CA2188554C - Laser small arms transmitter - Google Patents

Abstract

A laser small arms transmitter (SAT) which may be affixed to the stock of a rifle such as an M16 used by a soldier in training with a multiple integrated laser engagement system (MILES). The transmitter includes a housing assembly having a forward end with a window through which the beam of a laser diode is emitted. A pair of optical wedges are positioned inside the housing assembly between the laser diode and the window. The optical wedges are supported for independent rotation about a common optical axis for steering the laser beam. An alignment head may be physically mated to the rearward end of the housing assembly for driving a pair of shafts to rotate the optical wedges in the alignment of the transmitter so that a soldier can accurately hit a target once he or she has located the target in the conventional sights of the rifle. The laser transmitter may also include a sensor for detecting the firing of a blank cartridge, a fire LED
mounted inside the housing for producing an optical signal to indicate to the alignment head that the laser diode has been energized, and an inductive switch connected to a power circuit and actuable by an induction coil in the alignment head to energize the laser diode.

Description

DESCRIPTION
LASER SMALL ARMS TRANSMITTER

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to military training e~ ;p....l and more S particularly, to a laser Lldllsn~ mounted on a rifle for use by a soldier in war games.

BACKGROUND ART
For many years the armed services of the United States have trained soldiers with a multiple i,lle~d~d laser engagement system (~LES). A laser 10 small arms L~ (SAT) is affixed to the stock of a rifle such as an M16.
Each soldier carries ~ecluls on his helmet and on a body harness adapted to detect a laser "bullet" hit. The soldier pulls the trigger of his or her rifle to fire a blank to ~imnl~te the firing of an actual round and an audio sensor triggers the SAT.
It is necec~. y to align the SAT so that the soldier-can accurately hit the target once he or she has it located in the collv~lllional rifle sights. In the past an early version of the SAT was bolted to the rifle stock and the mechanical sightsof the weal)on were adjusted to align with the laser beam. The disadvantage of this approach is that the mechanical w~al~on sights must be readjusted in order to 20 use the rifle with live rounds. To overcome this disadvantage the conventional SAT now in use incol~.ldles mechanical linkages for ch~ngin~ the orientation of the laser.
The prior art small arms ~lignm~nt fixture (SAAF) used by the U.S. Army for ~lignm~nt of the conventional MILES SAT consists of a complex array of one 25 hundred forty-four detectors which are used in conjunction with thirty-five printed circuit boards to det~rmine where the laser hits with respect to a target reticle.

