Laser beam source for a directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) weapon system
US6587486B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 15, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jul 1, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 15, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF41H13/0062
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A laser beam source and an operating method thereof is provided for a directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) weapon system for defensively countering guided missiles having infrared seeking heads, by directing an infrared laser beam at the guided missile so as to disorient, saturate, or irreversibly destroy the IR detectors and circuitry arranged in the target seeking head. The power, pulse frequency and spectral composition of the laser beam is adjustable and selectable as required to adapt to any particular defensive engagement. To achieve this, the laser beam source comprises an Nd:YAG pumping laser and an optical parametric oscillator including an oscillator crystal arranged in a resonator cavity. The crystal includes a plurality of different periodically polarized crystal zones having different lattice constants. The adjacent zones can be grouped together into selectable crystal zone groups. The beam cross-section of the pumping laser beam corresponds to the cross-section of a single crystal zone or of a crystal zone group encompassing plural zones. The crystal is arranged on a slide table that is slidably displaceable by a servomotor, to move a selected crystal zone or …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.