Multi-spectral targets for gunnery training

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for a multi-spectral target apparatus, includes a target having at least one thermal emitting portion, a controller module in communication with a remote user, at least one brightness controller including an input electrically connected to the controller module and at least one output electrically connected to at least one thermal emitting portion of the target. The brightness controller is operable to vary a thermal emitting property of the at least one thermal emitting portion, wherein the at least one thermal emitting portion includes a thermal emitter layer further comprising a resistive layer having a front side and a back side, the resistive layer sandwiched between an electrode layer deposited on the front side and the back side of the resistive layer.

1 . A multi-spectral target apparatus, comprising:
 a target comprising at least one thermal emitting portion;   a controller module in communication with a remote user;   at least one brightness controller including an input electrically connected to the controller module and at least one output electrically connected to at least one thermal emitting portion of the target and operable to vary a thermal emitting property of the at least one thermal emitting portion;   wherein the at least one thermal emitting portion includes:   a thermal emitter layer further comprising a resistive layer having a front side and a back side, the resistive layer sandwiched between an electrode layer deposited on the front side and the back side of the resistive layer.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode layer deposited on the front side of the resistive layer includes an emissivity coating comprising an emissivity property disposed on a front side of the electrode layer. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the emissivity coating is applied in a half-tone printing process. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal emitting layer further comprises a top layer aligned and attached to a front side of the electrode layer deposited on the front side of the resistive layer, a coating comprising an emissivity property disposed on an underside of the top layer. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal emitting layer further comprises at least one electrical conducting wire attached to each electrode layer, the thermal emitting layer configured to pass a current from one electrode layer to the other electrode layer. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the resistive layer comprises a resistivity between 10 3  and 10 6  ohms/square. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the resistive layer is at least 0.125 inch. 
   
   
       8 . A method of varying thermal emissivity of a target including a resistive layer sandwiched between a pair of electrodes, comprises at least one of varying an emitter surface temperature and varying an apparent temperature of the target. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein varying the emitter surface temperature includes varying a thickness D of the resistive layer. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein varying the emitter surface temperature includes passing a current between the pair of electrodes. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , including varying a supply of electric power to the target. 
   
   
       12 . A thermal emitter layer comprising a resistive layer having a front side and a back side, the resistive layer sandwiched between an electrode layer deposited on the front side and the back side of the resistive layer.