Miniature Monolithic Transmitter for Laser Rangefinding

Laser rangefinders and target illuminators provide critical range and target identification information. However, they must be eyesafe, robust and meet stringent cost, mass, size, and performance requirements. Currently fielded laser rangefinders areundesirably bulky, heavy and costly, while incorporating misalignment-prone discrete laser components. Moreover, they do not easily scale to higher average powers required for illumination (active imaging). Army CECOM has addressed many of thedeficiencies of current laser rangefinders through the development of a robust and compact monoblock laser-OPO transmitter. This proposal offers a transmitter that retains the ruggedness, size, and power scalability of a monoblock architecture, whileextending it to: (a) lower cost, (b) increased manufacturing alignment tolerance, (c) reduced sensitivity to temperature swings and thermal loading for power-scaling, and (d) near diffraction limited beam quality via beam clean up. The extensions areachieved through innovative component technologies which are demonstrated in Phase I to ensure low Phase II risk. Phase II delivers two prototype transmitters that can be either diode laser or flashlamp pumped while maintaining compatibility withilluminator and rangefinder requirements. The program leverages CTI's expertise in developing eyesafe wavelength lasers for battlefields and severe operational environments.There is an anxious military and law-enforcement market for low cost, compact andrugged laser rangefinders. Commercial applications exist in surveying, recreation (hunting, boating, orienteering) and in medicine.