176results about "Directed energy weapons" patented technology

An active protection system comprising an ultra wideband (UWB) radar for threat detection, an optical tracker for precision threat position measurement, and a high powered laser for threat kill or mitigation. The UWB radar may use a sparse array antenna and may also utilize Doppler radar information. The high powered laser may be of the optically pumped solid state type and in one embodiment may share optics with the optical tracker. In one embodiment, the UWB radar is used to focus the high power laser. Alternative interceptor type kill mechanisms are disclosed. In a further embodiment, the kill mechanism may be directed to the source of the threat. In a further embodiment, an antenna array is steered by using subarray groups having fixed timing within the group and variable timing from group to group.

A beam control system and method: The inventive system includes, an arrangement for receiving a first beam of electromagnetic energy; measuring wavefront aberrations in the first beam with a wavefront sensor; and removing global tilt from the measured wavefront aberrations to provide higher order aberrations for beam control. In the illustrative embodiment, the invention uses a traditional (quad-cell) Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor to measure wavefront aberrations. An adaptive optics processor electronically removes the global tilt (angular jitter) from this measurement leaving only the higher-order Zernike components. These higher-order aberrations are then applied to wavefront control elements, such as deformable mirrors or spatial light modulators that correct the tracker image and apply a conjugate distortion to the wavefront of the outgoing HEL beam. A track error (angular jitter) component is supplied by a separate fine track sensor. This jitter error is then applied by the adaptive optics processor to a fast steering mirror, which corrects jitter in the tracker image and applies a compensating distortion to the LOS of the HEL beam.

Methods and systems consistent with some embodiments presented provide methods for denying visual access to a first area from a target area. In some embodiments, methods for denying visual access from a target area may include generating a structured light pattern and projecting the structured light pattern from onto the target area. Reflections and retroreflections from the target area can indicate the presence of sensors. Characterization of one or more sensors in the target area based on the reflections and retroreflections can be performed. Parameters of the structured light pattern, such as color content, amplitude, pattern, and movement of the pattern, can be adjusted based on the type of sensor detected.

A system and method for focusing electromagnetic energy on a moving target. Generally, the inventive system sends a pilot beam to a target and analyzes a return wavefront to ascertain data with respect to any distortions and other phase and/or amplitude information in the wavefront. This information is then used to pre-distort an output beam by so that it is focused on the target by the intervening distortions. In an illustrative embodiment, the pilot beam is provided by a beacon laser mounted off-axis with respect to the output beam. The reflected wavefront is received through a gimbaled telescope. Energy received by the telescope is detected and processed to ascertain wavefront aberrations therein. This data is used to predistort a deformable mirror to create an output beam which is the phase conjugate of the received wavefront. In a first alternative embodiment, a nonlinear optical phase-conjugate mirror is employed to generate the required wavefront-reversed replica of the received wavefront. The system further includes an arrangement for modulating the output beam to confuse the target. In a second alternative embodiment, the system is adapted to examine atmospheric distortions of starlight to predistort the output beam. The alternative embodiment offers a faster response time and a lower susceptibility to detection.

A system and method for providing a wavefront corrected high-energy beam of electromagnetic energy. In the illustrative embodiment, the system includes a source of a first beam of electromagnetic energy; an amplifier for amplifying said beam to provide a second beam; a sensor for sensing aberration in said second beam and providing an error signal in response thereto; a processor for processing said error signal and providing a correction signal in response thereto; and a spatial light modulator responsive to said correction signal for adjusting said beam to facilitate a correction of said aberration thereof. In more specific embodiments, the source is a laser and the sensor is a laser wavefront sensor. A mirror is disposed between said modulator and said sensor for sampling said beam. The mirror has an optical thin-film dielectric coating on at least one optical surface thereof. The coating is effective to sample said beam and transmit a low power sample thereof to said means for sensing aberration. The processor is an adaptive optics processor. The spatial light modulator may be a micro electro-mechanical system deformable mirror or an optical phased array. In the illustrative embodiment, the source is a master oscillator and the amplifier is a power amplifier beamline. An outcoupler is disposed between the oscillator and the amplifier.

A system for directing electromagnetic energy. The inventive system includes a first subsystem mounted on a first platform for transmitting a beam of the electromagnetic energy through a medium and a second subsystem mounted on a second platform for redirecting the beam. In accordance with the invention, the second platform is mobile relative to the first platform. In the illustrative embodiment, the beam is a high-energy laser beam. The first subsystem includes a phase conjugate mirror in optical alignment with a laser amplifier. The first subsystem further includes a beam director in optical alignment with the amplifier and a platform track sensor coupled thereto. In the illustrative embodiment, the second subsystem includes a co-aligned master oscillator, outcoupler, and target track sensor which are fixedly mounted to a stabilized platform, a beam director, and a platform track sensor. In the best mode, the stable platform is mounted for independent articulation relative to the beam director. A first alternative embodiment of the second subsystem includes first and second beam directors. The first beam director is adapted to receive the transmitted beam and the second beam director is adapted to redirect the received beam. In accordance with a second alternative embodiment, an optical fiber is provided for coupling the beam between the first platform and the second platform.

A laser jammer configured for being a part of a countermeasure system. The system comprises a stage having an axis of rotation and laser source mounted on the stage. The laser source is configured for emitting a laser beam having an optical axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The laser has a first spread in a first plane parallel to the rotation axis of the stage and including the optical axis, and a second spread in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane and including the optical axis. The first spread is greater than the second spread.

