Gallium nitride based laser dazzling device and method

• US 8,837,546 B1
• Filed: 07/09/2013
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera SLD Laser Incorporated (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Soraa Laser Diode, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Raring, James W., Rudy, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Jianzi
• Application Number:
  US13/937,981
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 372 4301- 5023
• US Class Current: 372/43.01
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0056 for blinding or dazzling, i.e. by overstimulating the opponent's eyes or the enemy's sensor equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0087 the high-energy beam being a bright light, e.g. for dazzling or blinding purposes F41H13/0056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/026 Monolithically integrated components, e.g. waveguides, monitoring photo-detectors, drivers stabilisation of output H01S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/1053 Comprising an active region having a varying composition or cross-section in a specific direction
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/22 having a ridge or stripe structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/320275 semi-polar orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/34333 with a well layer based on Ga(In)N or Ga(In)P, e.g. blue laser
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4087 emitting more than one wavelength

Abstract

A laser dazzler device and method. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide laser dazzling devices power by one or more green laser diodes characterized by a wavelength of about 500 nm to 540 nm. In various embodiments, laser dazzling devices according to the present invention include non-polar and/or semi-polar green laser diodes. In a specific embodiment, a single laser dazzling device includes a plurality of green laser diodes. There are other embodiments as well.

Claims

1. A method of using a laser dazzling apparatus comprising:

providing a laser dazzling apparatus comprising;

a housing member;

a laser device arranged in the housing member, the laser device including an active region and a cavity member, the laser device being configured to emit a laser beam having a wavelength about 500 nm to 540 nm, the active region including gallium nitride material, the laser beam being characterized by a first direction;

a driving circuit electrically coupled to the laser device, the driving circuit being adapted to deliver electrical energy to the laser device, the electrical energy being less than 800 mW;

a power source electrically coupled to the driving circuit;

an activation module electrically coupled to the driving circuit, the activation module being configured to send an activation signal to the driving circuit; and

a sight for aligning the laser beam to a desired position; and

directing the laser beam at a target.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the laser device is associated with one or more operational modes, and each of the operational modes is associated with an operating frequency.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising an optical concentrator aligned with the laser device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the laser device comprises a plurality of green laser diodes sharing a single substrate.

5. The method of claim 1, where the laser device comprises a non-polar green laser diode.

6. The method of claim 1, where the laser device comprises a semi-polar green laser diode.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the laser device is fabricated from a bulk substrate.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the laser device is free from a frequency doubling crystal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the laser beam is characterized by an energy level of less than 600 mW.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the laser beam is characterized by an energy level of less than 400 mW.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the laser device further comprises a waveguide for projecting the laser beam along the first direction.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the laser device comprises a plurality of green laser diodes sharing a single package.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising an optic for adjusting a size of the laser beam at a predetermined distance.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the sight comprises an open sight.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the sight comprises an aperture sight.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the sight comprises a red dot sight.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the sight comprises a hologram sight.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the sight comprises a scope.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a pistol grip.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a rifle stock.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation module comprises a trigger.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation module comprises a safety.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the driving circuit is adapted to deliver the electrical energy to the laser device in pulses.

25. A method of using a laser dazzling apparatus comprising:

providing a laser dazzling apparatus comprising;

a laser device, the laser device including a green laser diode, the green laser diode comprising an active region and a cavity member, the green laser diode being configured to emit a laser beam at an intensity level of less than 800 mW, the active region including gallium nitride material, the laser beam being characterized by a first direction;

a driving circuit electrically coupled to the laser device, the driving circuit being adapted to deliver electrical energy to the laser device, the electrical energy being less than 800 mW;

a power source electrically coupled to the driving circuit;

an activation module electrically coupled to the driving circuit, the activation module being configured to send an activation signal to the driving circuit, the activation module comprising an electrical trigger; and

a sight for aligning the laser beam to a desired position; and

directing the laser beam at a target.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the laser device comprises a plurality of green laser diodes.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the green laser diode is non-polar.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the green laser diode is polar.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising a housing member, wherein the laser device is arranged in the housing member and the housing member is mounted on a tripod.