Target Marker having Quantum Cascade Laser for Thermally Marking a Target

• US 20090224153A1
• Filed: 08/11/2006
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LMD Applied Science LLC
• Original Assignee: LaserMax Incorporated
• Inventors: Houde-Walter, Susan
• Granted Patent: US 7,732,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/330
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/20 for imaging minute objects, e.g. light-pointer
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/005 Optical components external to the laser cavity, specially adapted therefor, e.g. for homogenisation or merging of the beams or for manipulating laser pulses, e.g. pulse shaping H01S5/026, H01S5/18388 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02208 characterised by the shape of the housings
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02253 using lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02407 Active cooling, e.g. the laser temperature is controlled by a thermo-electric cooler or water cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0617 using memorised or pre-programmed laser characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/3402 intersubband lasers, e.g. transitions within the conduction or valence bands

Abstract

A handheld target marker is provided, wherein the target marker includes a housing retaining a quantum cascade laser, a collimating or focusing lens, a driver and a power supply. The quantum cascade laser produces a thermal infrared beam which can be selectively directed to impinge upon a target. The impinging beam is viewable by a thermal imager. The handheld target marker operates at ambient temperatures and incorporates the driver and power supply necessary for operation of the quantum cascade laser.

Claims

1. A handheld target marker viewable by a thermal imaging system, the marker comprising:

(a) a handheld housing having an interior and an exterior;

(b) a quantum cascade laser retained in the interior of the housing for emitting a beam at a thermal infrared wavelength along a beam path, a portion of the beam path extending from the housing to a target being substantially optically direct;

(c) a driver retained within the housing and operably connected to the quantum cascade laser causing the quantum cascade laser to emit the beam along the beam path

(d) a lens located in the beam path; and

(e) a power supply retained within the housing and operably connected to at least one of the driver and the quantum cascade laser.

2. The handheld target marker of claim 1, wherein the wavelength of the beam is between approximately 2-30 microns.

3. The handheld target marker of claim 1, wherein the marker is one of a designator, a pointer, and an aiming device.

6. The handheld target marker of claim 1, further comprising a temperature controller thermally coupled to the quantum cascade laser.

7. The handheld target marker of claim 6, wherein the temperature controller is one of a Peltier module and a Stirling module.

9. The handheld target marker of claim 1, further comprising a diffractive optic in the beam path.

10. The handheld target marker of claim 9, wherein the diffractive optic collimates the beam.

11. The handheld target marker of claim 9, wherein the diffractive optic is movable relative to the beam path.

12. The handheld target marker of claim 9, wherein the diffractive optic is fixed relative to the beam path.

13. The handheld target marker of claim 1, wherein the quantum cascade laser is tunable.

14. The handheld target marker of claim 1, wherein the power supply is operably connected to the both the quantum cascade laser and the driver.

40. The handheld target marker of claim 6, wherein the temperature controller maintains a substantially uniform temperature across the quantum cascade laser.

41. The handheld target marker of claim 1, wherein the driver is controlled in response to a temperature of the quantum cascade laser.

42. The handheld target marker of claim 1, wherein humidity within the housing is controlled during operation of the laser.

43. The handheld target marker of claim 1, wherein the beam exiting the housing is generated by a single emitting structure.

44. The handheld target marker of claim 1, wherein the quantum cascade laser is retained within a sealed subhousing in the interior of the housing.

54. The handheld target marker of claim 1, wherein the housing defines an aperture and the lens is disposed at the aperture of the housing.

55. The handheld target marker of claim 1, wherein the lens forms an interface between the interior and the exterior of the housing.

56. The handheld target marker of claim 1, wherein the substantially optically direct portion of the beam path extends from the lens to the target.

57. The handheld target marker of claim 1, wherein the lens comprises a substantially transparent window.

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

15. A method of marking a target comprising:

(a) intersecting a thermal infrared beam from a quantum cascade laser retained in handheld housing at room temperature with the target, a portion of a beam path extending from the housing to the target being substantially optically direct.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising forming the infrared beam to have a wavelength between approximately 8 microns and 30 microns.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising forming the infrared beam to have a wavelength between approximately 2 microns and 5 microns.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising sealing the quantum cascade laser in the housing.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising hermetically sealing the quantum cascade laser in the housing.

45. The handheld target marker of claim 15, further including maintaining a substantially uniform temperature across the quantum cascade laser.

46. The method of claim 15, wherein the beam exiting the housing is generated by a single emitting structure.

20. A method of marking a target comprising:

(a) intersecting a thermal infrared beam from a handheld housing at room temperature with the target, a portion of a beam path extending from the housing to the target being substantially optically direct; and

(b) viewing the intersected beam with a remote thermal imaging device.

47. The method of claim 20, wherein the beam exiting the housing is generated by a single emitting structure.

21. A weapons-mounted target marker viewable by a thermal imaging system, the marker comprising:

(a) a housing mounted to a firearm, the housing having an interior and an exterior;

(b) a quantum cascade laser retained in the interior of the housing for emitting a beam at a thermal infrared wavelength along a beam path;

(c) a driver retained within the housing and operably connected to the quantum cascade laser;

(d) a lens located in the beam path; and

(e) a power supply retained within the housing and operably connected to the quantum cascade laser.

22. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 21, wherein the wavelength of the beam is between approximately 2-30 microns.

23. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 21, wherein the marker is one of a designator, a pointer, and an aiming device.

26. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 21, further comprising a temperature controller thermally coupled to the quantum cascade laser.

27. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 26, wherein the temperature controller is one of a Peltier module and a Stirling module.

29. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 21, further comprising a diffractive optic in the beam path.

30. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 29, wherein the diffractive optic collimates the beam.

31. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 29, wherein the diffractive optic is movable relative to the beam path.

32. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 29, wherein the diffractive optic is fixed relative to the beam path.

33. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 21, wherein the quantum cascade laser is tunable.

48. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 21, wherein the quantum cascade laser is retained within a sealed subhousing in the interior of the housing.

49. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 21, wherein the beam exiting the housing is generated by a single emitting structure.

50. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 26, wherein the temperature controller maintains a substantially uniform temperature across the quantum cascade laser.

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

34. A method of marking a target comprising:

(a) intersecting a thermal infrared beam from a quantum cascade laser retained in a housing mounted to a firearm at room temperature with the target.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising forming the infrared beam to have a wavelength between approximately 8 microns and 30 microns.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising forming the infrared beam to have a wavelength between approximately 2 microns and 5 microns.

37. The method of claim 34, further comprising sealing the quantum cascade laser in the housing.

38. The method of claim 34, further comprising hermetically sealing the quantum cascade laser in the housing.

51. The method of claim 34, further including maintaining a substantially uniform temperature across the quantum cascade laser.

52. The method of claim 34, wherein the beam exiting the housing is generated by a single emitting structure.

39. A method of marking a target comprising:

(a) intersecting a thermal infrared beam from a housing mounted to a firearm at ambient temperature with the target; and

(b) viewing the intersected beam with a remote thermal imaging device.

53. The method of claim 39, wherein the beam exiting the housing is generated by a single emitting structure.