Common Aperture Optical System for Directed Radiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for damaging objects using directed electromagnetic radiation face challenges with complex installation and management due to separate tracking and alignment systems for illumination and damage radiation, requiring effort to align and compensate for parallax.

Innovation Solution

Integrating a lighting device such that illumination and damage radiation share a common exit aperture and collinear beam path, eliminating the need for separate tracking systems and simplifying the setup by using a coupling agent like a beam combiner or diffractive optical element.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate tracking and alignment systems are used for illumination radiation and damage radiation, then the device can independently control each radiation type, but the installation effort and system complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIndependent control capabilityVSAvoidSystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the tracking and alignment systems for illumination radiation and damage radiation into a single integrated system. The illumination device and damage radiation source share common optical components including a single tracking system, alignment system, and exit aperture, eliminating the need for separate independent control systems while maintaining precise control over both radiation types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal tracking and alignment system that serves multiple functions: it tracks target objects, aligns both illumination and damage radiation beams, and provides common optical pathways. This multi-functional system reduces overall complexity while maintaining the ability to independently control each radiation type through separate controllable sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate tracking systems are used for illumination and damage radiation, then each radiation type can be optimized independently, but the installation and management effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveRadiation optimizationVSAvoidInstallation effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the installation and management processes by using a single integrated optical system for both illumination and damage radiation. The common exit aperture, shared optical components, and unified control architecture simplify installation procedures and reduce management overhead while maintaining the ability to independently optimize each radiation type through separate controllable sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If separate exit apertures are used for illumination radiation and damage radiation, then each radiation type can be independently directed, but the optical system becomes less compact and more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIndependent direction controlVSAvoidOptical system volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the exit apertures for illumination radiation and damage radiation into a single common exit aperture. The controllable illumination source and damage radiation source share this common aperture, allowing both radiation types to be independently directed through a single integrated optical pathway, thereby reducing the overall volume and complexity of the optical system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses spatial multiplexing within the common optical pathway, where illumination radiation and damage radiation are directed through the same aperture but can be differentiated by wavelength or temporal sequencing. This dimensional approach allows independent control without requiring separate physical apertures, thus maintaining compact system volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration reduces installation effort, enhances manageability, and achieves precise tracking of target objects with a more compact optical system, allowing for flexible and efficient operation.

Implementation Method 1

a first coupling agent (34) is provided, in particular at least one beam combiner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBeam combining: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

The beam shaping in the device according to the invention can be appropriately realized with high transmission and efficiencies also with a diffractive optical element (DOE) as a coupling agent, in which a diffraction takes place on an optical grid.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Implementation Method 3

high energy laser radiation is particularly suitable, which is why at least one damage radiation source is provided, which acts at least one object with an electromagnetic defense radiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Data Source

PatentEP3282216B1Device for damaging using directional radiation
Publication Date: 2021.11.24 MBDA DEUTSCHIAND GMBH
  • EP3282216B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (10) for damaging objects by means of directed electromagnetic radiation, comprising an optical system (30) which detects and processes radiation emitted by at least one object to be damaged, comprising at least one damaging radiation source (16) which exposes the at least one object to damaging electromagnetic radiation, and comprising a lighting device (40) which at least temporarily illuminates the at least one object to be damaged with lighting radiation by means of at least one lighting radiation source (18).In order to provide a device (10) for damaging an object by means of defensive radiation with an active illumination system that is easier to install and operate and allows precise tracking of the respective target objects, it is provided that the illumination device (40) is integrated into the device (10) in such a way that the illumination radiation and the damaging radiation have and/or use a common exit aperture (20).