2 1 8~ 55~

The difficulty in using the prior art SAAF is that the soldier aims his or her weapon at the array which is twenty-five meters away without the use of a stableplatform. In many cæes, the soldier fires his or her weapon in a manner which results in the aim point not being at the desired location. The fact that the array is located twenty-five meters away from the soldier introduces visibility limitations due to snow, fog, wind and poor lighting conditions at sunrise or dusk.
The prior art SAAF calculates the number of error "clicks" in both ~ h and elevation. The number of clicks is then displayed on the prior art SAAF using four sets of electro-mechanical display indicators. The soldier must then turn his conventional SAT's adjustors the coll~onding number of clicks in the correct direction. He or she must then aim and fire the wea~oll again and make additional collG~onding adjll~tm~ntc This iterative process continues until the soldier obtains a zero indication on the prior art SAAF. This is a very time concllrningand tedious process due to normal aiming errors incurred each time the soldier has to reacquire the target reticle. It is not ullcolllnlon for a soldier to take fifteen es to align his or her weapon to the best of his or her ability and still not have it accurately ~lign~l Not only is the ~lignm~nt process ~ltili7ing the prior art SAAF time con~llming, it also expensive because a large amount of blank ~ ion must be used. The laser of a conventional SAT will not fire without a blank cartridgebeing ignited or by using a special dry fire trigger cable. The prior art SAAF does not support optical sights, different small arms weapon types, nor night vision devices. Nor does the prior art SAAF accurately verify the laser beam energy andencoding of the received laser beam.
It would therefore be desirable to provide an improved SAT which would elimin~te the need to utilize a large target array. Such a SAT would also preferably be automatically adjustable for more rapid and accurate alignment. Inaddition, preferably the laser output of the improved SAT could have different F:\Wr60\USERS~A~HJ~PATENTS\CUBlC8 SUB 2 1 8 8 5 5 4 powers and codings to enable the manworn portion of a MILES system to discriminate between hits made by different small arms.
Those persons searching and ex~mining the present invention may also find the following references helpful: (1) U.S. Patent No. 5,488,369 to Van Note, issued 18 December 1984, and (2) E.P.O. Patent Application No. 0,057,304 to EL-OP Electro-Optics Industries Limited, published 11 August 1982.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved laser small arms transmitter for use in a multiple integrated laser engagement system.
The present invention provides a laser transmitter that can be mounted to a small arms weapon. The laser transmitter has a laser energizable to emit a laser beam generally along the aim of the weapon. An alignrnent head of an electro-mechanical alignment system is connectable to the laser transmitter for adjusting the transmitter to steer the laser beam in azimuth and elevation until the laser beam is substantially aligned with a boresight of the weapon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
The objects, advantages and features of this invention will be more readily appreciated from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:
Fig. lA is a perspective view of a soldier aiming his or her rifle in an automatic player identification small arms laser alignment system.
Fig. lB is a side elevation view of the alignment system of Fig. lA with portions broken away to reveal further details.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation view of the display panel and switches of the control unit of the alignment system of Fig. lA and lB.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged eacploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of our small arms transmitter (SAT) which is mounted on the rifle shown in Fig.
lA and lB.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of laser bç~ çring using optical wedges.
Fig. SA and SB are side and front elevation views of the alignment head of the ~lignm~nt system of Figs. lA and lB.
S Fig. 6 is a dia~ llalic illustration of the lens, beam splitter, target reticle and position sensor detector of the optics unit of the ~lignm~nt system of Fig. lA
and lB.
Fig. 7 is an overall block diagram of the ~lignm~nt system of Fig. lA
and lB.
Fig. 8 is a block diagram of the optical output power and code accuracy verific~tion circuit of the control unit of the ~lignm~nt system of Fig. lA and lB.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring to Fig. lA and lB, the plefc.l~,d embodiment of our invention is illu~llaled in the form of a laser small arms ll~lsll~U~,l (SAT) 12 bolted to the stock of a small arms weapon 14 such as an M16 rifle for subsequent use by a solder in war games. Our SAT 12 is ~ecignecl to be ~ltom~tically adjusted by an ~lignm~nt system 10 which includes a rectangular hollow transit case 16 which ishorizontally oriented when in use. A lockable hinged end cover 18 of the case 16may be swung upwardly to reveal a control unit 20 mounted to the inside thereof.A soldier 21 aims the weapon 14 inside the case 16. The soldier 21 wears a helmet 21a and a harness 21b equipped with laser detectors which detect laser "bullet" hits in subsequent war games. The control unit 20 includes a box-like housing 22 (Fig. 2) having an LCD display 24. The housing 22 also has a keypad in the form of a membrane switch panel. This switch panel surrounds the display 24 and includes ~le~ule-type switches 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38.
A retractable sliding rack 40 may be ~xt~n~l~d hol~7olllally from the rear end of a base unit 42 (Fig. lB) mounted to the bottom wall of the case 16. A

