Laser Ignition Device

Abstract

A device/system for firing a firearm round by igniting a specialized propellant in a specialized shell/casing/cartridge (hereinafter cartridge) with laser optics. The preferred embodiment and the system disclosed herein is intended for retrofitted use in a bolt action rifle, however, the principle may be applied to embodiments for pistols, shotguns and military munitions with minor changes to the laser's power, the focal lens for the cartridge and the laser ignitable propellant. The munitions cartridge design, its focal lens/window and column of charge constitute a critical element of this laser ignition device.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows: 
     
         1 . A laser ignition device for firing munitions from a weapon, comprising:
 a projectile cartridge mountable in a barrel of said weapon, said projectile cartridge having a laser lens formed therethrough;   a column of laser ignitable propellant housed within said cartridge;   a projectile frictionally affixed into a proximal end of said cartridge;   a firing laser incorporated into said weapon, said firing laser's output light adjacent to said projectile cartridge and residing such that its laser light beam is directly aligned with said laser lens of said projectile cartridge;   a firing control module;   a trigger mechanism incorporated into said weapon and connected to said firing control module;   a power supply connected to said firing laser and to said firing control module;   wherein said firing control module initiates a power burst from said power supply to said firing laser upon a fire signal from said trigger mechanism to fire said laser.   
     
     
         2 . The laser ignition device of  claim 1 , wherein said projectile cartridge has a proximal end with a base plate that houses at least one said laser lens. 
     
     
         3 . The laser ignition device of  claim 2 , wherein said laser lens is made from a material selected from the group of materials consisting of a polycarbonate thermoplastic, a borosilicate glass, and a translucent ceramic. 
     
     
         4 . The laser ignition device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a laser bolt, housing said firing laser therein, and engageable in a receiver of said weapon; and   wherein said power supply consists of a battery connected to a capacitor.   
     
     
         5 . The laser ignition device of  claim 4 , further comprising a safety module connected to said trigger mechanism, said laser bolt and said firing control module, said safety module preventing said firing control module from initiating said power burst from said power supply to said firing laser unless a trigger is pulled and said laser bolt is locked in said receiver. 
     
     
         6 . The laser ignition device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power supply status module connected to said power supply and said firing control module, said power supply status module presenting a visual indication of the health of said power supply.   
     
     
         7 . The laser ignition device of  claim 1  wherein said firing control module is a printed circuit board housing electronic components selected from the group consisting of microprocessors or microcontrollers. 
     
     
         8 . A laser ignition device for firing munitions from a weapon, comprising:
 a firing laser incorporated into said weapon, said firing laser adjacent to a projectile cartridge residing in a barrel of said weapon, and said firing laser residing such that its laser light beam is directly aligned with said laser lens of said projectile cartridge;   a firing control module;   a trigger mechanism incorporated into said weapon and connected to said firing control module;   a power supply connected to said firing laser and to said firing control module;   wherein said firing control module initiates a power burst from said power supply to said firing laser upon a fire signal from said trigger mechanism to fire said laser.   
     
     
         9 . The laser ignition device of  claim 8 , further comprising;
 a cylindrical projectile cartridge mountable in a barrel of said weapon, said projectile cartridge having a base plate on its distal end, said base plate having a laser lens formed therethrough;   a column of laser ignitable propellant within said cartridge; and   a projectile frictionally affixed into a proximal end of said cartridge.