JP2015503081A - Weapon-mounted non-lethal optical security device - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a small weapon-mounted non-lethal optical security device (weapon-mounted laser distract device) incorporated in a single small integrated package. A weapon-mounted laser distracting device is provided that includes an enclosure having top and bottom portions, a front portion, and a back portion that are connected to each other by two side portions. The upper surface portion includes an articulated mount adapter 150, the bottom surface portion includes a control unit 201, and the front surface portion includes an integrated optical cover 110 and a plurality of apertures 120, 130, and 140. Yes. The enclosure 100 protects and surrounds a laser device that includes a battery module in communication with an electronic module. The electronic module controls a plurality of light generation modules that provide light to the plurality of optical modules. The control module or remote module provides instructions to the electronic module. A display module and an indicator module are also provided. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a US Provisional Patent Application No. 61 filed December 6, 2011 by Robert Batis et al., Whose name is Dazer-Laser (TM) Stealth. Related to / 567,159 and claims priority, referenced and incorporated in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a multifunctional weapon-mounted non-lethal optical security device, and more particularly to a weapon-mounted type for optically illuminating and diverting or dazzling a person. The present invention relates to an optical distract / laser device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Low power white LED flashlights, fixed focus green lasers and red miniature collimated beam target indicating “pencil beam” lasers are used individually mounted on weapons. In most implementations, the optical instrument is mounted at the 3, 6 or 9 o'clock position on the weapon.

  Optical distracting devices that operate by “dazzling” the target are also known. This type of device is described in detail in several cited references, for example, filed on August 27, 2009 by Robert Batis et al., Whose name is Dazer Laser Mean Beam Improvement. No. 61 / 273,371 (hereinafter “Mean Beam Application”), named by Robert Batis et al., Whose name is Diode Pumped Solid State Green Laser, November 26, 2012 PCT Patent Application No. PCT / US11 / 38121 (hereinafter “Green Laser Application”), filed in US, is referenced and included therein. Suitable for this application, this laser is small, efficient, compact, and provides all the functions of a solid state diode pumped, dual frequency converted green laser.

  “Dazzling” is related to a temporary, safe and reversible physiological effect that the laser beam of irradiation affects the subject's vision and brain after receiving a short dose of safe laser irradiation. Dazzle usually results in a momentary flash blindness that lasts for a few seconds or as long as the laser beam is in focus, and then a loss of direction, and can last for several hours. There may be mild headaches and motion sickness, resulting in some. These dazzling effects are completely reversible even after repeated dazzling. There are several useful documents that describe the physiological background for the effect of dazzling lasers on subjects. One such online document is named “Temporal Resolution” and can be found at http: // webvision. med. utah. edu / temporal. html. Is available at Additional references include “Flicker an Intermittent Stimulation”, Vision and Visual Perception, Graham, See. H. (Graham, C.H.), (Editor), New York: John Willie and Sons, Inc. (John Wiley and Sons, Inc.), 1965, and "Study of the dynamic nature of the human fovea: Coretex Systems with intermittent modulated light, phase shift in luminance and delay in color perception (Research into the the Dynamic Nature of the Human Fovea: Cortex Systems with Intermittent and Modulated Light, Phase Shift in Brightness and Delay in Color Perception) ", de l'Ange (de Lange), journal of the optical Society of America (J Opt Soc Am) 48: 784 -789 (1958) And Nde. Dazzle is therefore a potentially beneficial non-lethal form of weapons used in close proximity for warning or visual interruption, for example, but not limited to, security and crowd control.

  Examples of dazzling laser devices are also taught in PCT patent application numbers PCT / US10 / 36893 and PCT / US10 / 36932, both by Batis et al., Referenced and included therein. A green variable focus optical distractor and a red target laser are also used.

  White LED flashlights are also mounted on weapons and are beneficial in providing potential near target lighting. One disadvantage of using conventional white LED weapon-mounted flashlights is that the white light exposes the user's position without inducing visible optical dazzling of the threat target. That is.

