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A handheld target marker is provided, wherein the target marker includes a housing retaining a quantum cascade laser, a collimating or focusing lens, a driver and a power supply. The quantum cascade laser produces a thermal infrared beam which can be selectively directed to impinge upon a target. Th

A handheld target marker is provided, wherein the target marker includes a housing retaining a quantum cascade laser, a collimating or focusing lens, a driver and a power supply. The quantum cascade laser produces a thermal infrared beam which can be selectively directed to impinge upon a target. The impinging beam is viewable by a thermal imager. The handheld target marker operates at ambient temperatures and incorporates the driver and power supply necessary for operation of the quantum cascade laser.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A handheld target marker viewable by a thermal imaging system, the marker comprising: (a) a handheld housing having an interior and an exterior; (b) a quantum cascade laser retained in the interior of the housing for emitting a beam at a thermal infrared wavelength alon

The invention claimed is: 1. A handheld target marker viewable by a thermal imaging system, the marker comprising: (a) a handheld housing having an interior and an exterior; (b) a quantum cascade laser retained in the interior of the housing for emitting a beam at a thermal infrared wavelength along a beam path, a portion of the beam path extending from the housing to a target being substantially optically direct, the beam forming part of a thermal image of the target; (c) a driver retained within the housing and operably connected to the quantum cascade laser causing the quantum cascade laser to emit the beam along the beam path (d) a lens located in the beam path; and (e) a power supply retained within the housing and operably connected to at least one of the driver and the quantum cascade laser. 2. The handheld target marker of claim 1, wherein the wavelength of the beam is between approximately 2-30 microns. 3. The hand held target marker of claim 1, wherein the marker is one of a designator, a pointer, and an aiming device. 4. The handheld target marker of claim 1, further comprising a temperature controller thermally coupled to the quantum cascade laser. 5. The handheld target marker of claim 4, wherein the temperature controller is one of a Peltier module and a Stirling module. 6. The handheld target marker of claim 4, wherein the temperature controller maintains a substantially uniform temperature across the quantum cascade laser. 7. The handheld target marker of claim 1, further comprising a diffractive optic in the beam path. 8. The handheld target marker of claim 7, wherein the diffractive optic collimates the beam. 9. The handheld target marker of claim 7, wherein the diffractive optic is movable relative to the beam path. 10. The handheld target marker of claim 7, wherein the diffractive optic is fixed relative to the beam path. 11. The handheld target marker of claim 1, wherein the power supply is operably connected to the both the quantum cascade laser and the driver. 12. The handheld target marker of claim 1, wherein the driver is controlled in response to a temperature of the quantum cascade laser. 13. The hand held target marker of claim 1, wherein humidity within the housing is controlled during operation of the laser. 14. The handheld target marker of claim 1, wherein the beam exiting the housing is generated by a single emitting structure. 15. The hand held target marker of claim 1, wherein the quantum cascade laser is retained within a sealed subhousing in the interior of the housing. 16. The handheld target marker of claim 1, wherein the housing defines an aperture and the lens comprises a collimating lens disposed at the aperture of the housing. 17. The handheld target marker of claim 1, wherein the lens comprises a collimating lens forming an interface between the interior and the exterior of the housing. 18. The hand held target marker of claim 1, wherein the substantially optically direct portion of the beam path extends from a collimating lens to the target. 19. A method of marking a target comprising: (a) intersecting a thermal infrared beam from a quantum cascade laser retained in handheld housing at room temperature with the target, a portion of a beam path extending from the housing to the target being substantially optically direct; (b) capturing a portion of the beam; and (c) forming part of a thermal image of the target with the captured portion of the beam. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising forming the infrared beam to have a wavelength between approximately 8 microns and 30 microns. 21. The method of claim 19, further comprising forming the infrared beam to have a wavelength between approximately 2 microns and 5 microns. 22. The method of claim 19, further comprising sealing the quantum cascade laser in the housing. 23. The method of claim 19, further comprising hermetically sealing the quantum cascade laser in the housing. 