Laser ordnance safe-arm distributor
View Patent ↗An improved ignition safety device (ISD) employs one or more optical switches to accomplish a SAFE-ARM function for a laser initiated ordnance system (LIOS). At least one optical switch along with appropriate control and status monitoring provide an optical SAFE-ARM function and optionally a distribution function. An optical switch performing the SAFE-ARM function diverts a laser signal to a heat sink assembly when in a SAFED position and switches to the LIOS when in an ARMED position. When in the SAFED position, the LOSAD provides an optical block in the laser energy path between a laser firing unit and the LIOS to prevent inadvertent ordnance operation. An optical switch performing the distribution function has two or more switch positions that direct a received laser signal to two or more laser initiated devices.
1. A laser initiated ordnance system, said laser initiated ordnance system comprising:
a laser firing unit for providing a laser signal;
a heat sink assembly;
a first optical switch for receiving said laser signal and for providing an optical SAFE-ARM function, said first optical switch having an ARMED switch position and a SAFED switch position, said ARMED switch position for providing said laser signal a laser energy path between said laser firing unit and a first laser initiated ordnance device, said SAFED switch position for diverting said laser signal to said heat sink assembly; and
a control system for controlling said first optical switch.
2. The laser initiated ordnance system of claim 1 , wherein said control system receives status information from said first optical switch.
3. The laser initiated ordnance system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fiber optic line.
4. The laser initiated ordnance system of claim 1 , wherein diverting said laser signal to said heat sink assembly provides a physical interruption in the laser energy path between the laser firing unit and the first laser initiated device.
5. The laser initiated ordnance system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second optical switch for receiving said laser signal from said first optical switch and for providing a distribution function, said second optical switch having a first switch position for distributing said laser signal to said first laser initiated ordnance device, said second optical switch having a second switch position for distributing said laser signal to said second laser initiated ordnance device, said control system controlling said second optical switch.
6. The laser initiated ordnance system of claim 5 , wherein said control system receives status information from said second optical switch.
7. The laser initiated ordnance system of claim 1 , wherein said first optical switch enables signals in optical fibers to be selectively switched from one circuit to another.
8. The laser initiated ordnance system of claim 1 , wherein said first optical switch is one of a photonic switch, a slow optical switch, or a fast optical switch.
9. The laser initiated ordnance system of claim 1 , wherein said first optical switch physically switch lights via electronic switching between fiber transponders.
10. The laser initiated ordnance system of claim 1 , wherein said first optical switch operates by physically shifting an optical fiber to drive one or more alternative fibers.
11. The laser initiated ordnance system of claim 1 , wherein said first optical switch operates by changing the optical properties of a material in response to an electric field.
12. The laser initiated ordnance system of claim 11 , wherein said optical properties involve one of a change of the absorption properties of the material or a change of the refractive index of the material.
13. The laser initiated ordnance system of claim 1 , wherein said first optical switch transmits light through a layer of magneto-optic material resulting in the Faraday effect whereby the plane of polarization can be rotated.
14. The laser initiated ordnance system of claim 1 , wherein said first optical switch employs at least one of electro-optic effects, magneto-optic effects, piezoelectric beam steering, inkjet methods, liquid crystals that rotate polarized light, thermal methods that vary the index of refraction in one leg of a interferometer, acousto-optic methods, an amplifiers, or attenuators.
15. The laser initiated ordnance system of claim 1 , wherein said first optical switch is a micro-electrical-mechanical-systems (MEMS) optical switch.
16. The laser initiated ordnance system of claim 15 , wherein said MEMS optical switch is one of a piezoelectric switch, an electrostatic switch, or electromagnetic switch.
17. The laser initiated ordnance system of claim 15 , wherein said MEMS optical switch utilizes micro-mirrors to switch or reflect an optical channel or signal from one location to another depending on the relative angle of the micro-mirror.
18. The laser initiated ordnance system of claim 1 , wherein said first optical switch is an electrostatic mirror-based active MEMS optical switching device involving dual-axes tilting MEMS mirror technology.
19. A device comprising:
a laser signal generator, the laser signal generator outputting a laser signal;
a switch, the switch having an input coupled to the laser signal generator, a first position coupled to a first output, and a second position coupled to a second output; and
a heat sink coupled to the first output of the switch, wherein the switch is in the first position when the device is in a safe mode and the switch is in the second position when the device is in a armed mode, wherein the heat sink receives the laser signal when the switch is in the safe mode; and
wherein the device provides the laser signal to the second output of the switch when the switch is in the armed mode.
20. The device of claim 19 , further comprising:
a control unit coupled to the first switch, wherein the control unit monitors the position of the first switch and controls the position of the switch.
21. The device of claim 19 , wherein the switch is optical switch.
22. The device of claim 19 , wherein the switch is a micro-electrical-mechanical-systems optical switch.
23. A device comprising:
a laser signal generator, the laser signal generator outputting a laser signal;
a first switch, the first switch having an input coupled to the laser signal generator, a first position coupled to a first output and a second position coupled to a second output; and
a heat sink coupled to the first output of the first switch;
a second switch, the second switch having an input coupled to the second output of the first switch, a first position coupled to a first output and a second position coupled to a second output; and
wherein the first switch is in the first position when the device is in a safe mode and the first switch is in the second position when the device is in a armed mode,
wherein the heat sink receives the laser signal when the first switch is in the safe mode; and
wherein the second switch receives the laser signal when the first switch is in the armed mode; and
wherein the device provides the laser signal to the first or second output of the second switch when the first switch is in the armed mode.
24. The device of claim 23 , further comprising:
a first control unit coupled to the first switch, wherein the first control unit monitors the position of the first switch and controls the position of the first switch, and
a second control unit coupled to the second switch, wherein the second control unit monitors the position of the second switch and controls the position of the second switch.