  Thus, a compact incorporating a green variable focus optical distract device, a high power white LED flashlight, and a red target laser in a single small integrated package that can be mounted in all weapon positions. It would be desirable to provide a weapon-mounted device. This multi-function device not only provides a new and improved optical destructor device that utilizes variable range and variable focus and mean beam technology (see mean beam application), but also allows the solder to overlap Allow the device to be removed from his weapon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One aspect of the present invention is a non-lethal multi-range weapon-mounted optics that includes dazzling laser technology in a militaryized package with specially unique features and multiple wavebands that enhance tactical effects. An expression destruct apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, in Laser Laser Stealth® (DAZER LASER STEALTH ™) by Laser Energys, Inc., within an ANSI safe limit of 1 meter to 1000 meters. Maximum optical effect is provided. In addition, the optical effect can provide a warning instead of maximum optical dazzling, for example, to suit the engagement scenario by lowering the dial by the user.

  In another aspect of the present invention, the mount type laser distracting apparatus includes an enclosure having a top surface portion and a bottom surface portion, a front surface portion, and a back surface portion that are connected to each other by two side surface portions. The upper surface portion includes an articulated mount adapter. The bottom part includes a control part. The front portion includes an integrated optical cover and a plurality of apertures. The enclosure surrounds a laser device having a battery module in communication with an electronic module that controls a plurality of light generation modules that provide light to a plurality of optical modules. The electronic module also communicates with the control module, display module (480), indicator module, and optionally with a remote module. In use, the electronic module drives one of the plurality of light generation modules to generate light that is passed to one of the plurality of optical modules.

  An additional aspect of the invention includes the remote module communicating with the electronic module by a radio frequency communication interface or by an electrical umbilical code.

  In another aspect of the invention, the light generation module includes a visible laser module, an infrared (IR) laser module, and optionally a visible LED module. In one embodiment, the IR laser module and the IR laser optical module are defined as two integrations defined by the electronic module or as the IR laser module having another optical path through the laser optical module. Controlled by a separate but independent IR laser source to generate a wide coverage light beam or pencil light beam for targeting.

  In another aspect of the invention, the visible laser module and the visible laser optical module are controlled by the electronic module to continuously and optically optimize visual optical distraction within a range within system limits. Generate a variably diverging laser beam.

  In another aspect of the invention, the visible LED module generates white light for searching. The integrated optical cover can be less than 100% opaque to allow the user to verify when light is being generated.

  In another aspect of the present invention, a mask having symbols or alphanumeric characters may be provided with the optical cover to allow projection of messages and / or warnings on a remote surface.

  Another aspect of the present invention provides a pitch and yaw control. In the embodiment, the yaw adjustment unit and the pitch adjustment unit are provided as a control unit on the enclosure. In another form, the optical module further functions for pitch and yaw adjustment, or for an enclosure mechanical adjustment, depending on control inputs to the control module.

1 is a perspective view of an exemplary optical distract / laser device useful for understanding the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary optical distract / laser apparatus useful for understanding the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary optical distract / laser device useful for understanding the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary optical distract / laser apparatus useful for understanding the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary optical distract / laser device useful for understanding the present invention. FIG.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments will be described with reference to the following drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like units throughout the figures.

  FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of an exemplary optical distract / laser device useful for understanding the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary optical distract / laser apparatus useful for understanding the present invention.

  FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of an exemplary optical distract / laser apparatus useful for understanding the present invention.

  FIG. 4 is a book diagram of an exemplary optical distract / laser apparatus useful for understanding the present invention.

  FIG. 5 provides a perspective view of an exemplary optical distract / laser device useful for understanding the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials, and configurations are disclosed in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some embodiments, well-known mechanisms can be omitted or simplified so as not to obscure the present invention. In the specification, a reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” refers to a specific function, configuration, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment in an aspect of at least one embodiment. It is meant to be included. The appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention advantageously allow a green variable focus optical distractor, high power white LED flashlight, and red target laser to be mounted in all weapon positions. A small weapon-mounted device incorporated in a small integrated package.

