Marking system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016255285-A1
Application number	US-201615089782-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 4, 2016
Priority date	Apr 8, 2011
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for use in identifying a user includes a portable emitter transported with the user. The emitter includes a quantum cascade laser configured to emit a thermal beam identifying a location of the user in response to a command, the thermal beam having a wavelength between approximately 2 μm and approximately 30 μm.

First claim

1 . A target marking method, comprising:
(a) forming a thermal designation on a target with an emitter mounted on a vehicle, the emitter including at least one quantum cascade laser forming the designation with a thermal beam having a wavelength between approximately 2 μm and approximately 30 μm; (b) viewing the designation with a thermal imager; and (c) taking action in response to the viewing.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the emitter is formed integrally with the vehicle.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further including providing power from a power source of the vehicle to the emitter.

4 . The method of claim 2 , further including providing coolant from a cooling system of the vehicle to the emitter.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further including viewing the designation on the target with the thermal imager after the emitter has been deactivated.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising varying a divergence of the thermal beam.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the designation is characterized by a predetermined temporal modulation pattern.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further including viewing the designation while the thermal imager is moving relative to the target.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further including viewing the designation while the emitter is moving relative to the target.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein viewing the designation includes viewing an image of the target with the thermal imager, wherein the designation forms a portion of the image of the target and is distinguishable from the target in the image.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the target is characterized by a temperature greater than approximately 96° Fahrenheit.

12 . A target marking method, comprising:
(a) marking a moving target selected from a plurality of moving targets with a thermal designation formed by an emitter mounted to a support structure, wherein the emitter is aimably moveable for marking the target, the emitter including at least one quantum cascade laser, and forming the designation by impinging a thermal beam on the target, the thermal beam having a wavelength between approximately 2 μm and approximately 30 μm; (b) viewing the designation with a thermal imager; and (c) taking action in response to the viewing.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the support structure is mounted on a movable vehicle.

14 . The method of claim 12 , further including viewing the designation on the target after the emitter has been deactivated.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the support structure is mounted on a manned vehicle and the emitter is removably mounted to the support structure.

16 . The method of claim 12 , further including operating an actuation device associated with the support structure, wherein operating the actuation device moves at least a portion of the emitter relative to the support structure.

17 . A target marking method, comprising:
mounting an emitter on a manned vehicle via a support structure coupled to the vehicle, the emitter comprising at least one quantum cascade laser; transporting the emitter, via the vehicle, from a first location to a second location different than the first location; emitting a first thermal beam with the at least one quantum cascade laser, the first thermal beam having a wavelength between approximately 2 μm and approximately 30 μm; and impinging the first thermal beam on a target, thereby forming a thermal designation on the target.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising varying a divergence of the first thermal beam.

19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising forming a second thermal beam with the emitter, the second thermal beam having a different wavelength than a wavelength of the first thermal beam.

20 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising forming a second thermal beam with the emitter, the second thermal beam being formed by a beam source of the emitter separate from the at least one quantum cascade laser.

21 . The method of claim 17 , further including providing power to the emitter via a power source of the manned vehicle.

22 . The method of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the emitter and the support structure is formed integrally with the manned vehicle.

23 . The method of claim 17 , further including emitting the first thermal beam in response to a signal received from a sensor of the manned vehicle.

24 . The method of claim 23 , further including operating an actuation device associated with the emitter in response to the signal.

25 . The method of claim 17 , further including receiving a signal from an imager of the vehicle representative of a location of the target, and moving the emitter relative to the support structure in response to the signal, wherein movement of the emitter aims the emitter at the location.

26 . The method of claim 17 , further including
viewing the first thermal beam with a thermal imager, and determining, based on a characteristic of the first thermal beam, that the vehicle on which the emitter is mounted is a friendly vehicle.

27 . A system for use in marking a target, comprising:
an emitter mounted to a manned vehicle via a support structure, the emitter comprising a quantum cascade laser configured to impinge a thermal beam upon the target in response to a command, thereby forming a thermal designation on the target, the thermal beam having a wavelength between approximately 2 μm and approximately 30 μm.

28 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the vehicle comprises a power source providing power to the emitter.

29 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the vehicle comprises a cooling system providing coolant to the emitter.

30 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the vehicle comprises a thermal imager configured to determine a location of the target, the system further including an actuation device configured to move the emitter relative to the support structure in response to receipt of a signal indicative of the location.

Assignees

• Lasermax Inc

Inventors

• Balonek Daniel J
• Gagliano Christopher A
• Houde-Walter Susan

Classifications

• F41G3/145

  using a target illuminator · CPC title

• G01J5/0896

  using a light source, e.g. for illuminating a surface · CPC title

• F41G1/36

  with infrared light source · CPC title

• G02B23/12

  with means for image conversion or intensification · CPC title

• H04N3/09

  for electromagnetic radiation in the invisible region, e.g. infrared · CPC title