Target marker having quantum cascade laser for thermally marking a target
View Patent ↗A handheld target marker is provided, wherein the target marker includes a housing retaining a quantum cascade laser, a collimating or focusing lens, a driver and a power supply. The quantum cascade laser produces a thermal infrared beam which can be selectively directed to impinge upon a target. The impinging beam is viewable by a thermal imager. The handheld target marker operates at ambient temperatures and incorporates the driver and power supply necessary for operation of the quantum cascade laser.
1. A handheld target marker viewable by a thermal imaging system, the marker comprising:
(a) a handheld housing having an interior and an exterior;
(b) a quantum cascade laser retained in the interior of the housing for emitting a beam at a thermal infrared wavelength along a beam path, a portion of the beam path extending from the housing to a target being substantially optically direct, the beam forming part of a thermal image of the target;
(c) a driver retained within the housing and operably connected to the quantum cascade laser causing the quantum cascade laser to emit the beam along the beam path
(d) a lens located in the beam path; and
(e) a power supply retained within the housing and operably connected to at least one of the driver and the quantum cascade laser.
2. The handheld target marker of claim 1 , wherein the wavelength of the beam is between approximately 2-30 microns.
3. The hand held target marker of claim 1 , wherein the marker is one of a designator, a pointer, and an aiming device.
4. The handheld target marker of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature controller thermally coupled to the quantum cascade laser.
5. The handheld target marker of claim 4 , wherein the temperature controller is one of a Peltier module and a Stirling module.
6. The handheld target marker of claim 4 , wherein the temperature controller maintains a substantially uniform temperature across the quantum cascade laser.
7. The handheld target marker of claim 1 , further comprising a diffractive optic in the beam path.
8. The handheld target marker of claim 7 , wherein the diffractive optic collimates the beam.
9. The handheld target marker of claim 7 , wherein the diffractive optic is movable relative to the beam path.
10. The handheld target marker of claim 7 , wherein the diffractive optic is fixed relative to the beam path.
11. The handheld target marker of claim 1 , wherein the power supply is operably connected to the both the quantum cascade laser and the driver.
12. The handheld target marker of claim 1 , wherein the driver is controlled in response to a temperature of the quantum cascade laser.
13. The hand held target marker of claim 1 , wherein humidity within the housing is controlled during operation of the laser.
14. The handheld target marker of claim 1 , wherein the beam exiting the housing is generated by a single emitting structure.
15. The hand held target marker of claim 1 , wherein the quantum cascade laser is retained within a sealed subhousing in the interior of the housing.
16. The handheld target marker of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines an aperture and the lens comprises a collimating lens disposed at the aperture of the housing.
17. The handheld target marker of claim 1 , wherein the lens comprises a collimating lens forming an interface between the interior and the exterior of the housing.
18. The hand held target marker of claim 1 , wherein the substantially optically direct portion of the beam path extends from a collimating lens to the target.
19. A method of marking a target comprising:
(a) intersecting a thermal infrared beam from a quantum cascade laser retained in handheld housing at room temperature with the target, a portion of a beam path extending from the housing to the target being substantially optically direct;
(b) capturing a portion of the beam; and
(c) forming part of a thermal image of the target with the captured portion of the beam.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising forming the infrared beam to have a wavelength between approximately 8 microns and 30 microns.
21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising forming the infrared beam to have a wavelength between approximately 2 microns and 5 microns.
22. The method of claim 19 , further comprising sealing the quantum cascade laser in the housing.
23. The method of claim 19 , further comprising hermetically sealing the quantum cascade laser in the housing.
24. The hand held target marker of claim 19 , further including maintaining a substantially uniform temperature across the quantum cascade laser.
25. The method of claim 19 , wherein the beam exiting the housing is generated by a single emitting structure.
26. The method of claim 19 , further including modifying control of the quantum cascade laser in response to a temperature change profile unique to the quantum cascade laser.
27. A weapons-mounted target marker viewable by a thermal imaging system, the marker comprising:
(a) a housing mounted to a firearm, the housing having an interior and an exterior;
(b) a quantum cascade laser retained in the interior of the housing for emitting a beam at a thermal infrared wavelength along a beam path, the beam forming part of a thermal image;
(c) a driver retained within the housing and operably connected to the quantum cascade laser;
(d) a lens located in the beam path; and
(e) a power supply retained within the housing and operably connected to the quantum cascade laser.
28. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 27 , wherein the wavelength of the beam is between approximately 2-30 microns.
29. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 27 , wherein the marker is one of a designator, a pointer, and an aiming device.
30. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 27 , further comprising a temperature controller thermally coupled to the quantum cascade laser.
31. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 30 , wherein the temperature controller is one of a Peltier module and a Stirling module.
32. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 30 , wherein the temperature controller maintains a substantially uniform temperature across the quantum cascade laser.
33. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 27 , further comprising a diffractive optic in the beam path.
34. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 33 , wherein the diffractive optic collimates the beam.
35. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 33 , wherein the diffractive optic is movable relative to the beam path.
36. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 33 , wherein the diffractive optic is fixed relative to the beam path.
37. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 27 , wherein the quantum cascade laser is retained within a sealed subhousing in the interior of the housing.
38. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 27 , wherein the beam exiting the housing is generated by a single emitting structure.
39. A handheld target marker viewable by a thermal imaging system, the marker comprising:
(a) a handheld housing having an interior and an exterior;
(b) a quantum cascade laser retained in the interior of the housing for emitting a beam at a thermal infrared wavelength along a beam path, a portion of the beam path extending from the housing to a target being substantially optically direct, wherein the quantum cascade laser is retained within a sealed subhousing in the interior of the housing;
(c) a driver retained within the housing and operably connected to the quantum cascade laser causing the quantum cascade laser to emit the beam along the beam path;
(d) a lens located in the beam path; and
(e) a power supply retained within the housing and operably connected to at least one of the driver and the quantum cascade laser.
40. A weapons-mounted target marker viewable by a thermal imaging system, the marker comprising:
(a) a housing mounted to a firearm, the housing having an interior and an exterior;
(b) a quantum cascade laser retained in the interior of the housing for emitting a beam at a thermal infrared wavelength along a beam path, wherein the quantum cascade laser is retained within a sealed subhousing in the interior of the housing;
(c) a driver retained within the housing and operably connected to the quantum cascade laser;
(d) a lens located in the beam path; and
(e) a power supply retained within the housing and operably connected to the quantum cascade laser.
41. A method of marking a target comprising:
(a) intersecting a thermal infrared beam from a handheld housing at room temperature with the target, a portion of a beam oath extending from the housing to the target being substantially optically direct;
(b) viewing the intersected beam with a remote thermal imaging device;
(c) capturing a portion of the beam; and
(d) forming part of a thermal image of the target with the captured portion of the beam.
42. A method of marking a target comprising:
(a) intersecting a thermal infrared beam from a quantum cascade laser retained in a housing mounted to a firearm at room temperature with the target;
(b) capturing a portion of the beam; and
(c) forming part of a thermal image of the target with the captured portion of the beam.
43. A method of marking a target comprising:
(a) intersecting a thermal infrared beam from a housing mounted to a firearm at ambient temperature with the target;
(b) viewing the intersected beam with a remote thermal imaging device;
(c) viewing the intersected beam comprises capturing a portion of the beam; and
(d) forming part of a thermal image of the target with the captured portion of the beam.