  One embodiment of the present invention, Laser Energy Stealth (TM) by Laser Energys, Inc. is a non-lethal multi-range optical display. Means a tract device, which includes the DASER LASER (TM) technology provided in the mean beam and green laser applications included herein, as well as specially unique functions and multiple wavebands Are combined into a military package to enhance the tactical effect. The DAZER LASER STEALTH ™ is also referred to herein as “stealth”, “weapon-mounted laser distractor” or simply “laser distracter”.

  The embodiment of the present invention includes a handheld or weapon-mounted small and light package, as shown in FIG. This laser destructor device projects an irradiating laser beam (120) that is optically dazzling and temporarily impairs the vision of the enemy. One embodiment of the package concept is illustrated in FIG. The laser distractor uses Laser Energy's, Inc.'s mean beam laser technology which is described in more detail in mean beam applications that direct current to the laser. In addition to the green laser optical distractor (120) mode, the laser distractor includes an IR laser illuminator / target indicator (130) mode and a white LED searchlight (140) mode for area illumination. However, the present invention is not limited to these, and includes other irradiation modes. The multiple aperture is protected by a weatherproof seal spring loaded integral optical cover (110).

  The laser distractor also includes an optical zoom mechanism (220), or a variable range and focus adjustment mechanism, which is also described in more detail in the mean beam application to adjust the illumination beam size. Allows the user to vary the illumination intensity or fluence in any desired range from 5 to 1000 meters. The beam size is adjusted by the zoom control button (220), and the display (260) displays the selected range.

  One embodiment of the present invention provides the ability to operate the laser distraction device with a remote control (300) button that is independently attached to the weapon with a tap screw. This mechanism allows the laser distractor to optically zoom to any desired range, and the aperture (120, 130, 140) preselected by the mode control (240) switch. Allow radiation to be emitted from one. Display [260] shows the range settings for the selected laser mode. The remote control button can be connected to the laser distract device by an electrical umbilical code, or can communicate with the laser distract device using a wireless RF (radio frequency) link. To increase battery life, the remote control mode is preferably activated by a remote control (230) switch.

  The laser distractor device normally allows radiation to be emitted from one of the optical apertures based on the selected control switch mode (240) when activated by the fire button (250). When the remote control (230) is activated, the fire button (250) is also active. After the integrated optical cover (110) is manually opened, normal intensity illumination is emitted from the optical aperture. This cover (110) is preferably opened by a spring action by opening the slide latch with a finger or thumb.

  The cover (110) is designed to be less than 100% opaque and allows the user to see a small amount of illumination. This allows the user to verify proper operation of the selected illumination mode without exposing the position in tactical situations. In addition to the slight opacity of the cover, there is a reference mark that allows the user to determine whether the laser beam is set for short distance, medium distance or long distance To do.

  In addition to the tactical illumination mode described herein, the laser distractor device provides a training mode in which the green laser optical distractor device (120) aperture does not dazzle people, but the optical zoom The power is reduced to a point that produces sufficient irradiation that allows advancement of control training and short range tactics.

  Embodiments of the present invention also include an articulated mount adapter (150) that connects the laser distractor to a weapons standard Picatinny rail and also aligns the laser distractor with a bore- Pitch and yaw adjustments for sighting can be incorporated into the weapon's target aiming device. This mounting and design additional mechanism of the laser distractor has all the ergonomic access mechanism and can be mounted on the lower and left and right sides of the weapon (3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions) That is.