21 8~554 barrel 44 of the rifle 14 is firmly supported on the apex of a rigid triangular we~on rest 46 whose base is securely mounted via bolts to an intermediate portion of the base unit 42. A trigger guard (not visible) of the rifle 14 is mounted in a vise 48 on the rack 40. The vise 48 has knobs 50 and 52 for m~ml~lly adjusting the ~ and elevation, le~e~,liv-ely, of the barrel 44 of the rile 14.
After mounting the rifle 14 on the weapon rest 46 and vise 48, the soldier 21 (Fig.
lA) aims at an image of a target reticle 54 (Fig. 6) projected in the line of sight of the w~al)on as helea[~r described in detail.
A box-shaped optics unit 56 (Figs. lA and lB) is rigidly mounted on the fol ~v~d portion of the base unit 42 (Fig. lB). The optics unit 56 includes a convex lens 58 (Fig. 6) and a beam splitter 60. The beam splitter 60 is l.d~ent to infrared light from the SAT 12 but reflective to visible light. The target reticle 54 (Fig. 6) is mounted inside the optics unit 56 below the axis of the laser beam. The beam splitter 60 is positioned fol~/v~d of the lens 58 and is angled at forty-five degrees to project the image V of the target reticle through the lens 58 at infinity.
A position sensor detector 62 in the optics unit 56 feceives the laser beam L2 and generates an error signal l~res~ liv-e of a rli~ cPment between a received location of the laser beam and the image of the target reticle. The SAT 12 is then adjusted until its laser beam L2 strikes the center of the detector 62.
A control circuit inside the control unit 20 (Fig. 1) is connected to an ~lignment head 64 which is mechanically coupled with a rear end of the SAT 12 bolted to the rifle 14. The control circuit causes the ~lignment head 64 to re~,litively trigger the laser in the SAT 12. Utilizing the error signal, the control circuit causes the ~lignmPnt head to independently rotate a pair of wedge prisms66 and 68 (Fig. 3), each including a surrounding spur gear, in the SAT 12 to steer the laser beam in ~ l and elevation until the laser beam is s lbst~nti~lly aligned with a boresight of the barrel 44 of the weapon.

The ~liFnm~nt system 10 may be used for the automatic boresight ~lignm~nt of all U.S. military specified small arm weapons and m~t~hine guns with lnlimite~ adaptability to new Wt;~)Olls. The automatic operation of the system assures rapid (less than one minute), accurate and concictçnt borecighting of the SAT 12 after a single initial sighting of the weapoll 14 by the soldier 21. Use of the cighting vise 48 assures that optical sights and night vision devices on thew~;apon 14 will not hllclrele with the borçcighting process. The entire ~lignment system 10 is c~ l within the rugged transit case 16 which also serves as a sun and foul weather shield. The ~lignm~nt system 10 does not use blank ~.".. ;lion 10 during the ~ nm~nt process and therefore it may be used at any location such as indoors on a table top. The initial set up of the ~lignmPnt system 10 involves three simple steps which include in~ tion of battery into the control unit housing 22 (Fig. 1), activating the BIT switch 30 (Fig. 2) and selecting the weapon type to be aligned by dc~re3~ g the switch 34. The display 24 will give a~pro~l;ate text messages and directions to the opcl~lol as to how to proceed tothe next step. Once the ~lignment system 10 is ready for ~lignment the soldier 21 follows the directions on the display 24 to align his or her weapon. The typicalsequence is as follows:
a) The soldier att~rh~os the ~lignm~nt head 64 to the laser small arms tr~ncmitter (SAT) 12;
b) The soldier places his or her weapon in the sight vise 48 and front wt;apon rest 46;
c) The soldier aims his or her weapon at the image of the illlllll;ll~led target reticle 54 visible in the optics unit using the ciphting vise ~ lh and elevation adjnctment knobs 50 and 52;
d) The soldier deplesses the proceed switch 28 (Fig. 2) and follows the instructions on the display 24. The weapon type is selected by d~le~ g the switch 34 at the a~ro~liate time in response to a query on the display;
e) The soldier backs away and d~l~sses the align switch 26 on the control unit housing 22;
f) The soldier waits for an "ALIGNMENT COMPLETE" message on the display 24 which will occur less than one minute later; and g) The soldier removes the w~a~on from the ~lipnm~nt system following an ~lignm~nt completion instruction.
In the event any problems are encoul~tered by the alignm~nt system 10 10 during the ~lignm~nt process such as low power, incorrect laser coding or triggering problems, the system will inform the soldier that the weapon's SAT 12is defective and needs to be replaced.
The overall operation of the ~lignment system 10 is illustrated in the block diagram of Fig. 7. The weapon 14 is mounted in the sight vise 48 with the ~lignment head 64 ~tt~rhçd to the SAT 12. The optics unit 56 includes the min~tçcl target reticle 54 at which the weapon's sights are aimed. When the align switch 26 (Fig. 2) is activated the control unit 20 causes the SAT 12 to be repetitively triggered while monitoring the SAT's fire LED (not illustrated) mounted behind a window 70 (Fig. 3) indicator for proper operation. The optics 20 unit 20 senses the location of the laser and sends that data to the control unit 20 which in turn detenninçs the amount of correction nçedel1 The control unit 20 inturn causes the ~li nment head 64 to make the nPces~ry adj~ ; to the SAT
12. The process continues in real time until the SAT 12 is precisely ~ligne-l The control unit 20, in conjunction with the optics unit 56, also checks for laser power 25 levels, laser codes and that the SAT's ~ nm-ont optics are ~ g as desired.
The five major sub-assemblies ofthe ~ nm~nt system 10 are ~licc l~e~ in further detail hereafter.

