Laser sensor stimulator

• US 9,769,902 B1
• Filed: 05/09/2011
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Department of The Air Force (U.S. Department Of Defense)
• Original Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Inventors: Cain, Anthony M., Hugh, Danny J., Thomas, Donald R., Davidson, Shawn R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woldemaryam, Assres H
• Application Number:
  US13/103,440
• Time in Patent Office: 2,325 Days
• Field of Search: 356 301- 316, 356 401- 41, 356 501- 515, 372 29011, 372 2912, 372 34
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/00 Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for lighting devices F21V17/00, F21V19/00 take precedence; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q, stands for supporting apparatus or articles in general F16M11/00; Hand grips
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/00 Butts; Butt plates; Stocks handles for carrying smallarms F41C33/08
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/00 Sighting devices for indirect laying of fire F41G3/16; bombsights F41G3/24 ; structurally associated with laser telemeters F41G3/065; mounting tubular or beam shaped aiming devices on firearms F41G11/001
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/32 Night sights, e.g. luminescent optical aspects of sighting devices G02B23/00, G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/54 Devices for testing or checking ; Tools for adjustment of sights
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/145 using a target illuminator
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/02 Anti-aircraft or anti-guided missile or anti-torpedo defence installations or systems cartridges or missiles for producing smoke or for dispensing radar chaff or infrared material F42B5/15, F42B12/48, F42B12/70; informative reference: details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00; jamming or electronic countermeasures G01S7/38, G01S7/495, H04K3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/00 Measuring arrangements or details thereof, where the measuring technique is not covered by the other groups of this subclass, unspecified or not relevant
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/08 Use of electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4804 Auxiliary means for detecting or identifying lidar signals or the like, e.g. laser illuminators

Abstract

A laser sensor stimulator integrates laser units, an inertial measurement unit, a control unit, and ergonomic, modular design with GPS data feeds into a portable system that can be used to test energy sensors and warning devices and includes a user interface facilitates tracking and acquisition of items of interest by the laser sensor stimulator.

Claims

1. A laser sensor stimulator, configured to stimulate a laser sensor, the laser sensor stimulator comprising:

a housing;

a laser unit removably attached to the housing;

an inertial measurement unit attached to the housing;

a switch for activating the laser unit; and

a control unit-in electrical communication with the laser unit, the inertial measurement unit, and the switch, the control unit configured to control and receive data from at least one of the laser unit and the inertial measurement unit.

2. The laser sensor stimulator claim 1, further comprising:

a sight attached to the housing;

an adjustable rifle stock attached to the housing; and

a foregrip attached to the housing, the foregrip including a retractable bipod,

wherein the rifle stock and the foregrip provide an ergonomic design to permit operation of the laser sensor stimulator in a standing rifle position or a prone position.

3. The laser sensor stimulator of claim 1, wherein the control unit includes safety relays in electrical communication with the switch to prevent operation of the laser unit.

4. The laser sensor stimulator of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary switch, wherein the auxiliary switch is in electrical communication with the control unit for calibrating the laser sensor stimulator and the inertial measurement unit.

5. The laser sensor stimulator of claim 1, further comprising:

a computing device connected to the laser sensor stimulator and the control unit via an umbilical cord,

wherein the computing device receives range data including data streams of aircraft positions and other identifiers and GPS data from external feeds,

wherein the computing device further receives status and operational information from the laser sensor stimulator, and

wherein the computing device processes the range and GPS data and the status and operational information to create a user interface of an operational environment and operation of the laser sensor stimulator.

6. The laser sensor stimulator of claim 5, further comprising a DC or AC power source for powering the laser sensor stimulator and the computing device, wherein the power source includes a converter for converting the DC or AC power source to a DC source for powering the computing device, the control unit, and the laser unit.

7. The laser sensor stimulator of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to lock out the laser unit and play a sound to alert an operator when the laser sensor stimulator is aimed at an item of interest within a predefined safety zone or outside of a predefined azimuth.

8. The laser sensor stimulator claim 2, further comprising:

a strap attached to the housing,

wherein the rifle stock and the strap further provide an ergonomic design to permit operation of the laser sensor stimulator in a shoot-from-the-hip position.