Energy focusing system for active denial apparatus
View Patent ↗An active denial apparatus for use in non-lethal weaponry includes at least one focusing element configured to focus millimeter-wave energy along an axis of propagation. The at least one focusing element includes an astigmatic or dual axis focusing system configured to direct a focused beam that allows the active denial apparatus to accurately immobilize targets at both close and long range within acceptable limits of intensity.
1. An active denial apparatus comprising:
a high-power millimeter wave source; and
at least one beam-processing element for directing millimeter wave energy along an axis of propagation, the at least one beam-processing element including a variable focusing system delivering a substantially constant power density over the axis of propagation by alternating between at least two focusing configurations comprised of a focusing profile in which a focused, near-field beam is directed in a plane defined by a x-axis and a z-axis that includes the axis of propagation, and a substantially different focusing profile in which a focused, near-field beam is directed a plane defined by a y-axis and the z-axis also including the axis of propagation that is perpendicular to the x-plane, to enable effective operation of an active denial apparatus regardless of knowledge of a target's position across different ranges of distance in the axis of propagation.
2. The active denial apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the at least two focusing configurations delivers a beam with an effective cross sectional area that is substantially constant over a wide range in an axis of propagation.
3. The active denial apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the focused, near-field beam delivered by the variable focusing system diverges in the plane defined by a x-axis and a z-axis and converges in the plane defined by a y-axis and the z-axis.
4. The active denial apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least two focusing configurations alternate the millimeter wave energy between a plurality of fixed focus settings having either different effective apertures, different effective focal lengths in the plane defined by the y-axis and the z-axis, the plane defined by the y-axis and the z-axis, or both, or both different effective apertures and effective focal lengths.
5. The active denial apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least two focusing configurations are each configured to deliver an effective power density within a desired range of power densities over different ranges of distance in an axis of propagation.
6. The active denial apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one beam processing element includes at least one of a shaped reflector, shaped transmissive lens, flat-panel array antenna, or a phased array system, or any combination thereof.
7. The active denial apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the high-power millimeter-wave source includes at least one of a solid-state source or a vacuum tube-based source.
8. The active denial apparatus of claim 7 , wherein if the high-power millimeter-wave source includes a solid-state source, then the high-power millimeter-wave source also includes at least one of a grid amplifier or a grid oscillator, or any combination thereof.
9. A method of focusing energy in an active denial device comprising:
generating millimeter-wave energy from a high-power millimeter wave source; and
directing millimeter wave energy along an axis of propagation, wherein at least one beam-processing element includes a variable focusing system delivering a substantially constant power density over the axis of propagation by alternating between at least two focusing configurations of a focusing profile in which a focused, near-field beam is directed in a plane defined by a x-axis and a z-axis that includes the axis of propagation, and a substantially different focusing profile in which a focused, near-field beam is directed a plane defined by a y-axis and the z-axis also including the axis of propagation that is perpendicular to the x-plane, to enable effective operation of an active denial apparatus regardless of knowledge of a target's position across different ranges of distance in the axis of propagation.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein one or more of the at least two focusing configurations delivers a beam with an effective cross sectional area that is substantially constant over a wide range in an axis of propagation.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the focused, near-field beam delivered by the variable focusing system diverges in the plane defined by a x-axis and a z-axis and converges in the plane defined by a y-axis and the z-axis.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least two focusing configurations alternate the millimeter wave energy between a plurality of fixed focus settings having either different effective apertures, different effective focal lengths in the plane defined by the y-axis and the z-axis, the plane defined by the y-axis and the z-axis, or both, or both different effective apertures and effective focal lengths.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least two focusing configurations are each configured to deliver an effective power density within a desired range of power densities over different ranges of distance in an axis of propagation.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one beam processing element includes at least one of a shaped reflector, shaped transmissive lens, flat-panel array antenna, or a phased array system, or any combination thereof.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the high-power millimeter-wave source includes at least one of a solid-state source or a vacuum tube-based source.