80results about "Directed energy weapons" patented technology

A multifunction portable illumination system includes a housing having a power source. A broadband illumination source connected to the power source and capable of producing broadband illuminating light. The system includes an imaging disruption assembly including at least one narrow-band light source capable of generating one or more high intensity light beams (HILB) and a light modifying assembly configured to modify the one or more HILB to produce a Modified HILB. At least one Modified HILB may have the requisite irradiance to cause disruption of an imaging system.

Self-cleaning laser beam device (10), comprising: a beam window (1) through which a laser beam can be emitted and / or received; and a drive device (3) which is designed on the edge side of the beam window (1) with respect to a beam axis of the laser beam in order to rotate and / or oscillate the beam window (1) relative to a surrounding window frame (5) in order to remove dirt from the beam window (1).

A laser weapon system is described. Particularly, embodiments describe subsystems of a laser weapon system including those necessary for laser generation, operational control, optical emission, and heat dissipation configured to provide a lightweight unit of reduced dimensions.

A shipboard platform is provided for azimuth and elevation pivoting of a targeting payload. The platform is coupled to a ship and includes a pedestal, an azimuth drive trunnion, a yoke having first and second struts, an elevation drive trunnion and an elevation support trunnion. The pedestal is disposed on the ship. The azimuth drive trunnion is disposed in the pedestal. The yoke is rotatably disposed on the azimuth drive trunnion. The elevation drive and support trunnions are rotatably disposed in their respective first and second struts. The payload is mountable to the elevation drive and support trunnions. Further, a gimbal trunnion is provided for pivoting a payload along an axis. The trunnion includes an annular shaft, an interface mounting plate, an annular rotor, an annular stator, and inner and outer annular housings. The shaft turns the payload along the axis. The interface mounting plate is axially disposed between the payload and the shaft. The annular rotor extends radially outward from the shaft for turning the mounting plate. The annular stator extends radially outward from the rotor to laterally constrain the rotor. The inner and outer annular housings extending radially outward from the stator for encasing the axially tandem bearings.

An air-based counter-countermeasure (CCM) system includes an autonomous or semi-autonomous unmanned aircraft capable of deployment to an area of a countermeasure system having (1) a laser detector to receive and identify an incident laser signal as a target designator signal and (2) one or more countermeasure subsystems operative in response to an output of the laser detector to deploy corresponding countermeasures against a laser target designator. The CCM system further includes a laser-based CCM subsystem carried by the aircraft, the CCM subsystem being configured and operative, during the deployment of the aircraft, to direct a simulated target designator laser signal to the laser detector of the countermeasure system to trigger one or more of the countermeasures and thereby reduce protective ability of the countermeasure system against subsequent laser-guided attack.

A system for illuminating a target in the presence of atmospheric turbulence includes a coherent beam combining (CBC) subsystem, an atmospheric wave-front sensor (AWS) subsystem, a multi-channel photo-detector (MCPD) subsystem, an auxiliary light source, and a receiving optical aperture. The CBC subsystem forms a multiplicity of CBC sub-beams and an reference beam, all of which fall in a wavelength band that is different from that of the auxiliary light source. The auxiliary light source may be a laser or a portion of the solar spectrum of the Sun. An AWS controller provides closed-loop compensation of atmospheric turbulence for low power auxiliary reflection and reference beams. A MCPD controller provides closed-loop compensation of high-frequency laser noise and transfers the wavefront correction from the reference to the high power CBC laser. The frequency of the MCPD controller is at least an order of magnitude greater than the bandwidth of the AWS controller.

A tactical laser defense system includes one or more tactical lasers configured to emit one or more respective laser beams at a particular target; one or more other tactical devices comprising at least one of: (i) a camera to capture images and / or video of an area surrounding the tactical laser defense system, (ii) a light source for illuminating the area surrounding the tactical laser defense system, (iii) a microphone for capturing audio information from the area surrounding the tactical laser defense system, and (iv) radar equipment for detecting enemy threats; and a power source operatively coupled to the one or more tactical lasers and the one or more other tactical devices, the power source configured to provide electrical power to the one or more tactical lasers and the one or more other tactical devices.

A method for measuring the influence of turbulent disturbances on laser irradiation of a target as it passes through a turbulent atmosphere comprises focusing a measuring laser beam onto the target with an optical device; collimating a reflected laser beam, which is reflected back from the target due to irradiation with the measuring laser beam and received by the optical device, in a sensor plane of a sensor device; repeatedly measuring a spatially dependent gradient field of a wavefront of the collimated reflected laser beam in the sensor plane in a number of individual measurements, wherein the measuring laser beam is adjusted after each individual measurement such that the individual measurements are statistically independent of each other;and averaging the measured gradient field over the number of individual measurements to estimate a turbulence disturbance of the measuring laser beam, whereby a corresponding turbulence-disturbed wavefront is reconstructed from the averaged gradient field using digital signal processing.

