System and method for laser-induced plasma for infrared homing missile countermeasure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11359892-B2
Application number	US-201816055684-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 6, 2018
Priority date	Aug 6, 2018
Publication date	Jun 14, 2022
Grant date	Jun 14, 2022

Abstract

A method where a laser beam is configured to generate a laser-induced plasma filament (LIPF), and the LIPF acts as a decoy to detract a homing missile or other threat from a specific target.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method comprising:
using a laser beam to generate a laser-induced plasma filament (LIPF);
using the LIPF to detract a homing missile from a specific target, wherein using the LIPF to detract the homing missile includes rastering the LIPF using optics and mirrors to generate a volumetric image in space, and wherein the volumetric image is used to detract the homing missile.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
mounting a laser system on the back of an air vehicle, wherein the laser system is configured to produce the laser beam.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
mounting a plurality of laser systems on the back of an air vehicle, wherein each laser system is configured to generate a ghost image such that a plurality of air vehicles appear to be present.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the LIPF was generated using a 248 nm KrF excimer laser.

5. A method comprising:
configuring a laser source to generate a laser-induced plasma filament (LIPF);
rastering the LIPF to generate a multi-dimensional volumetric image in space, using the multi-dimensional volumetric image to detract a threat from an intended target.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the laser source is mounted on the back of an air vehicle such that the multi-dimensional volumetric image can detract a threat from the air vehicle.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein a plurality of laser sources are mounted on the back of an air vehicle, and wherein the laser sources are configured to generate a ghost image creating the appearance of a plurality of air vehicles.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of coupling an early detection and tracking system to the air vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of manipulating the LIPF using a laser gimbal.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of manipulating the LIPF using a turret.

11. The method of claim 5 , wherein the laser source is mounted on the back of a ship, such that the multi-dimensional volumetric image can detract a threat from the ship.

12. A system comprising:
an air vehicle; wherein
a laser source, wherein the laser source is mounted on the back of the air vehicle and configured to create a laser-induced plasma that acts as a decoy for an incoming threat to the air vehicle by rastering the laser-induced plasma using optics and mirrors to generate a volumetric image in space to act as the decoy for the incoming threat.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the incoming threat is an infrared-guided missile.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein any electromagnetic source coupled to the air vehicle is used as a decoy.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the laser-induced plasma has a broad-band emission spectrum including radio frequency and gamma rays.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein an early detection and tracking system is mounted on the air vehicle to indicate an incoming threat.

17. The system of claim 12 , further including a plurality of laser sources on the back of the air vehicle, wherein each laser source is configured to generate a ghost image such that a plurality of air vehicles appear to be present.

18. The system of claim 12 , further including an early detection and tracking system mounted on the air vehicle.

19. The system of claim 12 , further including a laser gimbal or a turret to manipulate the laser source.

Assignees

• Us Navy

Inventors

• Hening Alexandru
• Lu Ryan P
• Ramirez Ayax D

Classifications

• F41H11/02

  Anti-aircraft or anti-guided missile {or anti-torpedo} defence installations or systems (cartridges or missiles for producing smoke or for dispensing radar chaff or infrared material F42B5/15, F42B12/48, F42B12/70; {informative reference: details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00; jamming or electronic countermeasures G01S7/38, G01S7/495, H04K3/00}) · CPC title

• F41H13/005

  the high-energy beam being a laser beam · CPC title

• F41J2/02 Primary

  Active targets transmitting infrared radiation · CPC title