10/08/96 13: 45 BRKER MRXHRI`1 ~ 14163647910 NO. 165 P002/003 W~9S/301~4 2 1 Q 8 ~ 5 ~ pCI'/US9SI0~2S3 The optics unit ~6 (Figs. IE~) is th~ asscmbly which projccts the ill~ inqtcd tar~et teticle S4 to thc soldier 2l during boresi~hting a~d senses tbe location of ~e weapon's lase~ be~m with respcct to the rcticle. Tbe i~ ;nrl~d reticle S4 ass~
the soldie~ 21 in baresighting du~ring reduced li~ P c~n~ ions such ~ d~k or S dawn. ~ig. 6 illustrates the operation of tlle ~ coi~r~ ,t~ of the opticsu~it 56. T~c singlc largc convex Icns 58 scrves the fimction of col~ ting ~d focusi~ the lascr beam to a ~pot at thc long;tu~ position sen,so~ dcte~lor 62 w~ich is located at the focal poult of the lens 58. When the anglc o~ ;ncirl~ ce to tbe len~ 58 of ~he laser beam is not p~endicular (mis~aligned) ~c posi~;on of the 10 spot on the d~t~or 62 is offsct. Thc det~ etot 62 passively 4..A,~t ~ the amount of offset ~d sc~ds t~e crror to the con~ol u~it 20. T~c d~t~t~r is p~efcrably a solid state device such a~ a quad ~ct~ct~t or it may be a line~ det~ctnr with ananalog O~ltpUt. Wi~hin thc pa~ of the laser bcam is the beam splittcr 60 w~ich is rcflcctive to v~sible light w~ile allowing thc i~ared li~ht ~om ~c l~scr to pa~s15 througb the same. Thc besun splitter 60 is suppor~cd at a forty-five de~rce angle so projcct an image of the target reticle 54 through tlle same le~ as thc ih~cv,..i..g laser. The ~ighting t~gct reticle 54 i~ miT~sted by a visible light sourcc such a~ an LED 72 and is positioned ~uch that ~c projected image is on the saTne optic~l aX18 as the zero po~nt of the position seasor ~letector 62. No f~eld 20 a~ cr,s~ of t~c optics unit 56 ~c r~ cd and thc system 10 nccd not contain any clec~onics other than ~e ~te~tor 62 ~nd ~e I.ED light sourcc 72 for min~titlg the ta~get reticle 54.
An L-s~aped ~ tc~ e ba~rie~ 74 (Fig. 1) is n~idly sccurcd via ~olts to the base unit 42 bctwecn thc tip of the b~el 44 of the wcapon and ~he optics unit 56.
~5 It prevents the soldicr from insdvc.~ the lens 58 of the optical ~t with tbe b~rrel 44 whcn mountin~ the ~ifle 14 on the weapon rcst 46 and visc ~8.Thc b~ncr has ~ holc t}.c.cthrol~h c~vclcd by a mctal screen 76 for ~llowi~g ~e laser ~eam, w~ich may be eight millimetc~s widc to pass through thc same to the 10/08/96 13: 45 BRKER MRXHR~1 ~ 14163647910 NO. 165 P003/003 WO 9S/30124 2 1 8 3 ~ 5 4 Pcr~g~/os2~3 optics unit 56. Gl~s or s~mc otber solid ~rP~ re~t covenn~ for the hole may not bc desirable bcc~e it could ~occome dirty, ~ 'nt~ tJle }ascr b~am, or deflcct ~c la~er beam ~nd thacby u~oduce il.ec~ cies.
Tbc ~ ment hoat 64 (Figs. 5A a~d SB) i~ an clec~omechnnicnl devicc S which i8 ~ hC~l to the SAT 12 via ~ cablc 6~ (~ig. IA) ~nd a~ltnmntic~lly ~dju~ts the SAT's lascr position ~ ec~cd by the con~ol unit ~0. T~e Pligr ~nPnt h~ad 64 c4~ ir~ an intuctivc coil 78 (Fig. SA) which is uscd to trigger t~e SAT's l~er ~d if rc.~ cd ~ sw~tch 30 (Fi~. 2) t~ 5 a tc~dng player id~tific~tion (PID) to Ihe SAT. The he~d 64 also ~ a drtector 80 w~icb mot~it~rs the SAT's 10 f~e LED 70 to dc~.inc its operatioI~sl ~tus. Two ll,it~ , e re~lU~ion ge~r~d motors 82 ~nd 84 (Fig. SB) a~d an ~ssoci~tcd offset ge~ ~ 86 and 87 u~it~in t~lt ~li znm~nt hcat 64 arc u~cd to ro~t~ non-slip coupl~gs (not visiblc) on a pa~
of ~cared d~ 118 and 1~0. I~e co~lpli~ fit ovcr tbe ends of tbe SAT's adju~n~nt shahs 106 ~d 108. The ~lignrn~r~t hcad moto~ 82 and 84 sre d~iven ls and controlled by the control un~t 20 du~n~ the bore~ighting 4r.~cess while ~t optics u~t 56 sc~ the SA,T's laser and pro~ides real time fee~back to t~c control unit 20.
Thc lascr small ~nns tr~n~nitter (SAT) 12 (Fi~. 3) includes a housing asscmbly ~8 wi~ a ~emovable cover ~cmhly 90 whicb fom~s a rcar c~d thcreof.
20 A laser diode Pss~mbly 92 is mountcd within tbe h~g ~cqetnbly 88 ~d is energized by a po~ver ci~cuit on a eontroller board 94 81so ~oui~tet uit~n the housing ~sscmbly 88. Thc power circu~t is ~et~ated to c..~.~iz~; ~e laser diode a~scmbly 92 by ~n inductive ~witch 96 mounted to ~e insidc of the rear cover ~esetnbly 90 The inductive s~ritch is acn~t~d by C1JC.~ iOn of the induction 25 coil 78 (Fig. SA) which overl~ps the top on the housing ~Pmhly 88 (Fig. 3) in aligrlment with the ~nductive ~witch 96.