The important internal elements in the various embodiments of the laser destruct apparatus are illustrated in FIG. These elements are described next.
1) Visible laser module [400]: an optical distraction green laser operated at 532 nanometers controlled by LEI's mean beam laser technology from the electronic module microprocessor;
2) IR laser module [405]: IR laser operated at 860 or 880 nanometers used as a source for area illumination (flooding) or targeting (pointing),
3) Visible LED module [410]: 150-250 lumens white LED source for short range visible area lighting (flooding),
4) Visible laser optics module [420]: Focusable optics module used to project and focus laser beams between 5 and 1000 meters,
5) IR laser optics module [425]: Focus adjustable optics module used to project and focus the IR laser beam from the wide beam for area illumination to the pencil beam for the target,
6) Visible LED optical module [430]: Fixed focus optical module for projecting LED light with moderate divergence for short range illumination,
7) Control module [440]: electromechanical switch for controlling the operating mode by the microprocessor,
8) Indicator module [450]: Continuous LED indicator controlled by microprocessor, eg power on, battery power down, laser firing and remote enable,
9) Remote module [460]: Short range RF receiver and decoder that interprets three signals from remote buttons;
10) Control electronics module [470]: an electronics based microprocessor that controls all aspects of stealth,
11) Display module [480]: Display for indicating the laser beam range setting or the range to be focused for the selected laser mode,
12) Battery module [490]: Formed cavity containing a number of commercially available batteries with appropriate electrical connections to the electronic module.

  The laser destructor package features a sealed envelope containing all of the important internal elements listed above, except for the battery module. The envelope is pressurized to less than 1 atmosphere using dry nitrogen. The battery module is sealed against the dominant atmospheric pressure by a screw-in cover [160].

  One embodiment of the present invention, referred to in FIG. 1 as “Stealth Concept A,” includes the twelve internal mechanisms listed above, and an external articulated mount that allows stealth to be coupled to a weapons standard Picatinny rail. Characterized by an adapter (150). Another important embodiment, referred to in FIG. 3 as “Stealth Concept B”, is an articulated side surface that is secured to a weapons standard Picatinny rail in both the left and right configurations and does not have pitch and yaw adjusters. It has an articulated mount adapter (150) that can be replaced by a mount adapter (155). The pitch adjusting unit (156) and the yaw adjusting unit (157) of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 3 are disposed in the laser distractor main body, and control internal elements related to optical beam projection. “Stealth Concept B” also adds additional status indicators, moves the location of certain elements, and adds a body mechanism, all of which are crucial to the underlying concept However, the result is a unique stealth concept B device enclosure (105).

  The movement of the pitch and yaw adjustment from the articulated mount adapter (150) to the stealth B device enclosure (105) provides significant internal changes to the “stealth concept A” internal element, as shown in FIG. To do. This change is illustrated in FIG. 4 and the optics that control the aiming direction or aiming of both the visible laser (400) and the IR laser (405) with respect to the Picatinny rail attached to the articulated side mount adapter (155). A bench (401) is added. All the remaining internal elements of “Stealth Concept B” are essentially the same as those of the “Stealth Concept A” embodiment.

  Yet another embodiment of the present invention is provided as “Stealth Concept C” and illustrated in FIG. “Stealth Concept C” is a partial modification of “Stealth Concept B”, in which the internal elements and enclosure controls have been moved to allow the top cavity portion (107) to be formed. This cavity does not interfere with the field of view or mounting operation of the weapon's telescope field of view, and the “Stealth Concept C” laser distractor is mounted on the weapon's upper Picatinny rail, that is, at the 12 o'clock position. Is acceptable. The “Stealth Concept C” laser distraction device can instead be mounted in any of the other three weapon rail positions (3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions).

  The “Stealth Concept C” laser distraction device also features a self-contained rail adapter (158) and rail cam lever (159) located at the bottom of the enclosure (106), and thus an external articulated side mount Adapter (155) and articulated mount adapter (150) are removed. The rail adapter (158) is a Picatinny Rail “stealth concept C” molded negative form, with a notch formed on one side, which means that the rail cam lever (159) is connected to the rail. Engage and allow the laser distraction device to be secured to this Picatinny rail.

