Directed-Energy Weapon Impact Point Display via Auxiliary Optical Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for determining the target point of a radiation weapon with active beam optics and imaging optics require emission of primary radiation into the environment, necessitating safety measures and suitable terrain, and are challenging when the weapon is moving or in restricted areas.
Innovation Solution
A method where the beam cross section of the active beam is covered with an optical auxiliary element, reflecting the incident beam, allowing primary radiation to be detected by imaging optics without emission, enabling accurate determination and display of the target point without environmental radiation and safety precautions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If primary radiation is emitted into the environment to determine the target point, then the accuracy of target point determination is improved, but safety risks and environmental constraints increase
Solution Approach 1:
A beam splitter is introduced as an intermediary component that separates the primary radiation beam into two paths: one for irradiation and one for imaging. This allows the system to determine the target point using reflected radiation from the beam itself rather than emitting radiation into the environment, thereby maintaining measurement precision while eliminating safety risks associated with environmental radiation emission
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging optics create an optical copy or image of the beam cross-section and target point interaction. Instead of directly observing the physical impact point which requires environmental radiation emission, the system captures and displays an optical image of the beam's interaction point on the target, allowing accurate target point determination without the harmful effects of emitting radiation into the environment
2Measurement precision
If live shots are fired at a test target to determine the actual point of impact, then the accuracy of aiming point alignment is improved, but time consumption and resource expenditure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary alignment and target point determination using the imaging optics and beam splitter before actual firing. By pre-determining the target point through optical imaging of the beam cross-section, the system eliminates the need for repeated live shots to verify accuracy, significantly reducing time consumption while maintaining high aiming point alignment accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical process of firing live shots to determine impact points is replaced with an optical system. The imaging optics capture and display the beam's interaction with the target in real-time, substituting the trial-and-error mechanical firing process with a non-contact optical measurement method that is both faster and more efficient
3Measurement precision
If the weapon is stationary to perform target point determination, then the accuracy of impact point measurement is improved, but operational flexibility and adaptability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to function dynamically during weapon movement. The imaging optics continuously track and capture the beam cross-section and target interaction point in real-time, allowing accurate target point determination even when the weapon is in motion. This dynamic capability maintains measurement precision while significantly improving operational flexibility and adaptability for moving weapons
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 precise determination and display of the target point with reduced time and resource expenditure, applicable even when the weapon is moving, without the need for safety measures or specific terrain, ensuring accuracy and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a beam cross-section of an effective beam or auxiliary beam emerging from the beam weapon is covered with an auxiliary optical element that reflects the incident effective beam or auxiliary beam
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for displaying the position of an impact point (26) of a directed-energy weapon (10) which has an effective beam optical system (22) and an imaging optical system (24). In the method, an emission of primary radiation of the directed-energy weapon (10), which primary radiation is to be focused and directed by the effective beam optical system (22), is triggered as an effective beam (28), and radiation emanating from an irradiated object is received by the imaging optical system (24) and directed onto a camera (34) of a screen (38). The method is characterised in that a beam bundle cross-section of an effective beam (28) is covered with a reflective optical auxiliary element (56), the effective beam (28) or the auxiliary beam is triggered with the beam bundle cross-section covered, and primary radiation of the effective beam (28) or of the auxiliary beam which is reflected by the reflective optical auxiliary element (56) is received by the imaging optical system (24) and directed onto a spot of the camera (34), which spot is displayed on the screen (38) as the impact point (40). An independent claim relates to a directed-energy weapon (10).