Smart laser device

• US 9,668,322 B1
• Filed: 03/25/2016
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2016
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Tyson York Winarski
• Original Assignee: Tyson York Winarski
• Inventors: Winarski, Tyson York
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Don
• Application Number:
  US15/081,045
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/002 Active optical surveying means optical plumbing G01C15/105
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/58 Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A smart laser pointer is disclosed in this application that includes a laser coupled to a processor that can disable the laser from operating for a period of time (T) based on a disabling trigger. The smart laser pointer may also include an optical receiver coupled to the processor that detects received laser signals that are emitted from the laser after they are reflected off of a target and a memory storing position information threshold limits. The processor calculates measured position information based on the received laser signals detected by the optical receiver and compares them to the position information threshold limits. A disabling trigger occurs when the position information exceeds the position information threshold limits. The position information and threshold limits may include a distance or a velocity. These threshold limits are provided to ensure that the smart laser pointer cannot be used to target distant fast moving aerial targets such as commercial aircraft or helicopters, but still operate in legitimate contexts such as a conference room with a target such as a display screen that is stationary and close to the smart laser pointer. The smart laser pointer can include a unique identifier that is encoded on a signal emitted by the laser to enable a third party law enforcement agency to determine the exact laser pointer that is emitting the signal. The smart laser pointer may include a GPS chip to determine its exact geographic location. This geographic location information is encoded on a signal emitted by the laser to enable a third party law enforcement agency to determine the exact location of the laser pointer that is emitting the signal. The smart laser pen may include a blue tooth antenna to enable it to communicate with a mobile application on a mobile device. The mobile application is configured to receive text messages from law enforcement that instruct the mobile application to transmit a disabling signal to the smart laser pen to shut down the laser and prevent it from operating. The smart laser pen may also include an RF antenna that can receive a disabling command to shut down the laser and prevent it from operating. These features allow law enforcement to identify, locate, and shut down the operation of the smart laser pen, thereby enhancing aircraft safety.

Claims

1. A laser device, comprising:

a laser; and

a processor coupled to said laser, wherein said processor disables said laser from operating for a period of time (T) based on a disabling trigger that occurs when said laser is pointed at an aircraft.

2. The laser device of claim 1, further comprising:

an optical receiver coupled to said processor, said optical receiver detects received laser signals that are emitted from said laser after they are reflected off of a target; and

a memory storing position information threshold limits, wherein said processor calculates measured position information based on the received laser signals detected by said optical receiver, wherein said processor compares said measured position information to said position information threshold limits, wherein said disabling trigger occurs when said position information exceeds said position information threshold limits.

3. The laser device of claim 2, wherein said position information threshold limits are a distance limitation, wherein said measured position information is a measured distance, wherein said disabling trigger occurs when said measured distance exceeds said distance limitation.

4. The laser device of claim 3, further comprising a 3-axis accelerometer and gyroscope from which said processor can determine an angular position of said laser device with respect to Earth, wherein said distance limitation is a height limitation, wherein said measured distance is a measured height calculated from said measured position information and said angular position, wherein said disabling trigger occurs when said measured height exceeds said height limitation.

5. The laser device of claim 3, further comprising a 3-axis accelerometer and gyroscope from which said processor can determine an angular position of said laser device with respect to Earth, wherein said distance limitation is a length limitation, wherein said measured distance is a measured length calculated from said measured position information and said angular position, wherein said disabling trigger occurs when said measured length exceeds said length limitation.

6. The laser device of claim 2, wherein said position information threshold limits are a velocity limitation, wherein said measured position information is a measured velocity, wherein said disabling trigger occurs when said measured velocity exceeds said velocity limitation.

7. The laser device of claim 1, further comprising an antenna coupled to said processor, wherein said antenna receives a disabling signal from a third party containing said disabling trigger.

8. The laser device of claim 7, further comprising an identifier embedded in said processor uniquely identifying said processor, wherein said processor modulates said laser to emit a signal containing said identifier, wherein said disabling signal includes said identifier, thereby allowing the third party to uniquely identify and shut down said laser device through said disabling signal.

9. The laser device of claim 8, wherein said disabling signal further includes an encrypted instruction code directing said processor to disable said laser.

10. The laser device of claim 9, wherein said antenna is an RF antenna.

11. The laser device of claim 7, further comprising a mobile application on a mobile device configured to communicate with said processor through said antenna, wherein said antenna is a blue tooth antenna, wherein said processor enables said laser to function based upon an enabling trigger received by said processor through said blue tooth antenna transmitted from said mobile device under the direction of said mobile application.

12. The laser device of claim 11, wherein said enabling trigger includes a mobile telephone number associated with said mobile device, wherein said processor modulates said laser to transmit said mobile telephone number, wherein said disabling trigger is a disabling signal transmitted by said mobile device to said processor through said blue tooth antenna, wherein said mobile app automatically directs said mobile device to transmit said disabling signal after said mobile device receives a text message from a third party containing an encrypted security code directing the mobile device to disable the laser.

13. The laser device of claim 1, further comprising a GPS chip coupled to said processor, said GPS chip detects a precise geographic location of said laser device, wherein said processor encodes said precise geographic location on a laser signal emitted by said laser to enable a third party to determine the location of said laser device based upon said laser signal.

14. The laser device of claim 3, wherein said distance limitation is set to a size configuration of a large conference room.

15. The laser device of claim 6, wherein said velocity limitation is set of a velocity less than the speed of commercial aircraft during take-off or an approach and landing from an airport.

16. The laser device of claim 1, wherein said period of time (T) is greater than 30 seconds to enable a commercial aircraft to travel a safe distance away from said laser device before said processor reactivates said laser to function.

17. The laser device of claim 1, wherein said period of time (T) is greater than one minute to enable a commercial aircraft to travel a safe distance away from said laser device before said processor reactivates said laser to function.

18. The laser point of claim of claim 1, wherein said period of time (T) is indefinite.

19. The laser device of claim 1, further comprising:

an optical receiver coupled to said processor, said optical receiver detects received laser signals that are emitted from said laser after they are reflected off of a target;

a 3-axis accelerometer and gyroscope from which said processor can determine an angular position of said laser device with respect to Earth; and

a memory storing a limitation profile, wherein said processor calculates measured position information based on the received laser signals detected by said optical receiver, wherein said processor compares said measured position information to said limitation profile, wherein said disabling trigger occurs when said measured position information exceeds said limitation profile.

20. The laser device of claim 19, wherein said limitation profile includes a distance limitation, a velocity limitation, and an angular limitation.