The fo~ward end of the SAT housing ~mbly 88 (Fi~. 3) is fo~ned w.i~
holes 98 a~t 100. An audio or optical sensor (not illustrated) for detccting t~e firing of a blank cartridge is located in the hole 100 and connected to the circuit on the controller board 94. A transparent window 102 for perrnitting passage of the beam from the laser diode assembly 92 is mounted in the other window 98.
An optical sleeve 104 is positioned behind the window 102. The optical wedges 66 and 68 are rotably supported behind the window 102 for intlepçn~ t rotation viadrive shafts 106 and 108, re~ye~;lively. The fcl.v~d ends ofthese shafts have- pinion gears 106a and 108a for ~ng~ing toothed peripheral (spur gear) portions of the optical wedges 66 and 68, lc~eclively. The drive sh& 106 and 108 are journaled in be~rings such as 110 and 112. The rear ends ofthe drive shafts 106 and 108 extend ~ U~l holes (not visible) in the rear cover assembly 90 which aresealed by O-rings 114 and 116. These shaft ends are plol~cled by a rigid flange 90a that extends perpendicularly from the rear cover assembly 90.
When the ~lignm~nt head 64 (Figs. 5A and 5B) is coupled to the rear cover assembly 90 of the SAT 12, the non-slip couplings (not visible) on the geared shafts 118 and 120 (Fig. 5B) of the ~lignm~nt head 64 connect with the ends of the shafts 106 and 108 to provide driving connections to the motors 82 and 84.
Fig. 4 illu~l,ales diagrammatically the steering of the laser beam B by independent rotation of the optical wedges 66 and 68 via motors 82 and 84 of thealignment head 64. Optical wedges may be used as be~ leering elements in optical systems. The .. ;.-i.. ,- deviation or deflection experienced by a ray or bearn in passing through a thin wedge of apex angle ~w is approximately given by~1d = (n - 1) ~w where n is the reflective index. The "power" (~) of a prism is measured in prism diopters, a prism diopter being defined as a deflection of lcmat a tli~t~nre of one meter from the prism. Thus ~ = 100 tan(~d).
By combining two wedges of equal power (equal deviation) in near contact, and independently rotating them about an axis roughly parallel to the normals oftheir ~jacent faces, a laser beam B passing through the combination can be steered in any direction, within a narrow cone, about the path of the undeviated beam. The angular radius of this cone is approxim~tely l~d. Apex angle is controlled to within very tight tolc.d~ces in the m~mlf~ lring process of the wedges. As a result of the melt-to-melt index tolerance, deviation angles (functions of wave-length) are nominally specified.
The deviation angles are specified with the as~ tion that the input beam is normal to the perpendicular face. At other input angles the deviation will, of course, be dirr. re.ll. To ~letermine the deviation angle for the same input direction but other wavelengths, the equation is: ~d = arcsin(n sin ~w) - ~w, where ~d iS the deviation angle, ~w is the wedge angle and n is the nominal index at the appropliate wavel~ngth Optical wedges are available in various m~teri~l~, such as synthetic fused silica, and in dirr~,le.l~ shapes and sizes.
The control unit 20 (Fig. lA) provides the user-friendly LCD display 24 (Fig. 2) and controls which continuously inform the user of his wea~oll status while progressively instructing him throughout the ~lignm~nt process. The control unit 20 is mounted inside the transit case cover 18. The LCD display 24 can be easily read when the cover 18 is in raised open position. As described above thecontrol unit 20 provides all controls and monitors all activities of the optics and ~lignm~ont head units 56 and 64. The front membrane switch panel with its integral 4X20 LCD display 24 provides the user interface. The switch functions are described as follows:
a) ALIGN (26) - This switch is activated by the soldier after he or she has aimed the weapon's sights at the optics units target reticle.
b) PROCEED (28) - This switch is activated any time the soldier desires to move to the next ~ nm~nt step or to acknowledge a displayed message.
c) BIT (30) - This switch is activated during initial setup of the system to verify its ready status.

