Dual-Power Laser Distance Sensor Receiver Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser distance measuring devices for weapon systems face the challenge of protecting the receiver from damage due to high reflective targets, which existing solutions address with limitations such as protective filters and energy comparison calculations.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a low pulse power laser in conjunction with a high pulse power laser, where the low pulse power laser is used initially for distance measurement, and if unsuccessful, the high pulse power laser is activated, ensuring the receiver's safety without the need for protective filters or energy comparisons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective filter is used to protect the receiver from reflected laser radiation, then the receiver is protected from damage, but the laser light source selection is limited and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using a first laser with low pulse power before using a second laser with high pulse power. The low-power laser is emitted first to check for target reflection, and only if no reflection is detected does the system proceed to emit the high-power laser. This preliminary check prevents receiver damage from highly reflective targets while maintaining the ability to perform long-range measurements with the high-power laser.
2Reliability
If a protective filter is used to protect the receiver, then receiver safety is improved, but adaptability of laser light source is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by dynamically switching between two different laser light sources based on operational conditions. The system can adaptively select between a first laser with low pulse power and a second laser with high pulse power depending on the measurement requirements and target characteristics. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to protect the receiver from reflective targets while maintaining versatility for different measurement scenarios.
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 approach effectively prevents receiver damage from highly reflective targets while enabling distance measurement up to several kilometers without the limitations of prior solutions, allowing for precise distance determination and cost-effective design.
Implementation Method 1
Laser distance measuring devices are based on the principle of measuring the transition time of an optical pulse from the observer to the target and back from the target to the observer. From the transition time of the optical pulse and the knowledge of the speed, the distance can be determined.
Implementation Method 2
The optical pulse or impulse is produced by a laser. Both diode lasers with low pulse power or pulse energy as well as a giant pulse laser with relatively high pulse power and pulse energy are used as a laser transmitter.
Implementation Method 3
a receiver that is designed to receive laser pulse radiation reflected by the target
Data Source
AI summary
A laser distance measuring device for determining a distance to a target, in particular for a weapon system, comprises a first laser light source that is designed to emit laser pulses with a first pulse power, a second laser light source that is designed to emit laser pulses with a second pulse power, wherein the second pulse power of the second laser light source is higher than the first pulse power of the first laser light source (TX1), a receiver that is designed for receiving laser pulse radiation (RP) reflected by the target, an electronic controller for actuating the first laser light source, the second laser light source and the receiver. The electronic controller is designed to emit a first laser pulse by means of the first laser light source, after which, if a distance to the target cannot be determined with the first laser pulse by means of the receiver, a second laser pulse is emitted by means of the second laser light source.