The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 26, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 20, 1987
Richard D Milton, Laceys Spring, AL (US);
Vernon H Ayre, Falkville, AL (US);
William F Otto, Huntsville, AL (US);
John K Dempsey, Union Grove, AL (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
A subsystem addition to the Imaging Simplified Laser Pointing System (ISL). The subsystem in itself is a laser system to be operated off-axis within the field of view of the ISLAPS. This subsystem laser is to be used to interrogate the target. Operation of the ISLAPS at night or with low light conditions is made possible by this addition. The interrogator beam is bounced off the target. In the OA mode the receiver is looking for a retro-reflection or optical augmentation to signal the firing of the negation laser. This mode can be used at any light level. In the illuminator mode the interrogator is 'opened up' to effectively spotlight the target during low light conditions. This allows for imaging, aimpoint selection and video correlation in the same manner as was done with ambient light in the original system. The use of the interrogator also makes it possible to range gate. This reduces background creating clearer images and increases sensitivity because it allows for a reduction in threshold levels.