d) PID LEARN (32) - This switch is used to transfer the system's test PID to the SAT 12 in order to verify that the transfer function operators. Use of this switch is optional and is only used if there is some question as to the SAT of the cradled weapon being able to accept other PIDs.
e) WEAPON SELECT (34) - This switch is used in conjunction with the two arrow switches 36 and 38 to select the type of weapon to be aligned (M16A2, M2, M240 etc.). This selection detf . " ~ e~
which power levels and codes are to be verified by the system.
f) ARROWS (36 and 38) - These ~wil~hes are used to select the dir~."ell~ weapon types.
The ~i~ting vise 48 (Fig. lB) is a stable mech~ni~m used to hold and aim the w~apOll 14 under ~lignm~nt. It allows the soldier to boresight using any aiming bias introduced by his method of aiming and çlimin~tes any weapon 15 wandering away from the aim point. The vise 48 is ~tt~rhed to the sliding rack 40 which retracts into the transit case base unit 42 to accollllllodate the dir~ent lengths of w~apons. The sight vise 48 has both elevation and ~ ulh adjnstment knobs 50 and 52 allowing the soldier to accurately aim his wea~ol1's sights at the image of the target reticle 54. The front portion of the w~l,oll barrel 44 rests on 20 the w~apon rest 46 located within the transit case 16 on the transit case base unit 42.
The major components of the ~lignm~nt system 10 are integral to the transit case 16 which provides a secure and rugged environment during transport and operation. The case 16 also provides a sun and foul weather shield to allow 25 the ~ nm~nt process to be accomplished in any expected ellviro~llent. The base unit 42 is mounted on the bottom wall of the case. The optics unit 56, weapon rest 46 and sliding sight vise rack 40 are ~thch~d to the base unit battery (not WO 95t30124 PCTtUS95/05253 visible) for powering the system is housed inside the base unit 42. The control unit 20 is attached to the inside of the front cover 18A.
Fig. 8 is a block diagrarn of the optical output power and code accuracy verification circuit of the control unit 20. An rn~o~ling circuit 122 is co.-~le~;Led 5 via a serial data bus 124 to a microco~ ul~,l (not illustrated). An optical bit ~mplifier 126 in the path of the laser beam outputs signals to the encoding electronics.
While we have described a ~lefcll~,d embodiment of our laser small arms lillel and its ~ululll~lic adjn~tm~nt by an ~li nm~nt system, it will be 10 a~elll to those skilled in the art that our invention can be mo-iified in both arrangement and detail. Th~ ,fore, the protection afforded our invention should only be limited in accor~ce with the following clairns.

