IR laser diode based high intensity light

• US 6,783,260 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2001
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Machi, Nicolo F., Vo, Nam H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phillip
• Application Number:
  US09/975,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20020074523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 372/34-36, 372/109, 372/43, 250/495.1, 362/217-225, 362/259, 362/158, 362/183, 362/241
• US Class Current: 362/259
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/04 the lighting devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/108 for measurement in the infrared range

Abstract

An infrared LASER diode based high intensity light (100) for use as an aircraft landing light or searchlight in conjunction with night vision imaging systems. The high intensity light (100) uses infrared LASER diodes (110) installed into a heat sink (112) for temperature stability. The infrared light emitted from the LASER diodes (110) is transmitted to an optical positioning plate (106) by optical transmission means (108). The optical positioning plate (106) combines the emissions of the individual LASER diodes (110) to a single infrared light beam, which is collimated by an aspheric lens (102).

Claims

1. A high intensity infrared light, comprising:

a housing;

two or more LASER infrared diodes arranged inside said housing;

means comprising a heat sink for receiving heat from said LASER infrared diodes;

means for collecting and transmitting the infrared light radiated by said LASER infrared diodes;

means for receiving and combining the infrared light from said optical transmitting means into a single beam of infrared light and to radiate the beam of light from a light emitting surface; and

a lens situated such that the focal plane of said lens is placed at the light emitting surface of said combining means, wherein said lens is adapted to receive the beam of infrared light emitted by the combining means and to collimate said beam of infrared light.

2. The high intensity infrared light of claim 1, further including means for controlling the electrical power applied to said LASER infrared diodes.

3. The high intensity infrared light of claim 2 wherein said controlling means is either located inside said housing, or remotely located from said housing.

4. The high intensity infrared light of claim 1, further including mounting points on said housing to facilitate installation.

5. The high intensity infrared light of claim 1, further including a conical reflector positioned between said means for receiving and combining infrared light and said lens to further collect and direct the infrared light emitted by said means for receiving and combining infrared light.

15. The high intensity infrared light of claim 1, wherein

said collecting and transmitting means include two or more optical fibers, each configured to transmit infrared light received from a corresponding one of the two or more LASER infrared diodes, and

said receiving and combining means include an optical positioning plate configured to receive and emit the single beam of infrared light, the single beam of infrared light being formed by combining the infrared light transmitted by the two or more optical fibers.

16. The high intensity infrared light of claim 15, wherein the single beam of infrared light emitted by the optical positioning plate is not further expanded before being receive and collimated by the lens.

17. The high intensity infrared light of claim 1, which is mounted on an aircraft assembly, the high intensity infrared light being configured as at least one of a landing light an a searchlight for the aircraft.

18. The high intensity infrared light of claim 1, wherein the lens is an aspheric lens.

6. A high intensity infrared light, comprising:

a housing, said hoeing including mounting points to facilitate installation;

two or more LASER infrared diodes arranged inside said housing;

means comprising a heat sink for receiving heat from said LASER infrared diodes;

at least two optical transmission means coupled to said LASER infrared diodes and adapted to collect and transmit the infrared light radiated by said LASER infrared diodes;

an optical positioning plate adapted to receive and combine said optical transmissions into a single beam of light and to radiate the beam of light from a light emitting surface;

a lens situated such that the focal plane of said lens is placed at the light emitting surface of said optical positioning plate, said lens adapted to receive the beam of infrared light emitted by the optical positioning plate and to collimate said beam of infrared light; and

means for controlling the electrical power applied to said LASER infrared diodes, said means being one of located inside said housing and located remotely from said housing.

19. The high intensity infrared light of claim 6, wherein

each of said two optical transmissions means is an optical fiber configured to transmit infrared light received from a corresponding one of the two or more LASER infrared diodes.

20. The high intensity infrared light of claim 6, wherein the single beam of infrared light emitted by the optical positioning plate is not further expanded before being received and collimated by the lens.

21. The high intensity infrared light of claim 6, wherein the lens is an aspheric lens.

7. A process for providing high intensity infrared light, comprising:

providing at least two LASER infrared diodes;

removing heat from said LASER infrared diodes;

transmitting infrared light emitted from said LASER infrared diodes through an optical transmission means;

combining the output of said optical transmission means into a single beam of infrared light;

radiating said beam of infrared light from a light emitting surface;

positioning a lens such that the focal plane of said lens is situated at said light emitting surface; and

transmitting the beam of infrared light through said lens,

wherein the lens is configured to collimate the transmitted beam of infrared light.

8. A process according to claim 7, further including the step of directing the beam of infrared light combined from the output of said optical transmission means toward said lens.

9. A process according to claim 7 wherein the LASER infrared diodes are conformed within a housing.

10. A process according to claim 9 wherein said housing includes mounting points to facilitate installation.

11. A process according to claim 7 wherein an optical positioning plate is used to combine the output of aid optical transmission means.

12. A process according to claim 7 wherein a heat sink is used to remove the heat from said LASER infrared diodes.

22. A process according to claim 7, wherein the beam of infrared light combined from the output of the transmission means is not further expanded before being transmitted through the lens.

23. A process according to claim 7, wherein the lens is an aspheric lens.

13. A process for providing high intensity infrared light, comprising:

providing at least two LASER infrared diodes;

limiting the electrical power applied to said LASER infrared diodes;

removing heat from said LASER infrared diodes;

transmitting infrared light emitted from said LASER infrared diodes to optical transmission means;

combining the output of said optical transmission means into a single beam of infrared light;

radiating said beam of infrared light from a light emitting surface;

positioning a lens such that the focal plane of said lens is situated at said light emitting surface; and

transmitting the beam of infrared light through said lens,

wherein the lens is configured to collimate the transmitted beam of infrared light.

14. A process according to claim 13 wherein a control circuit is used to limit the electrical power applied to said LASER infrared diodes.

24. A process according to claim 13, wherein the lens is an aspheric lens.