US4614913A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inherently boresighted laser weapon alignment subsystem
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
•
Filing: 1984-04-30
•
Granted: 1986-09-30
•
Expires: 2004-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A laser weapon which has no boresighting problems in that only one laser issed to perform all the functions of search, track, and negation. The laser weapon is made to operate in both a low power cw mode and a high energy pulsed mode about the boresight. This is accomplished here by the application of a material which can be rapidly switched from a transmissive to a reflective state so as to be able to utilize the same laser for search, travel, and negation; thus eliminating the need for boresight and requiring only alignment.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas E. Honeycutt
- 👤 Thomas G. Roberts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:40
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41H; F41H13/00; F41H13/0043; F41H13/005; H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/005; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/081; H01S3/082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
An inherently boresighted laser system comprising a lower powered laser means aligned along a desired optical path; a higher powered laser means aligned along the same optical path; first and second reflecting means aligned with said higher powered laser means; said first reflecting means having an orifice therein whereby a beam from said lower powered laser means can pass therethrough; and said second reflecting means being switchable such that in a first state the beam from the lower powered laser will pass therethrough and in a second state said reflecting means will reflect any laser beam back toward said first reflecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
An inherently boresighted laser system comprising a lower powered laser means aligned along a desired optical path; a higher powered laser means aligned along the same optical path; first and second reflecting means aligned with said higher powered laser means; said first reflecting means having an orifice therein whereby a beam from said lower powered laser means can pass therethrough; and said second reflecting means being switchable such that in a first state the beam from the lower powered laser will pass therethrough and in a second state said reflecting means will reflect any laser beam back toward said first reflecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second reflecting means is a window having a film of VO 2 deposited thereon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second reflection means is switchable in accordance to temperature; control means connected to said second reflecting means so as to control which state said second reflecting means is in; and said control means is connected to said second reflecting means so as to control the temperature thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
118 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a beam transport system; said transport system comprising a grating; a third reflector; a telescope system having a secondary mirror therein which will partially reflect back toward the transport system a portion of any laser beam striking it; said grating being aligned with said third reflector and said telescope such that a zeroth order of reflection from said grating will be directed towards said third reflector and then towards said telescope; and an alignment sensor located relative to said grating so as to receive a first order reflection from said grating so as to give information as to the alignment of said grating and said third reflector means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an amplifier aligned along said optical path for amplifying the laser output of the said higher powered laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
117 words
A system as set forth in claim 5 further comprising a beam transport system; said transport system comprising a grating; a third reflector; a telescope system having a secondary mirror therein which will reflect back toward the transport system a portion of any laser beam striking it; said grating being aligned with said third reflector and said telescope such that a zeroth order of reflection from said grating will be directed towards said third reflector and then towards said telescope; and an alignment sensor located relative to said grating so as to receive a first order reflection from said grating so as to give information as to the alignment of said grating and said third reflector means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said lower powered laser is a continuous wave laser; and said higher powered laser means and said laser means are pulse lasers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second reflecting means comprises a window having a film of VO 2 material deposited thereon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second reflecting means acts as a Q-switch for the higher powered laser and is switched to said second state in response to operation of said higher powered laser.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3946233A
Cited
US3622907A
Cited
US3753152A
Cited
US4102572A
Cited
US4146329A
Cited
US4168908A
Cited
US4326800A
Cited
US4515472A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-09-29 | 1990-03-31 | 1990-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-09-29 | 1994-03-31 | 1994-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-09-29 | 1998-03-31 | 1998-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |