Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as Represented by the Minister

Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as Represented by the Minister of National Defence

Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as Represented by the Minister of National Defence of Her Majesty's Canadian Government

Her Majesty the Queen as Represented by the Minister of National Defence

Institut National De La Recherche Scientifique

Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada (...)

Her Majesty the Queen, as Represented by the Minister of National

Jacques Dubois

Jean Fortin

Maurice Gravel

Raymond Carbonneau

Francis Théberge

Andre Cantin

Sophie LaRochelle

Jean-Claude Kieffer

Philippe Lassonde

Sophie La Rochelle

Stephane Payeur

Stéphane Payeur

David H Gladstone

Marc Chàteauneuf

Pierre Mathieu

Gedeon Drouin

The present invention provides a reflective telescopic system, to control the generation of filamentation of ultrashort and intense laser pulses that includes: a flat mirror, an adaptive reflective mirror, a dichroic convex mirror, an off-axis parabolic mirror, and a first laser source. The convex mirror and the adaptive reflective mirror are mounted on an independent breadboard and set on a translation stage. The propagation axis of the laser beam reflected by the mirror should correspond to the off-axis of the parabolic mirror. The parabolic mirror reflects the beam at a specific angle. Finally, the propagation axis between the dichroic convex mirror and the off-axis parabolic mirror, the propagation axis between the flat mirror and the adaptive reflective mirror, and the axis of the translation stage should be substantially parallel to each other. The present invention also contemplates the boresighting of a weak laser beam from a second laser source.

Telescopic control of high power laser propagation

A method comprising using a pulse shaper in the spectral domain to generate multiple-color pulses directly at the output of the laser amplifier. The delay can thus be controlled directly in the spectral domain and there is no need for an optical delay line. The method allows reducing the number of optical components and insures insensitivity to alignment, vibrations and turbulence on long distance propagation and filamentation, particularly in air. The method allows programmable and tunable interaction, since the pulse shaper is able to control the laser spectral amplitude and phase.

System and method for agile remote generation of a broadband tunable short-pulse emission

A laser warning receiver (LWR) to detect a very low power laser beam for a laser beam rider and provide a high angular resolution in determining the angle-of-arrival of that beam. An aperture having a fixed field-of-view (FOV) is located in a detection channel followed by a narrow-band filter and a detector whose output is applied to a pulse analyzer circuit. A localization channel with the same FOV has a similar narrow-band filter and a lens to focus light from that FOV onto a detector through a N&#xd7;M element LCD matrix, an output of that detector being applied to the pulse analyzer circuit whose output is applied to a LCD pattern selector connected to the matrix which controls elements in the matrix to provide a transparent window of variable size and position. The size and position of that window allows a laser beam to reach the detector, the window being iterative reduced in size when a beam is detected to provide the location of its source.

Low irradiance sensor with iterative angular resolution

A guidance system for a missile with a laser beam source located at a distance from the missile generating a modulated laser beam that is directed towards the missile. A group of backward looking sensors on the body of the missile detect any radiation scattered from the laser beam along with a group of forward looking sensors located on the missile. Both groups look at an angle to the missile's longitudinal axis. Signals from the sensors are applied to processing electronics in the missile that determine the phase shift in signals derived from when a backward looking sensor detects scattered radiation from a laser beam and a forward looking sensor detects scattered radiation from that beam. The processing electronics can then accurately determine the distance between the missile and the beam from the phase shift and correct the missile's trajectory to maintain its position with respect to the beam.

Missile steering using laser scattering by atmosphere

A guidance system for a missile utilitizes a laser beam source at a missile launch pad to generate a laser beam that is directed towards a target. A sensor on the body of a spinning missile detects radiation scattered from the laser beam, the sensor looking sideways and backward at an angle to the missile's longitudinal axis. Signals generated by that sensor are applied to a missile's guidance system's processing electronics that then determines the distance from the missile to the beam from the width of the signal generated by the sensor due to detecting scattered radiation from that laser beam. Once the distance between the missile and the beam is determined, the missile's guidance system corrects the missile's trajectory to maintain its position at a predetermined distance from the beam.

Beam laser atmospheric scattering trajectory guidance

An imaging system for obtaining an image of a field-of-view where high levels of light from an extraneous source may be present at one area and low levels of light present at other areas in the field-of-view. The imaging system has a lens to focus an image of the field-of-view onto a surface of a photodetector and an optical limiter is located between the lens and the photodetector. The optical limiter limits transmission of the high levels of light at areas onto which those are focussed by the lens but remains transmissive to the low levels of light at other areas. The imaging system is particularly intended for use in laser warning receivers where sunlight may be focussed on the optical limiter and blocked at the particularly area on which it is focussed, the optical limiter remaining transmissive to laser beams, even if intense, at locations other than where the sunlight is focussed allowing laser beams to be detected by the photodetector.

