Directed Energy Weapon Beam Alignment Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high energy laser (HEL) systems for directed energy weapons are either hazardous due to the use of dangerous chemicals or require bulky hardware, and single fiber lasers do not provide sufficient output power for optimal performance.
Innovation Solution
A directed energy weapon system comprising multiple fiber laser units with a beam deflector arrangement, angle sensing unit, and controller to maintain precise alignment and focus of high-power beams, utilizing pentaprisms and actuators for fine adjustments, allowing for a compact and efficient power delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple fiber lasers are combined to increase total power output, then the power output is improved, but the alignment precision and system complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by using angle sensing units to continuously monitor the direction of deflected beams from each laser unit. The controller receives this feedback and actuates fine adjustment mechanisms to maintain precise alignment between all focused beams, ensuring they converge at the same focal point on the target despite variations in individual laser unit positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces beam deflector arrangements (using pentaprisms) as intermediary elements that deflect a small portion of each focused beam to the angle sensing unit. This intermediary setup allows the system to monitor beam direction without significantly affecting the main beam's energy delivery, enabling precise alignment control while maintaining high power output.
2Measurement precision
If beam deflector arrangement deflects more energy for sensing, then the alignment detection is improved, but the energy delivery to target worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by configuring the beam deflector arrangement (pentaprism) to deflect only a small fraction (no more than 1 percent) of the focused beam's energy toward the angle sensing unit. This minimal deflection is sufficient for accurate alignment detection while preserving the vast majority of beam energy for effective target engagement, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and energy delivery.
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
The system achieves high power density on a target with multiple fiber lasers, ensuring precise alignment and efficient energy delivery, overcoming the limitations of single fiber laser output and hazardous chemical use, while maintaining a compact and cost-effective design.
Implementation Method 1
a fiber laser generating an output beam from a fiber, the output beam conveying power of at least 1 kW
Implementation Method 2
an objective lens arrangement for focusing the output beam into a focused beam directed towards the target
Implementation Method 3
the beam deflector arrangement includes at least one pentaprism for each of the laser units deployed to generate a set of once-deflected beams
Data Source
AI summary
A directed energy weapon includes a number of laser units, each including a fiber laser generating an output beam with a power of at least 1 kW from a fiber, an objective lens arrangement for focusing the output beam into a focused beam directed towards a target, and a fine adjustment mechanism for adjusting a direction of the focused beam. A beam deflector arrangement is deployed to deflect a portion of the focused beam from each laser unit as a deflected beam in a direction in predefined relation to a direction of the focused beam. An angle sensing unit generates an output indicative of a current direction of said deflected beam for each of said laser units. A controller actuates the fine adjustment mechanisms based on the output from the angle sensing unit to maintain a desired relative alignment between directions of the focused beams.