Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F41—WEAPONS
  • F41G—WEAPON SIGHTS; AIMING
  • F41G1/00—Sighting devices
  • F41G1/32—Night sights, e.g. luminescent
  • F41G1/34—Night sights, e.g. luminescent combined with light source, e.g. spot light
  • F41G1/35—Night sights, e.g. luminescent combined with light source, e.g. spot light for illuminating the target, e.g. flash lights
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F41—WEAPONS
  • F41G—WEAPON SIGHTS; AIMING
  • F41G1/00—Sighting devices
  • F41G1/32—Night sights, e.g. luminescent
  • F41G1/34—Night sights, e.g. luminescent combined with light source, e.g. spot light
  • F41G1/36—Night sights, e.g. luminescent combined with light source, e.g. spot light with infrared light source
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F41—WEAPONS
  • F41H—ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
  • F41H13/00—Means of attack or defence not otherwise provided for
  • F41H13/0043—Directed energy weapons, i.e. devices that direct a beam of high energy content toward a target for incapacitating or destroying the target
  • F41H13/0087—Directed energy weapons, i.e. devices that direct a beam of high energy content toward a target for incapacitating or destroying the target the high-energy beam being a bright light, e.g. for dazzling or blinding purposes

Definitions

• This invention generally relates to a multi-function weapon-mountable non-lethal optical security device, and more particularly to a eapon-mountabie optical distracto/iaser device for optically illuminating, distracting or dazing a person.
• Optical dis ractors which operate by "dazing" a target are also known. Such a device is described in. detail in several references, such as: provisional U.S. patent application No. 61 /273,371 filed on August 27, 2009, by Robert Battis, et al. titled “Dazer Laser Mean Beam Improvement” (hereinafter, “Mean Beam Application”), PCT Patent Application No. PCX/US 11/3812! , filed on November 26, 2012 by Battis, et al, titled “Diode Pumped Solid State Green Laser” (hereinafter, “Green. Laser Application”), which are included herein fay reference.
• This laser suitable for this application provides the features of a small, efficient, compact and all solid state diode pumped, dual frequency conversion green .laser.
• Dazing refers to the temporary, safe and reversible physiological effect that a laser beam of radiation has on a subject -person's eyes and brain after the person has received a short dose of safe laser radiation. Dazing usually results in momentary flash blindness, lasting a few seconds or as long as the beam is focused on someone's eyes, followed by a feeling of disorientation, and may also result in a mild headache and motion sickness, which may last- several hours. These dazing effects are completely reversible, even after repeated dazings.
• White LED flashlights have also been mounted on weapons, and are useful, in providing illumination of a potential near target.
• One disadvantage of using a conventional white LED weapon-mounted flashlight is that the white light will be visible, which will give the position of the user away without triggering optical distraction of the threat target.
• An aspect of the present invention provides a non.-leth.al mufti -range weapon- moun able optical dlstractor which, includes dazing laser technologies in a militarized package with special unique features and multiple wavebands to enhance tactical effectiveness.
• the DAZ.ER LASER STEALTH (TM) by Laser Energetics, inc. a maximum optical effectiveness within the ANSI safe limit from 1 meter to 1000 meters is provided., in addition, optical effectiveness may be dialed down, by the user to. suite an engagement scenario, for example: to provide a warning instead of maximum..optical distraction.
• the weapon-mounta le laser disiractor includes an enclosure with a top surface, bottom surface, the to and bottom surfaces connected to each other by two side surfaces, a front surface and a .rear surface.
• the top surface includes an articulated mounting adapter.
• the bottom surface includes controls.
• the front surface includes an. integral optic cover and a plurality of apertures.
• the enclosure surrounds a laser device which includes a battery module is communication with an electronic module controlling a plurality of light generating modules which provide light to a plurality of optic modules.
• the electronic module is also in communication, -with controls module, a display module ( SO), and an indicator module, and optionally a remote module. In use. the- electronic module drives one of the light generating modules to generate light which passes to one. of the plurality of optic modules.
• Additional aspects of the .invention ' include the remote module being in communication with the electronic module by either a wireless radio frequency communication interface or by an electrical umbilical cord,
• the light generating modules include a visible laser module, a infra-red (i ) laser module, and optionally a visible LED module.