Sun optical limitation illumination detector (SOLID)

An optical identification friend-or-foe (IFF) system for vehicles comprises an active cooperative identification friend-or-foe (ACTIFF) system wherein a responder optical head is located on each friendly vehicle. That responder optical head comprises a number of small panels arranged in an array with surfaces of adjacent panels being at an angle to each other, the outer surfaces of the panels being coated with laser paint designed to emit radiation at one or more selective wavelengths when subjected to a suitable interrogation pump beam. Those selective wavelengths form an identification code for a vehicle. In operation, an interrogating vehicle would transmit a narrow well-collimated infrared (IR) beam towards a target vehicle causing laser paint on the coated surfaces to emit the selective wavelengths when subjected to that IR beam. These wavelengths can then be detected by the interrogating vehicle for identification purposes.

Active cooperative tuned identification friend or foe (ACTIFF)

A tunable wavelength agile opto-electronic device for detecting and determining an angle of arrival of a collimated beam of radiation comprising a linearly variable optical filter superimposed over an elongated detector having at least one radiation detector element in each quadrant of the detector. Radiation that transverses that filter projects an image of a first portion of the filter onto two adjacent detector elements in separate quadrants at a first end of the elongated detector and an equal size image of a second portion of the filter onto two adjacent detector elements in separate quadrants at a second end of the elongated detector. A signal generated by radiation that transverses the filter onto a detector element in a quadrant at the second end is subtracted from a signal generated by radiation that transverses the filter onto an aligned detector element at the first end of the elongated detector to provide two difference signals, one for each side of the elongated detector. That subtraction reduces noise generated by background radiation to enable easier detection of a collimated beam and processing electronics use the two difference signals to determine the angle of arrival of such a collimated beam. In one embodiment, a liquid crystal bar graph is located between the filter and the detector which, under control of a control unit, forms two transparent narrow apertures at selected positions so that an image of one aperture forms on quadrant detectors at the first end and the second aperture on quadrant detector at the second end.

Wavelength agile receiver with noise neutralization and angular

An optical identification friend-or-foe (IFF) system for vehicles comprises a Selective Wavelength IFF (SWIFF) system with a tunable optical beacon being located on each similarly equipped vehicle. That tunable optical beacon includes a light source and wavelength encoder which can select a number of narrow-band optical wavelengths for emission from the beacon, those selected wavelengths forming an identification code for a vehicle. The optical beacon directs the selected wavelengths along an optical path to a diffuser which can irradiate a wide field-of-view around the vehicle with those selected wavelength for detection and identification by other friendly vehicles. The light source may be one that emits a broad range of wavelengths with the encoder providing a number of narrow-band optical filters which can be selectively positioned in the optical path from the light source to the diffuser. Alternatively, the light source and encoder could be a wavelength agile laser source or an array of laser diodes emitting at specific wavelengths and a control unit to select the wavelengths emitted by the laser source or array of diodes. This optical SWIFF system provides a high level of covertness and degree of confidence in the identification of vehicles as being friend-or-foe.

Selective wavelength identification friend or foe (SWIFF)

An opto-electronic device for detecting a beam of radiation and determining the angle-of-arrival of that beam with a high degree of angular resolution. The device has a linear array of radiation detectors arranged in a plane with a shadow mask located at a predetermined height h above and parallel to that plane wherein the shadow mask has a plurality of transparent apertures separated by opaque areas. Each radiation detector in the array comprises at least one pair of individual detector elements and apertures of the shadow mask, which apertures have the same width as the detector elements, are centred directly above the area between adjacent detector elements. Signals generated by corresponding detector elements in each radiation detector are supplied, in parallel, to one channel providing a number of output channels which correspond to the number of individual detector elements in each radiation detector. The angle-of-arrival of a radiation beam emitted by a source and traversing the apertures can then be determined by output signals from the channels. This radiation beam detecting device is particularly designed for use in Laser Warning Receivers which detect, identify and locate laser sources associated with laser guided weapons.

