Portable Laser Weapon Layout With Fiber-Coupled Heat Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laser weapon systems are excessively large and heavy due to their subsystems, making them immobile and requiring mounting on large vehicles, which limits their tactical versatility and operational flexibility.
Innovation Solution
The development of a laser weapon system with reduced size and weight, utilizing a diode-based laser generation module, heat mitigation through phase change materials, and a chiller system, along with a control module for power management and remote operation, allowing for portable deployment and efficient heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If traditional laser weapon systems are used with complete subsystems for generation, power, and heat mitigation, then laser effectiveness is maintained, but system weight and size increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The laser weapon system is divided into separate functional modules: a handheld emitting unit and a separate laser generation module. This segmentation allows the weighty generation module to be carried separately or mounted on a platform, while the lightweight emitting unit can be manually operated, resolving the contradiction between system effectiveness and portability.
Solution Approach 2:
A fiber optic cable serves as an intermediary medium to transmit the laser beam from the generation module to the emitting unit. This allows the heavy generation components to be separated from the handheld portion while maintaining laser delivery effectiveness, thus reducing the weight burden on the operator.
2Temperature
If heavy cooling subsystems are added to manage laser heat, then heat mitigation is improved, but system mobility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling subsystem is segmented and integrated into the separate laser generation module rather than the handheld emitting unit. This allows effective heat management to be achieved in the generation module while keeping the emitting unit lightweight and mobile for tactical operations.
Solution Approach 2:
A fiber optic cable acts as a thermal intermediary, allowing the laser beam energy to be transmitted to the target while the heat generation remains isolated in the cooled generation module. This separation enables effective heat management without compromising the mobility of the handheld portion.
3Power
If high power laser generation is implemented, then target damage capability is enhanced, but power consumption and heat production increase
Solution Approach 1:
The high-power laser generation function is separated from the handheld emitting unit and placed in a dedicated generation module with its own power source and cooling system. This allows high power output to be achieved when needed while the handheld unit remains low-power and portable, resolving the contradiction between damage capability and power consumption.
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
Enables the system to be carried by individuals or smaller vehicles, enhancing tactical mobility and operational flexibility by reducing weight and power consumption while maintaining effective heat management.
Implementation Method 1
Heat is exchanged from the laser generation module into a coolant, which may then release heat into an at least partially solid phase change material, contributing to its melting
Implementation Method 2
The system further comprises a chiller for increasing a rate at which heat is exhausted from the system, contributing to the freezing of the phase change material for subsequent remelting by the waste heat of the system
Implementation Method 3
a laser generation module comprising a diode, such as one or more laser pump diodes
Data Source
AI summary
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.