LASER REJECTION FILTERS FOR MANNED VEHICLES

LASER DEVICES POSE AN EYE SAFETY HAZARD TO FIELD PERSONNEL. THERE IS A NEED TO ELIMINATE THE LASER WAVELENGTHS FROM VISION DEVICES WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE LUMINOUS EFFICIENCY OR COLOR BALANCE. THIS CAN BE ACHIEVED BY COATING VEHICLE WINDOWS FOR EXAMPLE, WITH INTERFERENCE FILTERS THAT REFLECT SPECIFIC NARROW SPECTRAL BANDS. WE PROPOSE TO DEPOSIT PROTECTIVE COATINGS ON LARGE AREAS (200 CM[2]) IN THE FORM OF RUGATE FILTERS USING A PROPRIETARY PLASMA ENHANCED CVD PROCESS. RUGGED SILICON:CARBON ALLOYS OF VARYING COMPOSITION ARE GROWN UNDER COMPUTER CONTROL TO PROVIDE A CONTINUOUSLY VARYING REFRACTIVE INDEX PROFILE (RUGATE). THE PROCESS IS SCALABLE TO VERY LARGE AREAS AND DEPOSITIONS HAVE DEMONSTRATED OPTICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES THAT ARE SUPERIOR TO OTHER THIN FILM METHODS. THE RESEARCHERS AND OUR CONSULTANT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIN FILM R&D FOR MANY YEARS, INCLUDING LASER REJECTION FILTER DEVELOPMENT FOR THE ARMY AND OTHER AGENCIES. THE EASE WITH WHICH THE PROCESS CAN BE SCALED AND IT'S ABILITY TO COAT COMPLEX TOPOGRAPHIES, READILY LENDS IT TO ECONOMICAL PRODUCTION.