Claims (20)

1. A laser transmitter for mounting to a small arms weapon to simulate the firing of an actual round, including:
a housing assembly (12) having a forward end with a window (98);
a laser diode (92) mounted inside the housing assembly for emitting a laser beam (B) through the window;
a power circuit (94) mounted in the housing assembly and connected to the laser diode for energizing the diode to cause it to emit the laser beam;
first (66) and second (68) optical wedges positioned between the laser diode and the window;
means (Fig. 3) for supporting the first and second optical wedges for independent rotation about a common optical axis for steering the laser beam; and drive means (106, 108) connected to the optical wedge supporting means having portions extending through the housing assembly for coupling to an alignment head (64).

2. A laser transmitter according to Claim 1 wherein the optical wedges having substantially equal deviation.

3. A laser transmitter according to Claim 1 wherein each optical wedge has a first face perpendicular to the common optical axis and a second face which extends at an angle relative to the common optical axis (Fig. 4).

4. A laser transmitter according to Claim 3 wherein the first and second optical wedges are supported with their first perpendicular faces in nearcontact (Figs. 3-4).

5. A laser transmitter according to Claim 1 wherein the means for supporting the first and second optical wedges includes first and second spur gears (Fig. 3), each surrounding a corresponding one of the wedges.

6. A laser transmitter according to Claim 5 wherein the drive means includes first and second adjustment shafts (106, 108) and first and second pinion gears (106a, 108a) mounted on corresponding ones of the adjustment shafts for engaging corresponding ones of the spur gears, and the adjustment shafts having ends (Fig. 3) which extend through a corresponding one of a pair of holes in a rearward end of the housing assembly for driving connection to the alignment head.