• the IR. laser module and IR laser optic module are controlled by the electronic module to generate either a broad area co verage l ight beam or a pencil light beam for targeting, or, alternatively b two integrated but separate IR laser sources defined as the iR laser module with, separate optical paths through the laser optic modules.
• the visible laser module and visible laser optic module are- controlled by the electronic module to generate a continuously variable diverging laser beam for the purpose of optimizing eye optical distraction at any range within system limits ' .
• the visible LED module generates a white light for searching.
• the integral optic cover may be less than 100% opaque, to allow the user to verif when light is being generated.
• a mask having a symbol or alphanumeric- characters may be provided with the optic cover to allow the projection of a message and/or warning onto a distant surface.
• a yaw adjustment and a pitch adjustment is provided as controls on the enclosure.
• the optic modules further operate to adjust ent, pitch and to adjustment yaw in. response to control input to the controls module, or enclosure mechanical adjusters.
• FIG. 1 provides perspective views of an exemplary optical distractor/laser device that, are useful for understanding the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an. exemplary optical distractor/laser device that is useful for understanding the presen invention.
• FIG. 3 provides perspective views of an exemplary optical distractor/laser device that are useful for understanding the present invention.
• FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary optical distractor/laser device that, is useful for understanding the present invention.
• FIG. 5 provides perspective views of an exemplary optical distractor/laser device that are useful or understanding the present invention.
• j3 ⁇ 4024j An. embodiment of the present invention advantageously provides for a small, weapon -mo untabie device which incorporates a green variable focus optical distractor. Hi power white LED flashlight and red targeting laser in one small integrated package that can be mounted in all weapon positions.
• the DAZER LASER STEALTH (TM) by Laser Energetics, Inc.
• TM DAZER LASER STEALTH
• the DAZER. LASER STEALTH (TM) is also referred to herein as the "Stealth”, "the weapon- mountab!e laser distractor” or simply "laser distractor”.
• An embodiment of the invention includes a hand held or weapon mountabie small light weight package, as depicted in Figure 1.
• This laser distractor projects a laser beam of radiation (120) which optically distracts and temporarily impairs the vision of the threat.
• a laser beam of radiation 120
• the laser distractor uses Laser Energetics, Ine.'s MEAN Beam laser technology, which is explained in greater detail in the Mean Beam Application, which drives the current to the laser.
• the laser distractor includes other radiation modes, including, but not limited to an IR Laser illuminator/Target Designator (130) .mode and a White LED Searchlight (140) mode for area illumination.
• the multiple apertures are protected by a weather sealed spring loaded integral optic cover (1 .10).
• the laser distraetor also includes -an optical zoom feature (220), or a variable range and focus feature, which is also described in farther detail in the Mean Beam Application, which allows the user to vary the radiation intensity or finance at any desired range ir ni 5 to 1000 meters by adjusting the radiation beam size.
• the beam size is adjusted by the zoom control buttons (220), and the display (260) displays the selected range.
• One embodiment of the present invention provides the ability to operate the laser distracior with, a remote control (300) button separatel tapped to the weapon. This feature allows the laser distraetor to. e optically zoomed to any desired range, and to then allow radiation to be emitted from one of the apertures (120, 130, 140) as preselected by the mode control (240) switch.
• the display [260] shows the range setting for the laser mode selected.
• the remote control button may be either tethered, to the laser distraetor by an electrical umbilical cord or eomrntmisaie with it using a wireless RF (radio frequency) link.
• the remote control mode is preferably activated by the remote control (230) switch,
• the laser distraetor is normally activated by the fire button (2501 which, immediately allows radiation to be emitted from one of the optic apertures based on the control switch mode (240) selected. If the Remote control (230) is activated, the Fire button (250) is also active. Radiation at normal intensity will be emitted from the optic apertures after the integral optic cover (110) is manually opened. This cover (.1 .10) is preferably opened by spring action by relieving the slide latch with finger or thumb.
• the cove (1 10) is designed to be less than 100% opaque to allow a trace amount of radiation to be visible to the user. This allows the user to verify proper operation of the selected- radiation mode without exposing his position in a. tactical situation. In addition to the marginal opacity of the cover, there are fiduciary marks which allow the user to j udge whether the laser beams are set for short, mid o long range.
