Method of calibrating a laser sensor stimulator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10271402-B2
Application number	US-201715686638-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2017
Priority date	May 9, 2011
Publication date	Apr 23, 2019
Grant date	Apr 23, 2019

Abstract

A laser sensor stimulator integrates laser units, an inertial measurement unit, a control unit, and ergonomic, modular design with GPS data feeds into a portable system that can be used to test energy sensors and warning devices and includes a user interface facilitates tracking and acquisition of items of interest by the laser sensor stimulator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of stimulating and calibrating a laser sensor or laser warning device comprising:
aiming the at least one laser unit at a user defined point, a practice target, or other item of known GPS coordinates;
receiving range data corresponding to the user defined point, the practice target, or the other item of known GPS coordinates by the at least one laser unit;
processing the range data to create a user interface that displays the the user defined point, the practice target, or the other item of known GPS coordinates to enable an operator to identify and engage the user defined point, the practice target, or the other item of known GPS coordinates;
selecting a calibration function that sets an inertial measurement unit so the precise orientation of the at least one laser unit is set;
determining an orientation of the at least one laser unit with the inertial measurement unit and locking out operation of the at least one laser unit if the at least one laser unit is aimed at an item of interest within a predefined safety zone;
activating the at least one laser unit to emit laser energy; and
displaying results of the lasing activity on the user interface.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface displays the user defined point, the practice target, or the other item of known GPS coordinates in a scope view including an azimuth of orientation of the at least one laser unit, and the field of view of the laser unit and a perspective view that displays the elevation of the laser unit and the field of view of the at least one laser unit.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of maintaining a time-stamped log of the operations of the at least one laser unit.

4. A method of stimulating and calibrating a laser sensor or laser warning device comprising:
aiming the at least one laser unit at a user defined point, a practice target, or other item of known GPS coordinates;
receiving range data corresponding to the user defined point, the practice target, or the other item of known GPS coordinates by the at least one laser unit;
processing the range data to create a user interface that displays the the user defined point, the practice target, or the other item of known GPS coordinates to enable an operator to identify and engage the user defined point, the practice target, or the other item of known GPS coordinates;
selecting a calibration function that sets an inertial measurement unit so the precise orientation of the at least one laser unit is set;
determining an orientation of the at least one laser unit with the inertial measurement unit and locking out operation of the at least one laser unit if the at least one laser unit is aimed outside of a predefined permissible azimuth;
activating the at least one laser unit to emit laser energy; and
displaying results of the lasing activity on the user interface.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the user interface displays the user defined point, the practice target, or the other item of known GPS coordinates in a scope view including an azimuth of orientation of the at least one laser unit, and the field of view of the laser unit and a perspective view that displays the elevation of the laser unit and the field of view of the at least one laser unit.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising the step of maintaining a time-stamped log of the operations of the at least one laser unit.

7. A method of stimulating and calibrating a laser sensor or laser warning device comprising:
aiming at least one laser unit at a user defined point, a practice target, or other item of known GPS coordinates;
receiving range data corresponding to the user defined point, the practice target, or the other item of known GPS coordinates by the at least one laser unit;
processing the range data to create a user interface that displays the user defined point, the practice target, or the other item of known GPS coordinates to enable an operator to identify and engage the user defined point, the practice target, or the other item of known GPS coordinates;
selecting a calibration function that sets an inertial measurement unit so the precise orientation of the at least one laser unit is set;
determining an orientation of the at least one laser unit with the inertial measurement unit;
activating the at least one laser unit to emit laser energy;
displaying the results of the lasing activity on the user interface.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
locking out operation of the at least one laser unit if the at least one laser unit is aimed at an item of interest within a predefined safety zone.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
locking out operation of the at least one laser unit if the at least one laser unit is aimed outside of a predefined permissible azimuth.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the user interface displays the user defined point, the practice target, or the other item of known GPS coordinates in a scope view including an azimuth of orientation of the at least one laser unit, and the field of view of the laser unit and a perspective view that displays the elevation of the laser unit and the field of view of the at least one laser unit.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of maintaining a time-stamped log of the operations of the at least one laser unit.

Assignees

• Us Air Force

Inventors

• Cain Anthony M
• Hugh Danny J
• Thomas Donald R
• Davidson Shawn R

Classifications

• F41G1/54

  Devices for testing or checking {; Tools for adjustment of sights} · CPC title

• F21V21/00

  Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for lighting devices (F21V17/00, F21V19/00 take precedence; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q, stands for supporting apparatus or articles in general F16M11/00); Hand grips · CPC title

• G01C3/08

  Use of electric radiation detectors · CPC title

• G01S7/4804

  Auxiliary means for detecting or identifying lidar signals or the like, e.g. laser illuminators · CPC title

• G01B21/00

  Measuring arrangements or details thereof, where the measuring technique is not covered by the other groups of this subclass, unspecified or not relevant · CPC title