Patent ID: 9305963
Filing Date: 2016-04-05
CPC Classification: F41G,G01J,G02B,H01L,H04N

Claim Text:
1. A target marking method, comprising: (a) forming a thermal designation on a target with an emitter mounted on a vehicle, the emitter including at least one quantum cascade laser forming the designation with a thermal beam having a wavelength between approximately 2 μm and approximately 30 μm; (b) viewing an image of radiation from the target and the thermal designation with a thermal imager mounted on the vehicle (c) determining a location of the target with the thermal imager; and (d) generating, with the thermal imager, a signal, wherein the emitter emits the thermal beam having a characteristic in response to the signal that causes a portion of the target to radiate according to the designation for a period of time after the emitter stops emitting the beam and wherein the characteristic is determined based upon imaged radiation from the designation on the target during the period of time after the emitter has stopped emitting the beam.