7. A laser transmitter according to Claim 6 including a flange (90a) extending from the housing assembly adjacent the holes to protect the ends of the adjustment shafts which extend therethrough.

8. A laser transmitter according to Claim 1 wherein the rearward end of the housing assembly has a second window (100) and a fire LED mounted behind the second window.

9. A laser transmitter according to Claim 1 wherein the transmitter further comprises a sensor for detecting the firing of a blank cartridge.

10. A laser transmitter according to Claim 1 wherein the transmitter further comprises an inductive switch (96) connected to the power circuit and actuable by an induction coil (78) in the alignment head to energize the laser diode.

11. A laser transmitter for mounting to a small arms weapon to simulate the firing of an actual round including:
a housing assembly (12) having a forward end with a first window (98);
a laser (92) mounted inside the housing assembly for emitting a laser beam (B) through the first window, a power circuit (94) mounted inside the housing assembly and connected to the laser for energizing the laser to cause it to emit the laser beam;

driveable (68, 66) means for steering the laser beam;
means (106, 108) for driving the steering means; and an inductive switch (96) connected to the power circuit and actuable by an induction coil (78) in an alignment head (64) mountable on the housing assembly to energize the laser.

12. A laser transmitter according to Claim 11 wherein the means for steering the laser beam includes first and second optical wedges (66, 68) positioned between the laser and the first window and means (Fig. 3) for supporting the first and second optical wedges for independent rotation by the driving means about a common axis.

13. A laser transmitter according to Claim 11 wherein the housing assembly has a rearward end with a second window (100) and a fire LED is mounted behind the second window inside the housing assembly.

14. A laser transmitter according to Claim 11 wherein the housing assembly (12) includes a hollow rectangular box (88) and the rearward end of thehousing assembly is a removable cover assembly (90).

15. A laser transmitter according to Claim 12 wherein the optical wedges each have a first face perpendicular to the common optical axis and a second face which extends at an angle relative to the common optical axis (Fig.
4).

16. A laser transmitter according to Claim 15 wherein the first and second optical wedges are supported with their first perpendicular faces in nearcontact (Figs. 3-4)

17. A laser transmitter according to Claim 12 wherein the means for supporting the first and second optical wedges include the first and second spurgears (Fig. 3) each surrounding a corresponding one of the wedges.

18. A laser transmitter according to Claim 17 wherein the driving means includes first and second adjustment shafts (106, 108) and first and second pinion gears (106a, 108a) mounted on corresponding ones of the adjustment shafts for engaging corresponding ones of the spur gears, the adjustment shafts having ends(Fig. 3) which extend through a rearward end of the housing assembly for drivingconnection to the alignment head.

19. A laser transmitter according to Claim 11 wherein the forward end of the housing assembly includes a second window (100) and the transmitter further comprises a sensor mounted behind the second window for detecting the firing of a blank cartridge.

20. A laser transmitter for mounting to a small arms weapon to simulate the firing of an actual round, said laser transmitter characterized by:
a housing assembly (12) having a forward end with a first window (98) and a second window (100), and a rearward end with a third window (70);
a laser diode (92) mounted inside the housing assembly for emitting a laser beam (B) through the first window;
a power circuit (94) mounted in the housing assembly and connected to the laser diode for energizing the diode to cause it to emit the laser beam through the first window;
an inductive switch (96) connected to the power circuit and actuable by an induction coil (78) in an alignment head (64) mountable to the housing assembly to energize the laser diode;
a sensor mounted inside the housing assembly behind the second window for detecting the firing of a blank cartridge;

a fire LED mounted inside the housing behind the third window for producing an optical signal to indicate to the alignment head that the laser diode has been energized;
first and second optical wedges (66, 68) positioned inside the housing assembly between the laser diode and the first window;
means (Fig. 3) for supporting the first and second optical wedges for independent rotation about a common optical axis for steering the laser beam; and drive means (106, 108) connected to the optical wedge supporting means having portions extending through the rearward end of the housing assembly for coupling to the alignment head.