Weapon effect simulation method and appliance to perform this method

• US 6,139,323 A
• Filed: 05/29/1998
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allen-Stevens Corporation, C.O.E.L. Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (Government of Switzerland)
• Original Assignee: C.O.E.L. Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (Government of Switzerland)
• Inventors: Goda, Wilfried, Marek, Jan, Christians, Ernst, Kauffeldt, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fernstrom, Kurt
• Application Number:
  US09/086,986
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 434/11, 434/16, 434/19, 434/20, 434/22, 463/5, 463/50, 463/52, 446/473
• US Class Current: 434/16
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2683 with reflection of the beam on the target back to the weapon

Abstract

The present invention pertains to an optical weapon effect simulation method for training of soldiers at least at two different weapons, whereas each weapon is equipped as an attacking as well as a target system. The attacking system has a laser pulse transmitter and measurement unit attached to the weapon which transmits laser signals with at least two different wavelengths λ₁, λ₂ and detects the appropriate signal reflections. The target system is provided with at least one retro-reflector with integrated selective filter, optical receiver with selective filter and evaluation electronics. Only laser pulses of a defined wavelength are reflected or accepted by the target system. Inherent errors resulting from reflections caused by numerous targets which cannot be separated and the falsification of target positions are eliminated. Target types are identified by the attacker based upon a wavelength of laser signal received.

Claims

1. A weapon effect simulation method for the training of at least two participants with direct aimed weapons with pulsed laser beams, comprising the steps:

equipping each participant with an attacking system and a target system;

providing each attacking system with a weapon, a laser pulse transmitter attached to said attacking system with which pulsed laser beams of at least two different wavelengths can be transmitted, and a laser pulse receiver;

connecting at least one retro-reflector to each target system;

transmitting pulsed laser beams from said laser pulse transmitter to at least one of said retro-reflectors of said target system;

reflecting at least a part of said pulsed laser beams from said retro-reflector to said laser pulse receiver at said attacking system;

using said pulsed laser beam to survey a distance between said attacking and said target systems, a position, speed and heading of said target system and to transmit information to said target system; and

receiving a selected one out of said at least two different wavelengths of said pulsed laser beam at said laser pulse receiver, wherein said step of receiving a selected one of said wavelengths is accomplished by reflecting only a selected wavelength by said retro-reflector by use of a selective coating.

2. A weapon effect simulation method according to claim 1, wherein said laser pulse transmitter transmits laser beams of different wavelengths one of simultaneously, in succession and interlaced.

3. A weapon effect simulation method for the training of at least two participants with direct aimed weapons with pulsed laser beams, comprising the steps:

equipping each participant with an attacking system and a target system;

providing each attacking system with a weapon, a laser pulse transmitter attached to said attacking system with which pulsed laser beams of at least two different wavelengths can be transmitted, and a laser pulse receiver;

connecting at least one retro-reflector to each target system;

transmitting pulsed laser beams from said laser pulse transmitter to at least one of said retro-reflectors of said target system;

reflecting at least a part of said pulsed laser beams from said retro-reflector to said laser pulse receiver at said attacking system;

using said pulsed laser beam to survey a distance between said attacking and said target systems, a position, speed and heading of said target system and to transmit information to said target system; and

receiving a selected one out of said at least two different wavelengths of said pulsed laser beam at said laser pulse receiver,

wherein said target system includes a spectral analyzer and including the step of spectrally analyzing said received pulsed laser beams by said spectral analyzer.

4. A weapon effect simulation method according to claim 3, wherein said step of receiving a selected one of said wavelengths is accomplished by returning only said selected one wavelength from said target system and wherein said step of returning a selected wavelength is controlled according to said spectral analysis of said received laser pulse beams at said target system.

5. A weapon effect simulation method according to claim 3, wherein said laser pulse transmitter transmits laser beams of different wavelengths one of simultaneously, in succession and interlaced.

6. A weapon effect simulation appliance for the training of at least two participants with direct aimed weapons with pulsed laser beams, comprising:

an attacking system comprising a weapon, a laser pulse transmitter with which pulsed laser beams of at least two different wavelengths can be transmitted, and a laser pulse receiver;

a target system comprising at least one retro-reflector for reflecting at least a part of said pulsed laser beams from said retro-reflector to said laser pulse receiver at said attacking system,

wherein said at least one retro-reflector has one of an active and passive selective filter attached to it,

wherein said selective filter has a passive selective coating and on at least one of said reflector'"'"'s reflecting surfaces there is a coupling device which lets pass the pulsed laser beams, and including a following optical receiver which analyzes and registers the laser beams and which controls the blocking or transmission of selected wavelengths.

7. A weapon effect simulation appliance for the training of at least two participants with direct aimed weapons with pulsed laser beams, comprising:

an attacking system comprising a weapon, a laser pulse transmitter with which pulsed laser beams of at least two different wavelengths can be transmitted, and a laser pulse receiver;

a target system comprising at least one retro-reflector for reflecting at least a part of said pulsed laser beams from said retro-reflector to said laser pulse receiver at said attacking system,

wherein said at least one retro-reflector has one of an active and passive selective coating on at least one of its reflecting surfaces;

wherein said at least one retro-reflector has one of an active and passive selective attached to it.

8. An appliance according to claim 7, wherein said laser pulse receiver has one of an active and passive selective filter attached to it.

9. An appliance according to claim 7, wherein said laser pulse transmitter is coupled with one of at least two selective filters, each of which lets pass one specific range of wavelengths.