• the laser distraetor provides a training mode wherein the green laser optical distraetor (120) aperture is reduced in power to the point where it will not daze an individual . but will, produce sufficient radiation to allow training in optical zoom control and development of short range tactics,
• An embodiment of the mveniion. also includes an articulated mounting adapter ( 150 ⁇ which allows the laser distraetor to be connec ed to any weapon's standard Picatinny Rail and incorporates pitch and. yaw adjustment for the purpose of bore-sighting the laser distraetor to a weapon's target aiming device.
• An additional feature of this mount and the desig of the laser distraetor package is that it may be mounted below the weapon, and to the right and left sides (3. 6 and 9 o'clock, positions) with all features- economically accessible.
• Visible laser module 400]; Optical Distraction Green Laser operating at 532 mn s controlled by a LEFs MEAN Beam laser technology from the microprocessor in the electronics module.
• Visible LED module [410] 150 to 250 ⁇ iomen white LED source for short range visible area illumination (flooding).
• Visible LED optic module [430]: Fixed focus optic to project the LED light with moderate divergence for short range illumination.
• Controls module [440] Electro-mechanical switch to control operating modes through the microprocessor.
• Control electronics module [470]: Microprocessor based electronics that controls all aspects of the S tealth
• file laser dlstractor package features a hermetically sealed envelope containing all the key internal- lements listed above, except the battery module. This envelop is pressurized to ⁇ 1. atmosphere with dry nitrogen. The battery module is sealed by a threaded end cover [ 160] to the prevailing atmospheric pressure,
• Step 1 One embodiment of the invention referred to in Figure 1 as “Stealth Concept A” is characterized by the 12 internal features listed above and. the external articulated mounting adapter ( 150) which allows the Stealth to be connected to any weapon ' s standard Picatinny Rail.
• Step 3 Another important embodiment, referred to in. Figure 3 as. “Stealth Concept B”, has the articulated mounting adapter (.150) replaced with a articulated side mounting adapter (155) that is secured to the weapon's Pieatinny Rail. in. both left and right configurations, -and without pitch and yaw adjustment.
• the pitch adjustment (156) and yaw adjustment (157) in the embodiment of Figure 3 are placed on the laser distraeior body and control internal: elements associated with the optical beam projections.
• Step B also adds additional status indicators, shifts the location of certain elements and adds body features, all not critical to the underlying concept, but result .in a unique Stealth Concept B dev ce enclosure (105).
• Step 5 Yet another embodiment of the invention is provided as "Stealth Concept C and illustrated in Figure 5.
• “Stealth Concept C” Is a modification of "Stealth Concept B” in which the internal components and enclosure controls are shifted to allow a. top surface cavity (107) to be formed.
• This Cavity allows the "Stealth Concept C * laser distractor to be mounted to a weapon's top Pieatinny rail or 12 O'clock position ' without interfering with the field of view of the weapon's telescope .field of view (FOV) or mounting.
• a “Stealth Concept C” laser distractor may alternatively be mounted to any of the other three weapon tail positions (3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions),
• the "Stealth Concept C” laser distractor also features a built-in rail adapter ( 158) located on th bottom of the enclosure (.106) and rail cam lever (159), thus eliminating the external articulated side mounting adapter (155) and articulated mounting adapter (150).
• the rail adapter (158) is a "Stealth Concept C enclosure (106) molded negative form of the Pieatinny Hall with one side notched to allow the rail earn lever (159) to engage the rail and lock the laser distractor to this Pieatinny Rail.
• the "Stealth. Concep C" apertures are relocated and the aperture cover is called the rotating optic cover ( 1.12), which covers ' only the IR and green laser apertures and. rotates about the white LED aperture.
• the cover .retainer (.1 13) is an enclosure molded feature to hold the cover when open. Otherwise, the "Stealth Concept C” laser distractor retains all other features of the "Stealth Concept A.” and "Stealth Concept B", not specifically delineated here.
• Aperture Cover Flip cover attached Removable cover on straps Rotating cover

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
• Remote Sensing (AREA)
• Semiconductor Lasers (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=48574866

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (19)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 2012
  • 2012-12-06 JP JP2014546063A patent/JP2015503081A/ja active Pending
  • 2012-12-06 WO PCT/US2012/068181 patent/WO2013086144A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2012-12-06 US US14/363,499 patent/US20140317988A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-12-06 KR KR20147015431A patent/KR20150027025A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (6)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events