An ammunition cartridge including a case, an ignitable material within the case and an optical primer for igniting the ignitable material. The optical primer includes a conductive cylindrical cup electrically coupled to the case and a circular conductive button including a top button portion positioned in the cup and a bottom button portion extending through an opening in the cup, where the button and the cup are electrically isolated. The optical primer further includes a first bracket electrically coupled to the button, a second bracket electrically coupled to the cup, and a pair of laser diodes electrically coupled in a reverse parallel direction and being electrically coupled to the first and second brackets, where one of the laser diodes generates a laser beam that ignites the ignition material in response to a current flow in either direction through the case, the cup and the button.

An ammunition cartridge including a case, an ignitable material within the case and an optical primer for igniting the ignitable material. The optical primer includes a conductive cylindrical cup electrically coupled to the case and a circular conductive button including a top button portion positioned in the cup and a bottom button portion extending through an opening in the cup, where the button and the cup are electrically isolated. The optical primer further includes a first bracket electrically coupled to the button, a second bracket electrically coupled to the cup, and a pair of laser diodes electrically coupled in a reverse parallel direction and being electrically coupled to the first and second brackets, where one of the laser diodes generates a laser beam that ignites the ignition material in response to a current flow in either direction through the case, the cup and the button.

An ammunition cartridge including a case, an ignitable material within the case and an optical primer for igniting the ignitable material. The optical primer includes a conductive cylindrical cup electrically coupled to the case and a circular conductive button including a top button portion positioned in the cup and a bottom button portion extending through an opening in the cup, where the button and the cup are electrically isolated. The optical primer further includes a first bracket electrically coupled to the button, a second bracket electrically coupled to the cup, and a pair of laser diodes electrically coupled in a reverse parallel direction and being electrically coupled to the first and second brackets, where one of the laser diodes generates a laser beam that ignites the ignition material in response to a current flow in either direction through the case, the cup and the button.

The present invention relates to a platform for testing collisions or near-collision situations between a collision body, in particular a vehicle, and a test object. The platform has a base body, which has a bottom surface and an attachment surface formed opposite to the bottom surface, wherein an attachment device is formed on the attachment surface for attaching the test object. Furthermore, the platform has at least one roller element, which is arranged at the bottom surface, wherein the roller element is configured such that the base body is displaceable along a ground by the roller element. The base body is formed of an elastically deformable material having a thickness of less than 2500 kg/m.sup.3.

An opto-thermal laser detonator uses resonantly absorptive tuned nano-material associated with secondary explosives for optical absorption and initiation by an integral laser diode. The opto-thermal laser detonator includes main explosive material; resonantly absorptive tuned nano-material; secondary explosive material, wherein the resonantly absorptive tuned nano-material and the secondary explosive material are associated to form associated material made of the resonantly absorptive tuned nano-material and the secondary explosive material; and a laser diode operatively connected to the associated material, wherein the laser diode initiates the associated material which in turn initiates the main explosive material.

An opto-thermal laser detonator uses resonantly absorptive tuned nano-material associated with secondary explosives for optical absorption and initiation by an integral laser diode. The opto-thermal laser detonator includes main explosive material; resonantly absorptive tuned nano-material; secondary explosive material, wherein the resonantly absorptive tuned nano-material and the secondary explosive material are associated to form associated material made of the resonantly absorptive tuned nano-material and the secondary explosive material; and a laser diode operatively connected to the associated material, wherein the laser diode initiates the associated material which in turn initiates the main explosive material.

An optical primer for igniting an ignition material in an ammunition cartridge. The primer includes a conductive cylindrical cup electrically coupled to a cartridge case and a circular conductive button including a top button portion positioned in the cup and a bottom button portion extending through an opening in the cup, where the button and the cup are electrically isolated. The primer further includes a first bracket electrically coupled to the button, a second bracket electrically coupled to the cup, and a pair of laser diodes electrically coupled in a reverse parallel direction and being electrically coupled to the first and second brackets, where one of the laser diodes generate a laser beam that ignites the ignition material in response to a current flow in either direction through the case, the cup and the button.

A weapon system effectively, efficiently and safely transmits high energy radio frequency energy into the confines of the breech environment to initiate propelling charges. Legacy components are leveraged, along with advanced manufacturing techniques, to create antenna structures which transmit the radio frequency energy throughout the breech to initiate radio frequency-based primers.

A weapon system effectively, efficiently and safely transmits high energy radio frequency energy into the confines of the breech environment to initiate propelling charges. Legacy components are leveraged, along with advanced manufacturing techniques, to create antenna structures which transmit the radio frequency energy throughout the breech to initiate radio frequency-based primers.

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for triggering detonation of a perforating gun via optical signals are provided. An improved laser firing head may be used with an optical cable (e.g., fiber optic cable) run through the wellbore to trigger detonation of a perforating gun in response to an optical signal. The laser firing head may be activated, and the perforating gun fired, upon the application of an optical signal output from the surface and transmitted through the optical cable. The disclosed system using the laser firing head with the optical cable may be impervious to electrical interference, since the laser firing head may only fire the perforating gun when a properly modulated laser or light source is directed down the optical cable for a specific period of time.