An optical source (100) comprising a primary optical signal source (110), a first optical tap (102) for forming an optical tap signal, a first fast optical switch (104), a secondary optical signal source (120) and a second fast optical switch (106). Each optical signal source comprises a seed laser (112, 122) for generating a seed laser signal and spectral broadening apparatus (114, 124) to broaden the seed laser signal to output a broadened laser signal. The optical source further comprises an optical fibre amplifier (108), an optical combiner (128), optical monitoring apparatus (118) and control circuitry (126). The optical monitoring apparatus is configured to output an alarm signal responsive to determining that the optical tap signal is indicative of a fault in the spectral broadening apparatus of the primary optical signal source resulting in insufficient broadening of the seed laser signal. The control circuitry (126) is configured to output: an initial control signal to cause the first fast optical switch to pass optical signals and the second fast optical switch to block optical signals; and a switching control signal, responsive to receiving the first alarm signal, to cause the first fast optical switch to block optical signals and to cause the second fast optical switch to pass optical signals.

Embodiments pertain to a system for controlling outputting of light towards objects, the system comprising a detection subsystem configured to detect, for at least one object, one or more values of object characteristics, the object characteristics comprising, at least, electromagnetic absorption characteristics, wherein detection of object characteristic values is performed such that the object remains structurally intact; a light source subsystem comprising at least one light source for generating output light and directing the output light towards an object; and a controller configured to control, based on the detected object characteristics values, at least one operational parameter value of the at least one light source such that at least some of the output light that is directed towards the object has electromagnetic characteristics that correspond to the detected values of the electromagnetic absorption characteristics of the object, in order to structurally change at least part of the respective object.

The present invention relates to a method of marking and identifying a target (110), and in particular, a method of using a Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) to heat a target without damaging it so that the target may be clearly identified by detectors and systems using thermally sensitive imaging.

A high energy laser (HEL) weapon system for counter-UAS (C-UAS) use comprises a fully self-contained laser system including a power supply, thermal management, high-capacity batteries, and integrated radar and electronic warfare subsystems.

Target Pointing Device The target pointing device (10) for a target (C) comprises: - a reference set including a reference laser with intensity variations of known period, - an additional set (12A) including an additional laser with intensity variations of known period, time-shifted from those of the reference laser, - a tracking set (14) comprising: • a camera (30) for acquiring images of the target (C) and the laser spots on the target (C), • a main processing unit (32) for: o identifying the spots of the reference and additional lasers based on known time signatures, o generating a servo command based on the images and the identification, and • an actuation unit (34) for modifying the orientation of the line of sight of the reference and additional sets (12A) based on the servo command. Figure for the abstract: 1

The disclosure relates to an electronic countermeasure cartridge (6) arranged to be loaded into a countermeasure dispenser (7) in a mobile platform (1). The electronic countermeasure cartridge (6) comprises an electromagnetic transmitting means (8), an electric energy storage (9) arranged to supply the electromagnetic transmitting means (8) with electric energy and a trigger device (10) arranged to trigger a transmission of electromagnetic radiation from the electromagnetic transmitting means (8) upon detection of an incoming threat (2). The transmitted electromagnetic radiation is arranged to irradiate an electromagnetically reflective material (3) dispensed from the countermeasure dispenser (7). The disclosure also relates to a method for providing threat protection for a platform (1) and to a countermeasure system comprising a countermeasure dispenser (7).

The invention discloses a laser emission integrated device and a tracking and pointing method, and relates to the field of laser communication. The defects that in the laser communication field, in the prior art, the requirement for lens installation and adjustment precision is high, the process is complex, wavefront quality control is difficult, and occupied physical space is difficult to be extremely compressed are overcome. Target initial capturing and spatial positioning are achieved through the coarse tracking branch, and the fine tracking branch is combined with high-resolution imaging to execute feature locking; the electronic galvanometer dynamically adjusts the light path angle based on the feedback signal; the reflector unit adopts a three-point flexible support structure to avoid surface shape distortion; the laser integrated radiating fins and the flow guide air channel ensure stable temperature; a system shell is made of a titanium alloy material to achieve light weight and low thermal deformation, and environment interference is resisted in combination with an inner wall electromagnetic shielding coating and a full-sealing structure. The method is suitable for laser communication, long-distance precision tracking and high-energy laser application scenes.

