IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,040,780
Granted Patent B2
US 7,040,780 · App. 10/781,630 · Granted May 9, 2006

Laser dazzler matrix

Assignee: General Dynamics Armament And Technical products
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,040,780
App. No.
10/781,630
Granted
May 9, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A non-lethal laser weapon having a base to which a number of lasers are mounted. The lasers include a first laser oriented to project a first laser beam in a first direction, and a second laser oriented to project a second laser beam generally in the first direction. The first laser beam and the second laser beam overlap at a first distance from the base, to thereby form separate first and second first-order illumination zones before the first distance, and a first second-order illumination zone beyond the first distance. Additional lasers may be included in one-, two-, and three-dimensional patterns to create additional illumination zones.

Claims (45)

1. A non-lethal laser weapon comprising:

a base; and

a plurality of lasers mounted to the base, the plurality of lasers comprising:

a first laser oriented to project a first laser beam in a first direction;

a second laser oriented to project a second laser beam generally in the first direction;

wherein the first laser beam and the second laser beam overlap at a first distance from the base, to thereby form separate first and second first-order illumination zones before the first distance, and a first second-order illumination zone beyond the first distance; and

a high intensity directed acoustical device attached to the base and aimed generally parallel to the first direction.

2. The non-lethal laser weapon of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of lasers has a wavelength of about 400 nm to about 700 nm.

3. The non-lethal laser weapon of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of lasers has a wavelength of about 532 nm.

4. The non-lethal laser weapon of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of lasers has a wavelength of about 650 nm.

5. The non-lethal laser weapon of claim 1 , further comprising:

a power supply; and

a power switch system connecting the power supply to the plurality of lasers and adapted to selectively energize the plurality of lasers.

6. The non-lethal laser weapon of claim 5 , wherein:

the plurality of lasers comprises two or more laser groups, each of the two or more laser groups comprising one or more lasers; and

the power switch system is adapted to selectively energize each of the two or more laser groups independently of the other laser groups.

7. The non-lethal laser weapon of claim 6 , wherein the power switch system comprises a plurality of two-position switches, a plurality of multi-position switches, or a combination thereof.

8. The non-lethal laser weapon of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a portable hand-held device.

9. The non-lethal laser weapon of claim 1 , wherein the base is movably mountable to a fixed or portable mounting platform.

10. The non-lethal laser weapon of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third laser oriented to project a third laser beam generally in the first direction;

wherein the third laser beam overlaps the first laser beam at a second distance from the base and overlaps the first laser beam and the second laser beam at a third distance from the base, to thereby form a third first-order illumination zone before the second distance, a second second-order illumination zone between the second distance and the third distance, and a first third-order illumination zone beyond the third distance.

11. The non-lethal laser weapon of claim 10 , wherein the first distance is equal to the second distance.

12. The non-lethal laser weapon of claim 10 , wherein the third laser beam overlaps the second laser beam at the second distance from the base to thereby form a third second-order illumination zone between the second distance and the third distance.

13. The non-lethal laser weapon of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lasers comprises at least three lasers arranged in a linear pattern.

14. The non-lethal laser weapon of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lasers comprises at least three lasers arranged in a triangular pattern.

15. The non-lethal laser weapon of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of lasers are arranged in a circular pattern.

16. The non-lethal laser weapon of claim 1 , wherein the power supply is separated from the base and electrically connected to the base by one or more electrical wires.

17. The non-lethal laser weapon of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of lasers comprises a separately collimated laser.

18. A hand-held non-lethal laser weapon comprising:

a base;

a plurality of lasers mounted to the base, the plurality of lasers comprising:

a first laser oriented to project a first laser beam in a first direction;

a second laser oriented to project a second laser beam generally in the first direction;

a power supply; and

a power switch system connecting the power supply to the plurality of lasers and adapted to selectively energize the plurality of lasers;

wherein the first laser beam and the second laser beam overlap at a first distance from the base, to thereby form separate first and second first-order illumination zones before the first distance, and a first second-order illumination zone beyond the first distance; and

a third laser oriented to project a third laser beam in a second direction; and

a fourth laser oriented to project a fourth laser beam generally in the second direction;

wherein the third laser beam and the fourth laser beam overlap at a second distance from the base, to thereby form separate third and fourth first-order illumination zones before the second distance, and a second second-order illumination zone beyond the second distance; and

wherein the second direction is not parallel with the first direction.

19. The non-lethal laser weapon of claim 18 , wherein the power switch system comprises a plurality of switches, each of the switches being adapted to separately control one or more of the plurality of lasers.

20. The non-lethal laser weapon of claim 18 , wherein the power supply is integrated into the base.

21. The non-lethal laser weapon of claim 18 , further comprising a low-intensity targeting laser oriented to project a targeting beam in the first direction.

22. The non-lethal laser weapon of claim 18 , further comprising an incandescent lamp oriented to project light in the first direction.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2011
From: GENERAL DYNAMICS ARMAMENT AND TECHNICAL PRODUCTS, INC.
To: CHEMRING DETECTION SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 026791/0276 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2004
From: DIEHL, MATTHEW D.
To: GENERAL DYNAMICS ARMAMENT AND TECHNICAL PRODUCTS
Reel/Frame 015019/0367 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050185403A1 · Aug 25, 2005