THERMAL MARKING SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF CONTROL

• US 20120154598A1
• Filed: 02/27/2012
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LMD Applied Science LLC
• Original Assignee: LaserMax Incorporated
• Inventors: Houde-Walter, Susan, Balonek, Daniel Joseph, Allen, Michael Wade, Houde-Walter, William R., Olmsted, Brian L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,912,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/164
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/36 with infrared light source
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/145 using a target illuminator
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/10 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/47 Scattering, i.e. diffuse reflection G01N21/25, G01N21/41 take precedence G01N21/55 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

A target marking system includes a light source configured to emit a beam of thermal radiation and to impinge the beam onto a target. The system also includes a detector configured to collect radiation passing from the target to the detector along a path. The radiation passing from the target in response to impingement of the beam onto the target. The system further includes an optics assembly disposed optically upstream of the detector along the path. The optics assembly includes at least one of an afocal power changer, a camera objective, a catadioptric lens, and a zoom system configured to condition the radiation passing from the target to the detector.

Claims

1. A target marking system, comprising:

a light source configured to emit a beam of thermal radiation and to impinge the beam onto a target;

a detector comprising a plurality of pixels and at least one display component, the at least one display component being configured to assist in forming an image of the beam impinging the target,

the detector being configured to collect radiation passing from the target to the detector along a path, the radiation passing from the target in response to the beam impinging the target; and

an optics assembly disposed optically upstream of the detector along the path, the optics assembly comprising at least one of an afocal power changer, a camera objective, a catadioptric lens, and a zoom system configured to condition the radiation passing from the target to the detector.

2. The target marking system of claim 1, further including a connector removably coupling the optics assembly to the detector.

3. The target marking system of claim 2, wherein the connector is disposed at least partially between the detector and the optics assembly.

4. The target marking system of claim 2, wherein the connector comprises a first component removably connected to the optics assembly and a second component removably connected to the detector.

6. The target marking system of claim 2, wherein the connector comprises one of an annular ring and a clamp.

7. The target marking system of claim 1, wherein the detector and the optics assembly are disposed within a housing of the target marking system, the housing being removably connectable to a handheld firearm.

8. The target marking system of claim 7, wherein the light source is disposed within the housing.

9. The target marking system of claim 1, further comprising a controller in communication with the light source, the controller configured to pulse the beam, the optics assembly configured to condition pulsed radiation passing from the target to the detector.

10. The target marking system of claim 1, further including a display configured to receive a signal from the detector and to display the image in response to the signal.

11. The target marking system of claim 10, wherein the display includes a selectively engageable outline mode in which the image includes only a perimeter corresponding to each respective object within a field of view of the detector, each perimeter being defined by relative differences in levels of radiation emitted by each respective object.

12. The target marking system of claim 1, wherein the optics assembly reduces a field of view of the detector.

13. The target marking system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pixels represents an area of the target impinged upon by the beam, and greater than one pixel but less than each pixel of the plurality of pixels represents the beam impinging the target such that the beam can be distinguished from the target in the image.

5. The target marking system 2, wherein a component of the connector encircles a portion of at least one of the detector and the optics assembly.

14. A target marking system, comprising:

a light source configured to emit a beam of thermal radiation and to impinge the beam onto a target;

a detector configured to collect radiation passing from the target to the detector, the radiation passing from the target in response to the beam impinging the target, the detector comprising at least one lens; and

an optics assembly configured to narrow a field of view of the detector, thereby magnifying the radiation passing from the target to the detector, the system using the magnified radiation to form an image of the beam impinging the target.

15. The target marking system of claim 14, wherein the optics assembly is removably connected to the detector along a path of the radiation passing from the target to the detector.

16. The target marking system of claim 14, further including a connector removably coupling the optics assembly to the detector.

17. The target marking system of claim 14, further including a display configured to receive a signal from the detector and to display the image in response to the signal.

18. The target marking system of claim 17, wherein the optics assembly increases a resolution of the image such that the beam can be distinguished from the target in the image.

19. The target marking system of claim 14, wherein the optics assembly comprises at least one of an afocal power changer, a camera objective, and a catadioptric lens, and the detector comprises a plurality of pixels,

wherein the plurality of pixels represents an area of the target impinged upon by the beam, and greater than one pixel but less than each pixel of the plurality of pixels represents the beam impinging the target such that the beam can be distinguished from the target in the image.

20. The target marking system of claim 14, wherein the optics assembly is removably connected to a handheld firearm optically upstream of the detector.

21. The target marking system of claim 14, wherein the optics assembly is permanently connected to the detector.

22. A method of controlling a target marking system, comprising:

directing a beam of thermal radiation to impinge upon a target;

collecting radiation from the target, wherein the collected radiation passes from the target, along a path, in response to the beam impinging upon the target;

magnifying the collected radiation at a location along the path; and

using the magnified radiation to form an image of the beam impinging the target.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising collecting the radiation with a detector, and providing an optics assembly optically upstream of a detector, wherein the optics assembly assists in magnifying the collected radiation.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising removably connecting the optics assembly to the detector.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein magnifying the collected radiation includes narrowing a field of view of the detector with the optics assembly.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein magnifying the collected radiation includes representing an area of the target impinged upon by the beam with a plurality of pixels of the detector, and representing the beam impinging the target with greater than one pixel but less than each pixel of the plurality of pixels such that the beam can be distinguished from the target in the image.