Thermal marking systems and methods of control

Abstract

A target marking system includes a light source emitting a thermal beam and an optics assembly directing the thermal beam to impact a target, the target directing radiation to the optics assembly in response to the impact. The target marking system further includes a detector, and an optics assembly optically connected to the detector.

1 . A target marking system, comprising:
 a light source configured to emit a beam of radiation;   a controller connected to the light source and configured to pulse the beam emitted by the light source, the controller including a drive circuit comprising a first converter connected in series with a second converter, and a capacitor connected in series between the first and second converters; and   a power source connected to the light source via the drive circuit.   
     
     
         2 . The target marking system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second converters comprises one of a buck converter, a boost converter, a SIPEX converter, a flyback converter, and an inverting converter. 
     
     
         3 . The target marking system of  claim 1 , wherein the first converter is configured to maintain a voltage of the capacitor between approximately 2 volts and approximately 8 volts while the light source emits the beam. 
     
     
         4 . The target marking system of  claim 1 , wherein the beam comprises a beam of thermal radiation. 
     
     
         5 . The target marking system  1 , wherein, while the light source emits the beam, the first converter is configured to draw a substantially constant current from the power source and to direct the substantially constant current to the capacitor. 
     
     
         6 . The target marking system of  claim 1 , wherein the second converter is configured to convert a stored voltage of the capacitor to a desired voltage for driving the light source. 
     
     
         7 . The target marking system of  claim 6 , wherein the light source comprises a quantum cascade laser, and the desired voltage comprises between approximately 12 volts and approximately 14 volts. 
     
     
         8 . The target marking system of  claim 1 , wherein selectively enabling the second converter pulses the beam emitted by the light source. 
     
     
         9 . The target marking system of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch connected in series between the light source and the second converter, wherein selectively opening the switch pulses the beam emitted by the light source. 
     
     
         10 . The target marking system of  claim 1 , wherein the capacitor has a capacity of at least approximately 5 volts. 
     
     
         11 . The target marking system of  claim 1 , wherein the second converter is controlled in response to an output power of the beam emitted by the light source, the second converter maintaining the output power substantially constant. 
     
     
         12 . A target marking system, comprising:
 a light source configured to emit a beam of thermal radiation;   an optics assembly receiving the beam and directing the beam to exit a housing of the target marking system;   a controller disposed within the housing and connected to the light source, the controller including a drive circuit comprising a first converter connected in series with a second converter, and a capacitor connected in series between the first and second converters; and   a power source connected to the light source via the drive circuit, wherein the drive circuit provides a substantially constant current to the light source during pulsed operation of the light source.   
     
     
         13 . The target marking system of  claim 12 , wherein the housing comprises a mechanism configured to mate with a rail of a handheld firearm for mounting the housing to the rail. 
     
     
         14 . The target marking system of  claim 12 , wherein selectively enabling the second converter pulses the beam emitted by the light source. 
     
     
         15 . The target marking system of  claim 12 , wherein the first converter comprises one of a boost converter and a buck converter, the first converter configured to draw the substantially constant current from the power source. 
     
     
         16 . The target marking system of  claim 12 , wherein the first converter is configured to maintain a substantially constant voltage across the capacitor while the light source emits the beam. 
     
     
         17 . A method of controlling a target marking system, comprising:
 directing a substantially constant current from a power source of the target marking system to a light source of the system via a drive circuit, the drive circuit comprising a first converter connected in series with a second converter, and a capacitor connected in series between the first and second converters; and   generating a pulsed beam of radiation with the light source in response to receipt of the substantially constant current.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising maintaining an output power of each pulse of the pulsed beam substantially constant. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising controlling operation of the second converter in response to the output power of each pulse of the pulsed beam. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising maintaining a voltage of the capacitor between approximately 2 volts and approximately 8 volts with the first converter while the light source emits the beam.