US 10,852,432 B2Granted

Dual mode laser target designator/rangefinder with an optical parametric oscillator-optical parametric amplifier (OPO-OPA) converter

AssigneeBAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.

InventorsDavid P. Kelly, John C. McCarthy, Christopher A. Miller, Hermanus S. Pretorius, Katherine J. Snell

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Abstract

The current disclosure is directed to an apparatus and method of a Laser Designator/Rangefinder (LDR) having two wavelengths of 1064 nm and 1572 nm. The 1064 nm wavelength laser is generated by a pump diode by exciting Nd:YAG medium (source). The 1572 nm wavelength laser is produced using an OPO-OPA converted which is located in a by-pass path. Because the 1572 nm wavelength uses near diffraction limited signal, it provides long range identification and tracking capability needed for advanced tactical platforms, while using the smallest transmit aperture, in a low Size, Weight and Power Consumption (SWaP) package.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A long range laser target designator/rangefinder (LDR) system, comprising:

a 1064 nm wavelength laser, wherein a medium of the laser is adapted to be excited by a laser pumping source;
an optical beam selector, wherein the optical beam selector is selectable between a range finding mode and a target designation mode;
an optical parametric oscillator-optical parametric amplifier (OPO-OPA) converter system wherein the converter system comprises an OPO-OPA converter, a half wave plate and a beam reducer, wherein the 1064 nm wavelength laser passes through the OPO-OPA converter system if the range finding mode is selected and bypasses the OPO-OPA converter system if the target designation mode is selected;
a polarizer located between the half wave plate and an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) of the OPO-OPA converter system, wherein the polarizer splits the 1064 nm wavelength laser into a first split laser beam and a second split laser beam, wherein the first split laser beam has a low energy level of less than or equal to 20 mJ;
and
a beam reducer located between the polarizer and the OPO, wherein the beam reducer is configured to reduce a diameter of the first split laser beam prior to entering a cavity defined by the OPO-OPA converter, wherein the diameter of the reduced first split laser beam is reduced to less than 1 mm.

3 more elements

A method of determining a range of a target and designating the target comprising:

providing a long range laser target designator/rangefinder (LDR system) including an Optical Parametric Oscillator-Optical Parametric Amplifier converter (OPO-OPA converter) having a beam expander, a half wave plate and a polarizer;
pumping a laser source;
generating a 1064 nm wavelength laser beam;
selecting between a range finding mode and a target designation mode via an optical beam selector, wherein the target designation mode bypasses the OPO-OPA converter;
directing the 1064 nm wavelength laser beam through the beam expander, through the half wave plate and into the polarizer;
splitting the laser beam in the polarizer into a first split laser beam and a second split laser beam, wherein the first split laser beam has a low energy level of less than or equal to 20 mJ;
directing the first split laser beam into a beam reducer;
reducing a diameter of the first split laser beam in the beam reducer to less than 1 mm;
and
directing the reduced diameter first split laser beam into an OPO of the OPO-OPA converter, wherein the OPO generates a diffraction limited beam from the reduced diameter first split laser beam and a cavity defined by the OPO-OPA converter.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.