A tunable and aimable artificial lightning producing device for tetanizing human voluntary muscle, disabling vehicular electronic ignition systems, and for pre-detonating wired explosives. A spark gap shaping apparatus controls a spark generated by a Tesla coil. A first stage directionalizer warps a normally spherical plasma field from the Tesla coil into an oval plasma field for confining the spark to within that shape. A second stage directionalizer converges multiple beams to successive points just ahead of a plasma field created by the first stage directionalizer without ionizing the beams, thereby maintaining ionization of a path of the spark. The spark is progressively arced to these points, thereby maintaining the path of the spark.

A system and method forming near diffraction limited size beacon for adaptive optical system using a temporally partially coherent laser source. Comprises projection of laser beams through turbulent medium having non-cooperative target using combination of adaptive optical system and short temporal coherence length laser source forming controllable focused laser target beacon. Combines adaptive optical system technology using any wavefront sensing technique making complex field measurements with short coherence length and associated broad spectral bandwidth. The partially coherent laser source forms narrow (near diffraction limited) size region of coherent laser light at target. The coherent region of return dominates signal for any measurement technique computing average of field over wavelength bandpass and can be used to pre-compensate either the partially coherent laser beam, a long coherence length beam of different wavelength or wavelength in bandpass, or both. Pre-compensation of the partially coherent laser beam can lead to signal-to-noise ratio enhancements.

The technology can include a retractable rotary turret system. The system includes a base comprising two support arms. The system further includes a turret platform that is a truncated sphere having a substantially flat side and a substantially spherical side. The turret platform includes a turret support ring rotary coupled to the two support arms and a turret device isolatively coupled to the turret support ring. The turret platform is rotatable along a first dimension for deployment of the spherical side and is rotatable along the first dimension for deployment of the flat side.

Apparatus and method for directing a laser beam at an object. Some embodiments include generating direction-control information, based on the direction-control information, directing laser energy into a first fiber at a first end of a first fiber bundle during a first time period, forming an output beam of the laser energy from the second end of the first fiber bundle, and steering the output beam of the laser energy from the first fiber in a first selected direction of a plurality of directions during the first time period, and optionally modulating an intensity of the laser energy according to a predetermined pattern. The direction-control information is based on sensing electromagnetic radiation from a scene. Some embodiments use a remote camera wire-connected to the image processor to obtain scene information, while other embodiments use a second fiber bundle to convey image information from an external remote lens to a local camera.

A laser weapon cartridge for disabling and/or destroying a target is disclosed. In an embodiment, the laser weapon cartridge may be compatible within a ballistic gun. For example, the laser weapon cartridge may be placed in the breech of a gun and armed by the gun's firing device. The laser weapon cartridge may assess precise alignment of the optical axis of the laser with a target. Precise alignment maybe based on RF energy from the target. RF energy may be detected by an antenna array coupled to the laser weapon cartridge. When alignment of the target with the laser is detected, the laser weapon cartridge may fire a beam of laser light toward the target. In an embodiment, the laser light may be generated by a chemical laser.

A laser-based tracking system for tracking the position of a targeted moving object. The tracking system includes two lasers: a reference laser and a slave laser. Each laser is a weapon, and when locked on a target, single laser effectiveness may be doubled without a thermal blooming performance loss associated with a single laser operating at twice the power. The slave laser beam is dithered relative to the reference laser beam in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the target. The system includes an optical receiver for repetitively scanning the irradiance profile reflected by the target. Since the slave laser beam is dithered relative to the reference laser beam, both laser beams will jitter and drift together providing a gain factor of two in average irradiance on the moving target.

The subject disclosure relates to a tracking system to mount to an aircraft and to image and track a target aircraft. The tracking system may include a structured light source 304 operatively coupledto a processor, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) 224c operatively coupled with the processor, a mirror 306 to steer light from the light source toward the target aircraft, and a stereo-vision systemhaving a first camera and a second camera. The IMU may be configured to generate position data representing a position of the aircraft. The stereo-vision system may be operatively coupled to the processor and configured to determine a 3D position of the target aircraft as a function of the position data. The processor may be configured to adjust the mirror position as a function of a mirror position.

The invention discloses a land-based array type defense system for high-energy laser weapons, especially to a land-based antiaircraft defense system for high-energy laser weapon formed by performing array combination at many times on low-power laser emitter, and belonging to the technical field of laser antiaircraft weapons. The defects that the existing high-energy laser weapons can be produced, used and maintained difficultly due to large volume, can be attacked easily by enemies, and cannot be maintained fast once being suffered from attacking are overcome. According to the invention, a low-power laser generator and an auxiliary device form a single laser weapon; array combination is performed at many times on single laser weapons to form a national land-based laser weapon antiaircraft system finally; the combined system has the advantages that emission power is high, power of power supply for single laser weapon is low, the system can be operated by a storage battery standby unit, total cost is low, antiaircraft range is large, the system can perform air defense by uniting multiple arrays and multiple cities in a multi-array multi-city manner, operation and maintenance cost is low, anti-destructive effect of enemy fighting party is strong, and practical applicability is high.

An aircraft turret and fairing assembly for facilitating transmission of a directed energy beam from a directed energy device includes a turret section for directing an energy beam. The assembly also includes a fairing section aft of and adjacent to the turret section. Each of the turret section and the aft fairing section are coupled to an aircraft. The assembly also includes at least one sensor for detecting air speed of the aircraft and air pressure. The turret section and the aft fairing section are configured and positioned relative to one another to direct airflow for generating an aeroacoustic resonance within a desired frequency range in an area aft of the turret section.