A laser weapon including a laser alignment device configured to align an active laser beam for irradiating a target object, a sensing device configured to sense optical radiation reflected from the target object, and a control device connected to the laser alignment device and the sensing device, and configured to determine a position of the target object by the reflected optical radiation and to control the laser alignment device based on the determined position of the target object, wherein the sensing device has a filter device configured to dim a process light caused by the active laser beam on the target object.

An instrument measurement package is provided for assessing response effect from laser illumination onto a target. The package includes a photodiode, a circuit board, an illumination indicator, an enclosure and a battery. The photodiode measures the laser illumination as an incidence signal. The circuit board accommodates a power relay, a microprocessor, a clock and a flash memory card for recording the incidence signal. The illumination indicator displays a result from the incidence signal by activation. The enclosure contains the circuit board and mounts the photodiode. The battery supplies direct current voltage to the circuit board via the power relay.

A deterrent apparatus, method and system including a laser configured to operate between 1000 nm and 2100 nm, a controller, and a detector. The controller is configured to instruct the laser to apply Q-switch pulses of laser to act as a deterrent to a subject. The laser may be a Thulium Fiber Laser, configured to operate between 1800 nm and 2100 nm. The laser may be a YAG Laser, configured to operate between 1000 nm and 2000 nm.

The present invention relates to a laser weapon (1) comprising a laser alignment device (2) configured to align an active laser beam (3) for irradiating a target object (4), a detection device (5) configured to detect optical radiation (6) reflected from the target object, and a control device (7) connected to the laser alignment device and the detection device, which is configured to determine the position of the target object based on the reflected optical radiation and to control the laser alignment device based on the determined position of the target object, wherein the detection device includes a filter device (8) configured to dim process luminescence (9) caused by the active laser beam on the target object. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for detecting a target object with a laser weapon.

The invention discloses an emission control system and method of a laser emitter, and belongs to the technical field of photoelectric technology, automatic control and artificial intelligence crossing. The system comprises a sensing and vision module; a laser emission module; the cradle head mechanical structure comprises a base, a support, a first servo motor located on the base, a second servo motor located on the support and a cradle head top flat plate. And the control and processing module comprises a processor and a motion control card, the processor is connected with the sensing and vision module so as to obtain a target and target coordinate information based on image information output by the sensing and vision module, and the motion control card is connected with the processor, the laser emission module, the first servo motor and the second servo motor. And based on the target coordinate information, the laser emission module is controlled to emit a laser beam, and the holder mechanical structure is controlled to rotate along the azimuth axis direction and the pitch axis direction. According to the invention, stable and high-precision tracking and precise laser striking of a high-speed maneuvering target in a complex environment are realized.

A method of image enhancement of a reflectance confocal microscope is disclosed. The method comprises: receiving by a processor a first image captured by a detector of the confocal microscope, at a first position of a pinhole; receiving one or more second images captured by the detector, at at least one second position of the pinhole; and adding, by the processor, the one or more second images to the first image to reduce a speckle contrast in the combined image. In addition, the first position of the pinhole is a confocal position, and the at least one second position is a shifted position with respect to the confocal position.

The invention discloses an auxiliary laser emission protection device for rainy and snowy weather, which belongs to the technical field of laser beam control and comprises a shell, a high-speed linkage assembly, a frame body, a protection window, piezoelectric ceramics and a fixing ring, the frame body and the fixing ring are coaxially arranged in the shell, the protection window is fixed to the frame body, the piezoelectric ceramic is fixed to the fixing ring, one end of the piezoelectric ceramic is fixedly connected with the frame body through the connecting rod, the protection window and the piezoelectric ceramic are driven by the high-speed linkage assembly to rotate synchronously, and then the piezoelectric ceramic is driven by the high-speed linkage assembly to rotate synchronously through high-speed rotation of the protection window. A centrifugal force is generated on the surface of the protection window, water drops or thin ice are thrown away, high-speed compensation is carried out on changes, caused by high-speed rotation, of the mirror surface form of the protection window through piezoelectric ceramics, the protection window is still kept relatively stable under high-speed rotation, and the stability of emitted laser beams is guaranteed.

Provided are a threat-countering system and a threat-countering method for efficiently countering incoming threats by using laser irradiation. The threat-countering system comprises a countering device, a deterrent device, and a decision device. The countering device detects incoming threats and counters the threats by using laser irradiation. The deterrent device is installed to prevent threats from approaching a protected object through a deterrent region in which the power of the laser irradiation is assumed to be lower than a predetermined threshold. The decision device decides the position of the upper end of the deterrent device on the basis of the upper end of the deterrent region.

