Multi-mode searchlight

A multi-mode lighthead, comprising:

• a housing having front, rear, top, and bottom sectors;
• an attachment point connected with one of said sectors of said housing;
• a reflective device, said reflective device being mounted inside said housing and reflecting light from the front sector of said housing;
• an imaging module positioned within said housing to capture an image from said front sector of the housing;
• at least one high intensity infrared diode, said diode being installed into said housing from the rear sector of said housing and positioned to emit infrared light from the front sector of said housing;
• at least one visible light source, said visible light source being installed within said housing from the rear sector of said housing such that said visible light source projects through said reflectors and emits light from the front sector of said housing;
• at least one lens affixed to the front sector of said housing through which at least one of emitted visible and infrared light passes;
• and a detachable cover affixed to the rear sector of said lighthead.

A multi-mode lighthead, comprising:

• a housing having front, rear, top, and bottom sectors;
• an attachment point connected with one of said sectors of said housing;
• a reflective device, said reflective device being mounted inside said housing and reflecting light from the front sector of said housing;
• an imaging module positioned within said housing to capture an image from said front sector of the housing;
• at least one high intensity infrared diode, said diode being installed into said housing from the rear sector of said housing and positioned to emit infrared light from the front sector of said housing;
• at least one visible light source, said visible light source being installed within said housing from the rear sector of said housing such that said visible light source projects through said reflectors and emits light from the front sector of said housing;
• at least one lens affixed to the front sector of said housing through which at least one of emitted visible and infrared light passes;
• a high power infrared laser within the housing;
• and
• a laser aperture opening at the front sector of the housing.

A multi-mode lighthead, comprising:

• a housing having front, rear, top, and bottom sectors;
• an imaging module positioned within said housing to capture an image from said front sector of the housing;
• at least one high intensity infrared diode, said diode being installed into said housing from the rear sector of said housing and positioned to emit infrared light from the front sector of said housing;
• at least one visible light source, said visible light source being installed within said housing from the rear sector of said housing such that said visible light source projects through said reflectors and emits light from the front sector of said housing;
• and
• a plurality of openings formed within said rear sector of said housing and extending between said front and rear sectors, wherein said diode and said visible light source extend through said openings and are operatively secured to said housing at said rear sector of said housing.

A multi-mode lighthead, comprising:

• a housing having front, rear, top, and bottom sectors;
• an imaging module positioned within said housing to capture an image from said front sector of the housing;
• at least one high intensity infrared diode, said diode being installed into said housing from the rear sector of said housing and positioned to emit infrared light from the front sector of said housing;
• and
• at least one visible light source, said visible light source being installed within said housing from the rear sector of said housing such that said visible light source projects through said reflectors and emits light from the front sector of said housing;
• a high power infrared laser within the housing;
• and
• a laser aperture opening at the front sector of the housing.

A multi-mode lighthead, comprising:

• a housing having front, rear, top, and bottom sectors;
• a high power infrared laser within the housing;
• a laser aperture opening at the front sector of the housing;
• at least one high intensity infrared diode, said diode being installed into said housing from the rear sector of said housing and positioned to emit infrared light from the front sector of said housing;
• and
• at least one visible light source, said visible light source being installed within said housing from the rear sector of said housing such that said visible light source emits light from the front sector of said housing.

A multi-mode lighthead system, said system comprising:

• a lighthead housing having front, rear, top, and bottom sectors;
• an imaging module positioned within said housing to capture an image from said front sector of the housing;
• a display for viewing and retaining the image from said imaging module;
• a positioning and control system for positioning and controlling the lighthead housing;
• an attachment portion connected with at least one of said sectors of said housing and interfacing with said positioning and control system;
• at least one high intensity infrared diode, said diode being installed into said housing from the rear sector of said housing and positioned to emit infrared light from the front sector of said housing;
• and
• at least one visible light source, said visible light source being installed within said housing from the rear sector of said housing such that said visible light source projects through reflectors and emits light from the front sector of said housing;
• and
• a plurality of openings formed within said rear sector of said housing and extending between said front and rear sectors, wherein said diode and said visible light source extend through said openings and are operatively secured to said housing at said rear sector of said housing.

A multi-mode lighthead system, said system comprising

• a lighthead housing having front, rear, top, and bottom sectors;
• a positioning and control system for positioning and controlling the lighthead housing;
• an attachment portion connected with at least one of said sectors of said housing and interfacing with said positioning and control system;
• a high power infrared laser;
• a laser aperture opening at the front sector of the housing;
• at least one high intensity infrared diode, said diode being installed into said housing from the rear sector of said housing and positioned to emit infrared light from the front sector of said housing;
• and
• at least one visible light source, said visible light source being installed within said housing from the rear sector of said housing such that said visible light source projects through said reflectors and emits light from the front sector of said housing.

A multi-mode lighthead system, said system comprising:

• a lighthead housing having front, rear, top, and bottom sectors;
• a positioning and control system operatively connected to said lighthead housing for positioning and controlling the lighthead housing;
• an attachment portion connected with at least one of said sectors of said housing and interfacing with said positioning and control system;
• at least one of a high intensity infrared diode, said diode being installed into said housing from the rear sector of said housing and positioned to emit infrared light from the front sector of said housing, a visible light source, said visible light source being installed within said housing from the rear sector of said housing such that said visible light source emits light from the front sector of said housing, a high power infrared laser having a laser aperture opening at the front sector of the housing and operating at approximately 780 nm or greater, and an imaging module within said front sector of the housing for capturing an image;
• and
• a searchlight controller operatively connected to said positioning and control system for controlling an acquisition and fixed-position tracking of a target, said searchlight controller including absolute position sensing capability and a rangefinder accepting position data from a (GPS) Global Positioning System for tracking an absolute location of the target.

A process for providing a multi-mode lighthead, comprising:

• providing a housing having front, rear, top, and bottom sectors;
• providing an imaging module within said housing to capture an image from said front sector of the housing;
• providing at least one high intensity infrared diode into said housing from the rear sector of said housing to emit infrared light from the front sector of said housing, wherein said at least one high intensity infrared diode is inserted into the housing from the rear sector of the housing and through an opening formed in the rear sector of the housing;
• providing at least one visible light source within said housing from the rear sector of said housing such that said visible light source projects through said reflectors and visible light is emitted from the front sector of said housing, wherein said at least one visible light source is inserted into the housing from the rear sector of the housing and through an opening formed in the rear sector of the housing;
• and
• providing a positioning and control system for said lighthead, said positioning and control system controlling a position of said housing.

A process for providing a multi-mode lighthead, comprising:

• providing a housing having front, rear, top, and bottom sectors;
• providing an advanced navigational and visual aid, wherein said advanced navigational and visual aid is at least one of an imaging module within said housing to capture an image from said front sector of the housing and a high power infrared laser operating at approximately 780 nm or greater;
• providing at least one high intensity infrared diode into said housing from the rear sector of said housing to emit infrared light from the front sector of said housing, wherein said at least one high intensity infrared diode is inserted into the housing from the rear sector of the housing and through an opening formed in the rear sector of the housing;
• providing at least one visible light source within said housing from the rear sector of said housing such that said visible light source projects through said reflectors and visible light is emitted from the front sector of said housing, wherein said at least one visible light source is inserted into the housing from the rear sector of the housing and through an opening formed in the rear sector of the housing;
• and
• providing a positioning and control system for said lighthead, said positioning and control system controlling a position of said housing.