  In addition, the “Stealth Concept C” aperture has been repositioned and the aperture cover is referred to as the rotating optical cover (112) and covers only the IR and green laser apertures and also rotates around the white LED aperture To do. The cover retainer (113) is an enclosure molded feature for holding the cover when opened. On the other hand, the “stealth concept C” laser distract device retains all the remaining functions of “stealth concept A” and “stealth concept B”, but is not specifically depicted here.

  Comparison overview of stealth models.

  The following table identifies significant differences between the embodiments of the present invention identified above as “Stealth Concept” models “A”, “B” and “C”.

  Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments, it is understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims, and other arrangements may be made. It is understood that it can be devised.

Claims (16)

An enclosure (100) having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface and a back surface;
The top surface portion and the bottom surface portion are connected to each other by two side surface portions,
The upper surface portion has an articulated mount adapter (150),
The bottom part has a control part (201),
The front portion has an integrated optical cover (110) and a plurality of apertures (120, 130, 140);
The enclosure (100) further includes a battery module (490) that surrounds the laser device and communicates with the electronic module (470);
The electronic module (470) controls a plurality of light generation modules (400, 405, 410) for providing light to a plurality of optical modules (420, 425, 430) or a common optical module,
The electronic module (470) further communicates with a control module (440), a display module (480) and an indicator module (450);
In use, the electronic module (470) drives one of the plurality of light generation modules (400, 405, 410) and is passed to one of the plurality of optical modules (420, 425, 430). A weapon-mounted laser distractor that produces light.   The weapon-mounted laser distracting device of claim 1, further comprising a remote module (460) in communication with the electronic module (470) for command input.   The weapon-mounted laser distracting device of claim 2, wherein the remote module (460) communicates with the electronic module (470) by radio frequency communication.   The weapon-mounted laser distracting device of claim 2, wherein the remote module (460) communicates with the electronic module (470) by an electrical umbilical cord.   The weapon-mounted laser distractor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light generation modules (400, 405) comprises a visible laser module (400) and an infrared (IR) laser module (405). The IR laser module (405) and the IR laser optical module (425)
Controlled by the two integrated but independent IR laser sources defined by the electronic module (470) or as the IR laser module (405) having another optical path through the laser optical module And
6. The weapon-mounted laser distracting device according to claim 5, wherein a wide-area light beam or a pencil light beam is generated for a target.   The visible laser module (400) and the visible laser optical module (420) are controlled by the electronic module (470) and are continuously controlled to optimize optical optical distractions within a range within system limits. 6. The weapon-mounted laser distracting device according to claim 5, wherein a laser beam that diverges variably is generated.   The weapon-mounted laser of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light generation modules (400, 405, 410) comprises a visible laser module (400), an infrared (IR) laser module (405), and a visible LED module (410). Destructor device.   The weapon-mounted laser distracting device according to claim 8, wherein the visible LED module (410) generates white light for searching.   The weapon-mounted laser distracting device according to claim 1, wherein the optical cover (110) is less than 100% opaque.   The weapon-mounted laser distractor according to claim 10, wherein the optical cover (110) further includes an alphanumeric mask shaped to project a laser beam and project a message.   The weapon-mounted laser distracting device according to claim 10, wherein the optical cover (110) further includes a mask shaped to a laser beam and having a symbol for projecting a message.   The weapon-mounted laser distracting device according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure (100) further includes a pitch adjusting unit (156) for controlling a pitch and a yaw adjusting unit (157) for controlling a yaw.   The one or more optical modules (420, 425, 430) may further include pitch adjustment and yaw adjustment depending on the control module (440) and / or the pitch adjustment unit (156) and the yaw adjustment unit (157). A weapon-mounted laser distracting device according to claim 1 that functions to   The weapon-mounted laser display of claim 1, wherein the articulated mount adapter (150) is configured to allow the distractor to be mounted on a weapon at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock positions. Tract device.   The body is contoured and mechanically configured to allow it to be mounted on a weapon in the 12 o'clock position without the addition of brackets and without interfering with the weapon's telescope. Item 2. A weapon-mounted laser distracting device according to item 1.