Weapon system
AssigneeBAE SYSTEMS plc
InventorKeith Antony Rigby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a laser weapon system, comprising: one or more lasers for generating electromagnetic radiation; laser optics for directing the generated electromagnetic radiation at a target; and a control system, the control system being arranged to monitor three-dimensional position of an object other than the target, and to control a mask to at least limit generated electromagnetic radiation being directed at that object or to direct generated electromagnetic radiation towards another target or a safe location.
Claims15
A laser weapon system, comprising:
- one or more lasers for generating electromagnetic radiation;
- laser optics for directing the generated electromagnetic radiation at a target via a laser aperture;
- a laser aperture, being a final optical element in the laser weapon system through which the generated electromagnetic radiation exits the weapon;
- and
- a control system, the control system being arranged to monitor the three-dimensional position of an object other than the target, and to control a mask to at least limit generated electromagnetic radiation being directed at that object;
- wherein the mask is a physical mask for physically blocking or otherwise physically deflecting already generated electromagnetic radiation towards another target or a safe location, in order to at least limit generated electromagnetic radiation being directed at the object other than the target, and wherein the physical mask is in the path of the radiation between the aperture and the object other than the target.
A control system for a laser weapon system, the control system being arranged to monitor in real time, the three-dimensional position of an object other than a target of the laser weapon system, and to use a mask to at least limit generated electromagnetic radiation being directed at that object;
- wherein the mask is a physical mask for physically blocking or otherwise physically deflecting already generated electromagnetic radiation towards another target or a safe location, in order to at least limit generated electromagnetic radiation being directed at the object other than the target, and wherein the physical mask is in the path of the radiation between the aperture and the object other than the target.
A control system for a laser weapon system, the control system being arranged to monitor in real time, the three-dimensional position of an object other than a target of the laser weapon system, and to use a control mask to direct generated electromagnetic radiation towards another target or a safe location;
- wherein the mask is a physical mask for physically blocking or otherwise physically deflecting already generated electromagnetic radiation towards another target or a safe location, in order to at least limit generated electromagnetic radiation being directed at the object other than the target, and wherein the physical mask is in the path of the radiation between the aperture and the object other than the target.
A method of controlling a laser weapon system, comprising monitoring in real time, the three-dimensional position of an object other than a target of the laser weapon system, and to mask that object to at least limit generated electromagnetic radiation being directed at that object;
- wherein the mask is a physical mask for physically blocking or otherwise physically deflecting already generated electromagnetic radiation towards another target or a safe location, in order to at least limit generated electromagnetic radiation being directed at the object other than the target, and wherein the physical mask is in the path of the radiation between the aperture and the object other than the target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.