Analog high resolution laser irradiation detector (HARLID)

An apparatus for detecting a beam of radiation, such as a collimated laser beam, and determining the angle-of-arrival of that beam with a high angular resolution, the apparatus comprising a linear array of radiation detectors arranged in a plane and a digital Gray code shadow mask, located at a predetermined height above and parallel to the plane. The Gray code shadow mask is provided with parallel rows containing slot(s) with each of those rows being centrally positioned directly above one of the radiation detectors and arranged so that the rows are perpendicular to the linear array. The slot(s) in each row are located at predetermined distances from the center of a row with those distances differing for each row. A well collimated radiation beam, such as from a laser, directed towards the shadow mask will project images of the slots onto the plane with the positions of the images being dependent on both the positions of the slots and the angle-of-arrival of the beam. This will result, according to the digital Gray code, in some of the images being located on some of the radiation detectors, each of which will then generate an output signal, while some of the radiation detectors will be located in between the images of the slots and not generate any signal. Since the location of the images of the slots is dependent on the angle-of-arrival of the beam, that angle-of-arrival can then be determined from the outputs of all the radiation detectors.

Digital high angular resolution laser irradiation detector (HARLID)

A laser warning receiver (LWR) having an ability to not only detect a low power level laser source, such as a pulse train emitted by a laser beam rider, but to also provide a high angular resolution in determining the angle of arrival of that pulse train. The receiver includes a lens/filter arrangement for a large area photodetector to detect an incoming signal from an emitting source and a high gain amplifier to amplify the signal which is then applied to a synchronization generator that generates a digital pulse train with pulses corresponding to peaks in the incoming signal. The digital pulse train is applied to a code breaker where the code is analyzed and a further code is generated anticipating the arrival of further pulses in order to verify the code. That further code is applied to a time gate generator which generate a code, synchronized with the incoming signal, that controls the high voltage of a gated image intensifier which is coupled to a video camera. Gating of the image intensifier is synchronized, as a result, with coded emissions from the source so that a video image from the camera can be displayed on a monitor and more easily differentiated from the background. The width of pulses generated by the time gate generator, the video camera, gain of the gated image intensifier, gain of the gated image intensifier and an auto-iris zoom lens coupled to the image intensifier are all under the control of a video processor.

Very high angular resolution laser beam rider detector having a gated

An identification friend-or-foe system for vehicles wherein each vehicle is provided with a radiation transmitter and a receiver with a detector for detecting radiation transmitted by other vehicles. Each transmitter can transmit a first coded signal which can be detected by the receivers in other vehicles, the receivers providing an unblocking signal after the first coded signal is correctly identified. The unblocking signal clears a radiation transmission path in the vehicle, the path containing a reflector which reflects the received signal back to the source of the transmission. The reflector adds a further predetermined code to the signal reflected from the reflector with each vehicle having another detector for detecting a reflected signal and a device to identify the further predetermined code.

Optical identification friend-or-foe

The thermal deformation of an edge-restrained plate is expressed as a deflection of the plate out of its plane. Where the plate is used as a reference plane, the deformation of the plate can be quantitatively monitored and compensated for. In the case of a radiantly heated plate, the temperature gradient adjacent an edge of the plate is a linear function of the plate deformation. With convective cooling, the temperature drop from an initial condition relates linearly to deformation. Consequently, relatively simple temperature measurements will provide the necessary information. The invention has particular application to the roof of a military tank turret that is used as a reference plane for a gun sighting system.

Thermo-electronic system to correct for thermal deformation of a

A muzzle reference system is provided for correcting errors in aiming signals produced by a fire-control system of an artillery gun having a gun muzzle pivotable about a first axis and movable about a second axis extending perpendicularly of the first axis. A laser beam transmitting unit adapted to be mounted on the gun for movement with the barrel about the second axis, directs a laser beam along an optical axis in response to an activating signal. A reflection unit, adapted to be mounted at the distal end of the barrel, reflects a laser beam received from the transmitting unit along the optical axis substantially along a reference optical axis at a predetermined angular position of the barrel about the first axis. A laser beam receiving unit, adapted to be mounted on the gun, receives a laser beam reflected substantially along the reference optical axis and produces signals representative of the deviation of the reflected beam from the perdetermined optical axis. A processing unit connected to the receiving unit and adapted to be connected to the fire-control system converts the deviation representative signals to aiming correction signals and adds the latter to the aiming signals. Monitoring means monitors the position of the barrel about the first axis and applies the activating signal to the transmitting unit when the barrel is at its predetermined position.

Growing community of inventors

Neufchatel, Canada

Jacques Dubois