Window Mounted Beam Director With Segmented Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current airborne laser weapons face challenges in beam direction due to structural and aerodynamic constraints, particularly for smaller aircraft, where conventional beam directors cause beam displacement across windows, necessitating large windows that are costly and complex to manufacture, and compromise stealth capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A laser beam direction system integrated with a window using a Coude' path and cooperative outer and inner steering assemblies, such as Risley prisms or telescopes on a pantograph, to maintain the beam centerline at a single location on the window for a full conical field of regard, reducing window size requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional beam director is mounted behind a window, then the beam can be directed to desired angles, but the beam center is displaced and the window size must be enlarged substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The beam director is divided into two separate rotational assemblies: an outer steering assembly that rotates the entire assembly to position the beam center, and an inner steering assembly that rotates the beam director optics to angle the beam. This segmentation allows independent control of beam center positioning and beam angulation, preventing window size enlargement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a second rotational dimension by introducing the outer steering assembly that rotates the inner assembly. This creates a hierarchical rotational system where the outer assembly provides azimuthal positioning and the inner assembly provides elevation angulation, enabling full 3D beam control without lateral displacement.
2Ease of operation
If the window size is enlarged to accommodate beam displacement, then the entire beam width can be received, but the cost and manufacturing complexity increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the beam director into outer and inner rotational assemblies, the system maintains a fixed beam center position on the window while enabling full beam angulation. This eliminates the need for enlarged windows and reduces fabrication costs and complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the window is made larger, then the beam can be accommodated, but the aero-optic effects and beam distortion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented rotational design keeps the beam center fixed on the window, allowing use of smaller windows with reduced aero-optic effects. The outer assembly handles positioning while the inner assembly handles angulation, maintaining beam quality.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a beam director is mounted for internal deployment, then stealth and aerodynamic performance improve, but the beam center displacement and window size requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-assembly rotational system enables internal mounting with fixed beam center positioning. The outer assembly rotates to position the beam center while the inner assembly angles the beam, allowing stealthy internal deployment without enlarged windows.
5Reliability
If highly specialized glass is used to reduce absorption and heating, then the window can transmit the laser beam, but the cost and fabrication difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the beam director into outer and inner rotational assemblies, the system minimizes the required window size. This reduces the amount of expensive specialized glass needed and eliminates the need for large vacuum furnaces for fabrication and polishing.
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 solution allows for a compact and efficient beam direction system that minimizes window size while maintaining effective beam alignment, suitable for fast-moving and stealth aircraft, enhancing operational flexibility and reducing manufacturing complexities.
Implementation Method 1
A pair of Risely prisms is employed and the outer steering assembly incorporates an outer mounting ring supporting the first prism for rotational motion and the inner steering assembly incorporates an inner mounting ring supporting the second prism for rotational motion.
Data Source
AI summary
A laser system employs a window integrated in the surface of a weapon platform. A high energy laser is mounted in the weapon platform to provide a laser beam which is received by a Coude' path for internal direction of the beam. A beam director receives the laser beam from the Coude' path and employs an outer steering assembly and an inner steering assembly to cooperatively provide pointing of a centerline of the laser beam at a substantially single location on the window for a full conical field of regard.