24. The hand held target marker of claim 19, further including maintaining a substantially uniform temperature across the quantum cascade laser. 25. The method of claim 19, wherein the beam exiting the housing is generated by a single emitting structure. 26. The method of claim 19, further including modifying control of the quantum cascade laser in response to a temperature change profile unique to the quantum cascade laser. 27. A weapons-mounted target marker viewable by a thermal imaging system, the marker comprising: (a) a housing mounted to a firearm, the housing having an interior and an exterior; (b) a quantum cascade laser retained in the interior of the housing for emitting a beam at a thermal infrared wavelength along a beam path, the beam forming part of a thermal image; (c) a driver retained within the housing and operably connected to the quantum cascade laser; (d) a lens located in the beam path; and (e) a power supply retained within the housing and operably connected to the quantum cascade laser. 28. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 27, wherein the wavelength of the beam is between approximately 2-30 microns. 29. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 27, wherein the marker is one of a designator, a pointer, and an aiming device. 30. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 27, further comprising a temperature controller thermally coupled to the quantum cascade laser. 31. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 30, wherein the temperature controller is one of a Peltier module and a Stirling module. 32. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 30, wherein the temperature controller maintains a substantially uniform temperature across the quantum cascade laser. 33. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 27, further comprising a diffractive optic in the beam path. 34. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 33, wherein the diffractive optic collimates the beam. 35. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 33, wherein the diffractive optic is movable relative to the beam path. 36. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 33, wherein the diffractive optic is fixed relative to the beam path. 37. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 27, wherein the quantum cascade laser is retained within a sealed subhousing in the interior of the housing. 38. The weapons-mounted target marker of claim 27, wherein the beam exiting the housing is generated by a single emitting structure. 39. A handheld target marker viewable by a thermal imaging system, the marker comprising: (a) a handheld housing having an interior and an exterior; (b) a quantum cascade laser retained in the interior of the housing for emitting a beam at a thermal infrared wavelength along a beam path, a portion of the beam path extending from the housing to a target being substantially optically direct, wherein the quantum cascade laser is retained within a sealed subhousing in the interior of the housing; (c) a driver retained within the housing and operably connected to the quantum cascade laser causing the quantum cascade laser to emit the beam along the beam path; (d) a lens located in the beam path; and (e) a power supply retained within the housing and operably connected to at least one of the driver and the quantum cascade laser. 40. A weapons-mounted target marker viewable by a thermal imaging system, the marker comprising: (a) a housing mounted to a firearm, the housing having an interior and an exterior; (b) a quantum cascade laser retained in the interior of the housing for emitting a beam at a thermal infrared wavelength along a beam path, wherein the quantum cascade laser is retained within a sealed subhousing in the interior of the housing; (c) a driver retained within the housing and operably connected to the quantum cascade laser; (d) a lens located in the beam path; and (e) a power supply retained within the housing and operably connected to the quantum cascade laser. 41. A method of marking a target comprising: (a) intersecting a thermal infrared beam from a handheld housing at room temperature with the target, a portion of a beam oath extending from the housing to the target being substantially optically direct; (b) viewing the intersected beam with a remote thermal imaging device; (c) capturing a portion of the beam; and (d) forming part of a thermal image of the target with the captured portion of the beam. 42. A method of marking a target comprising: (a) intersecting a thermal infrared beam from a quantum cascade laser retained in a housing mounted to a firearm at room temperature with the target; (b) capturing a portion of the beam; and (c) forming part of a thermal image of the target with the captured portion of the beam. 43. A method of marking a target comprising: (a) intersecting a thermal infrared beam from a housing mounted to a firearm at ambient temperature with the target; (b) viewing the intersected beam with a remote thermal imaging device; (c) viewing the intersected beam comprises capturing a portion of the beam; and (d) forming part of a thermal image of the target with the captured portion of the beam.