Semiconductor laser alignment device

• US 4,281,993 A
• Filed: 05/19/1980
• Issued: 08/04/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Shaw, Bon F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US06/150,874
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 434/21, 434/22, 33/241, 33/DIG. 21, 42/1 A, 362/110, 362/111, 362/112, 362/113, 362/114, 273/310
• US Class Current: 434/22
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/02 Light- or radiation-emitting guns ; Light- or radiation-sensitive guns; Cartridges carrying light emitting sources, e.g. laser

Abstract

A semiconductor laser alignment device for aiming a laser light beam, broast by a weapon, along an optical light path such that the laser light beam is in alignment with the aiming direction of the weapon at a target which is located a predetermined distance from the weapon. The semiconductor laser alignment device comprises a tubular housing attached to the barrel of the weapon, a laser diode located within the tubular housing for broadcasting the laser light beam, and a projecting lens for collimating the laser light beam broadcast by the laser diode. Zeroing means connected to the laser diode positions the laser diode such that the laser light beam broadcast by the laser diode is in alignment with the line of sight of the weapon.

Claims

1. A semiconductor laser alignment device comprising in combination:

a tubular housing having at the back end thereof a rear end plate, said rear end plate having a trio of apertures located near the periphery thereof;

a weapon having a barrel, the barrel of said weapon being fixedly attached to the rear end plate of said tubular housing;

light source means located within said tubular housing adapted for broadcasting a laser light beam along an optical light path;

means threadably connected to the front end of said tubular housing adapted for collimating the laser light beam broadcast by said light source means; and

zeroing means mounted within said tubular housing and having said light source means connected thereto for positioning said light source means such that the laser light beam broadcast by said light source means is in alignment with the aiming direction of said weapon.

2. The semiconductor laser alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said weapon comprises a rifle.

3. The semiconductor laser alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said light source means comprises a laser diode.

4. The semiconductor laser alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said means for collimating the laser light beam broadcast along said optical light path comprises:

a lens retainer cap assembly threadably connected to the front end of said tubular housing; and

a projecting lens mounted within said lens retainer cap assembly.

5. The semiconductor laser alignment device according to claim 1, wherein said zeroing means comprises:

a diode retainer plate positioned within said tubular housing near the front end thereof, said diode retainer plate having said light source means screw mounted to the center thereof;

a trio of apertures located near the periphery of said diode retainer plate and passing therethrough, each aperture of which is in alignment with one of the trio of apertures of said rear end plate;

a trio of tubular shaped support members, each tubular shaped support member of which is mounted within one of the trio of apertures of said rear end plate;

a trio of adjustment screws, each adjustment screw of which passes through one of the trio of apertures of said diode retainer plate and through one of said trio of tubular shaped support members, and each adjustment screw of which has an aperture passing through the head thereof;

a trio of adjustment nuts, each adjustment nut of which is threadably connected to one of said trio of adjustment screws;

a trio of compression springs, each compression spring of which is mounted around the periphery of one of said trio of adjustment screws; and

a locking ring passing through the aperture of the head of each of said trio of adjustment screws.

6. The semiconductor laser alignment device according to claim 1, further characterized by a circuit board mounted within said tubular housing, said circuit board having mounted thereon a laser pulser circuit, the output of which is connected to the input of said light source means.

7. The semiconductor laser alignment device of claim 1, further characterized by:

a target spatially disposed downstream a predetermined distance from said weapon;

a laser diode light sensor located in the center of said target;

an electronics hit indicator circuit having an input connected to the output of said laser diode light sensor, and an output; and

a target display having an input connected to the output of said electronics hit indicator circuit.

8. A laser light aiming device comprising, in combination:

a tubular housing having at the back end thereof a rear end plate, said rear end plate having a trio of apertures located near the periphery thereof;

a lens retainer cap assembly threadably connected to the front end of said tubular housing;

a projecting lens mounted within said lens retainer cap assembly;

a diode retainer plate positioned within said tubular housing near the front end thereof, said diode retainer plate having a quartet of apertures, one of which is located at the center of said diode retainer plate, and the remainder of which are located near the periphery of said diode retainer plate;

a laser diode screw mounted within the aperture located at the center of said diode retainer plate;

a trio of tubular shaped support members, each tubular support member of which is mounted within one of the trio of apertures of said rear end plate;

a trio of adjustment screws, each adjustment screw of which passes through one of the apertures located near the periphery of said diode retainer plate, and through one of said trio of tubular shaped support members, and each adjustment screw of which has an aperture passing through the head thereof;

a trio of adjustment nuts, each adjustment nut of which is threadably connected to one of said trio of adjustment screws;

a trio of compression springs, each compression spring of which is mounted around the periphery of one of said trio of adjustment screws; and

a locking ring passing through the aperture of the head of each of said trio of adjustment screws.

9. The laser light aiming device according to claim 8, further characterized by a weapon having a barrel, the barrel of said weapon having attached to the end thereof the rear end plate of said tubular housing.

10. The laser light aiming device according to claim 9, wherein said weapon comprises a rifle.

11. The laser light aiming device according to claim 8, further characterized by a circuit board mounted within said tubular housing, said circuit board having mounted thereon a laser pulser circuit, the output of which is connected to the input of said laser diode.

12. The laser light aiming device according to claim 8, further charcterized by:

a target spatially disposed downstream a predetermined distance from said laser alignment device;

a laser diode light sensor located in the center of said target;

an electronics hit indicator circuit having an input connected to the output of said laser diode light sensor, and an output; and

a target display having an input connected to the output of said electronics hit indicator circuit.