US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Stephen Redington

Gregory C Burke

John Hirlinger

Christopher Macrae

Jason R Cahayla

Barry Schwartz

Lloyd Khuc

Matthew Sargent

A laser ignition assembly comprises first and second mounting surfaces opposed to each other. A central cavity is formed through the surfaces and sized to receive energetic material therein. A vertical solder bridge is formed between the surfaces and an edge emitting laser diode disposed between the surfaces. The laser diode is oriented such that a light fluence therefrom is directed in a radial direction into the central cavity. The surfaces can be circuit boards, e.g., copper clad, rigid circuit boards, and have an annular shape. The central cavity can be further defined by an interboard gap between the surfaces. The ignition assembly can fit within a primer cup of a munition.

Embedded radial fired laser igniter

A circuit assembly with an electrical connection between two individual Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) or Circuit Card Assemblies (CCAs) that are vertically stacked with a connection formed entirely of solder and with a gap in between surfaces that components may occupy. Coalescing solder paste merges between the surfaces when it is in a liquid state to form a solder bridge. The resultant assembly can be encapsulated to form a solid monolithic electronic assembly to improve robustness and allow the assembly to better withstand compressive forces.

Vertical soldering technology for 3D circuit assembly

An ammunition cartridge for a gun is optically initiated by a mechanism wholly within the cartridge case itself. The case has as optical primer initiation means producing light fluence to ignite a primer, which ignited primer may in turn ignite into a flashtube, and which ignited flashtube may in turn ignite a bed of propellant in said cartridge. The optical primer initiation means may be an LED, a laser diode, a VCSEL, or some other light emitting device in general. The cartridge optically initiated primer package is so sized and made electrically and mechanically seamlessly physically compatible with current ammunition cartridges such that these new cartridges are completely interchangeable. If the cartridge primer initiation means is of a percussion type, the cartridge is adapted to include an in-line piezoelectric crystal so that electrical power will be generated when the cartridge assembly is struck by a firing pin during percussion type operations; the power is then used to initiate the light emitting device.

Disposable, miniature internal optical ignition source

Disposable, miniature internal optical ignition source for ammunition application

A setback switch device is provided which, upon launch, can arm an explosive or pyrotechnic device for military gun launched applications. An included bridgewire shunt feature can also prevent the unintended arming, or accidental arming by a stray voltage before any launch is undertaken, of such explosive or pyrotechnic device.

Growing community of inventors

Wharton, NJ, United States of America

Stephen Redington