitting diode and the microprocessor using a power source.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the light is spread using at least one of a dispersive lens or an optical scattering device.