A mobile laser denial defense system is provided. A camera is in communication connection with an image processing device and a control device, and is configured for real-time monitoring and target identification; a laser is fixed on a pan / tilt head and is connected to a laser host by a telescopic optical fiber, where the laser is in communication connection with the control device; a cooling system is connected to the laser and is configured to cool and dissipate heat from the laser; a control device is connected to a camera and the laser and configured to identify a target and control the laser to perform laser strikes, where the control device is also connected to the cooling system to monitor a temperature state of the cooling system in real time; and an automatic cruise and obstacle avoidance system is integrated in a mobile base.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for characterizing an incoming electromagnetic energy beam. The method comprises the steps of: generating a beam of laser pulses (3); generating a beam of plasma filaments from the laser pulses (5); directing the plasma filaments so that they intersect with an incoming electromagnetic energy beam, thereby generating a diffused electromagnetic energy beam (7); and detecting a first portion of the diffused electromagnetic energy beam using a first detector (9).

Motorized lyre comprising an optical path for a laser beam The invention relates to a lyre (10) comprising a motorized body (100) and a head (200), the body (100) comprising at least a first and a second axis of rotation (R1, R2), the body (100) being configured to support and move the head (200), the head (200) comprising one or more head devices (210, 220) configured to be powered by at least one laser source, the lyre (10) being characterized in that a hollow optical path (400) for guiding one or more laser beams is integrated in the body (100) of the lyre (10), and in that a part of said optical path (400) connecting at least the first axis of rotation to the second axis of rotation comprises reflectors (400a, 400b, 400c, 400d) oriented at an angle determined by relative to the first and second axes of rotation (R1, R2). Figure for abstract: Fig. 1

A targeting receiver operates with beam emitters. Each emitter generates coherent beams directed towards a target as a composite beam having an associated signature. For each composite beam, the target reflects a proportion of radiation intensity as a reflected radiation component. A receiver telescope collects target-reflected radiation and directs the radiation to a spatial filter. The reflected radiation includes radiation components, at least some of which are combined as a combined radiation composed of the reflected radiation components. Intensity of the combined radiation indicates the intensity of the composite beams impinging on the target. The spatial filter filters the reflected radiation by selectively passing the combined radiation. Each component of the combined radiation is identifiable by the signature associated with the composite beam corresponding to the component of the combined radiation. In certain embodiments, a distinguishing module is associated with the receiver and distinguishes the components based on the signature.

An apparatus includes imaging optics having an objective lens (116) configured to focus electromagnetic radiation to an intermediate image plane (122) and one or more optical devices (118) configured to generate an optical beam from the electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus also includes at least one imaging sensor (144, 146) configured to capture an image from the optical beam. The apparatus further includes a beam generator (212) configured to generate and transmit a laser beam (214) through the imaging optics. In addition, the apparatus includes an intermediate alignment target (202) configured to be moveably positioned at the intermediate image plane. The intermediate alignment target includes a first-wavelength target (216) configured to reflect a first spectral band (138) of the laser beam to a first of the at least one imaging sensor (the first imaging sensor configured to capture a first-wavelength infrared image of the first spectral band) and transmit remaining spectral portions of the laser beam towards the objective lens.

The application discloses a high-energy laser damage equivalent loading system and belongs to the technical field of laser damage and protection. The system comprises a high-energy laser source, a side imaging module and a front imaging and spectrum analysis module. The side imaging module and the front imaging and spectrum analysis module comprise an energy adjusting system I, an energy adjusting system II, a delay control system, a frequency multiplication wave selection system, a focusing system I, a focusing system II, a laser loading sample stage, a high-speed imaging system I, a high-speed imaging system II, a spectrum information acquisition system and an auxiliary illumination light source. The optical lenses involved include a beam splitter, a beam combiner, a reflector and a dichroic mirror. The high-energy laser damage equivalent loading system is used for simulating the laser damage process in a real environment, so as to deeply understand the action mechanism of materials under laser loading, and can realize in-situ characterization of ultrafast dynamics and obtain detailed image and spectrum information of the material damage process.

The present invention relates to a laser weapon comprising a laser alignment device configured to align a laser beam for irradiating a target object, a detection device configured to detect optical radiation reflected from the target object, and a control device connected to the laser alignment device and the detection device, which is configured to determine the position of the target object based on the reflected optical radiation and to control the laser alignment device based on the determined position of the target object, wherein the detection device includes a filter configured to suppress process luminescence caused by the laser beam on the target object. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for detecting a target object with a laser weapon.