February 4, 2009--Pranalytica (Santa Monica, CA) has introduced a handheld military infrared illuminator, called the PoyntIR, that uses a quantum-cascade (QC) laser to project a spot on a distant object, providing targeting for ground-based troops and mobile combat vehicles. The PoyntIR, which looks like a slightly oversized flashlight, emits at a wavelengths of 4.6 microns or 9.6 microns and provides targeting at distances of up to 1.5 km and combat aircraft at distances of up to 10 km, which far surpasses the capability of existing LED and low-power near-IR laser systems. Pranalytica also announced the availability of compact BeckonIR QC laser-based beacons at 4.6 and 9.6 microns for "identify friend or foe" (IFF) applications for personnel and vehicles.

The devices were introduced at SPIE's Photonics West 2009 (San Jose, CA; January 24 to 29, 2009).

"The PoyntIR Infrared Illuminator system provides our military customers with a versatile, compact unit that enables greater precision targeting that can enhance battlefield capabilities and ultimately save lives," said C. Kumar N. Patel, president and CEO of Pranalytica. "The BeckonIR Infrared Beacons are immune from detection by anything but the latest generation of infrared viewers, available only to friendly forces, and therefore provide unprecedented security for IFF applications."

The PoyntIR-46 and PoyntIR-96 weight about 800 grams and are 420 mm long, and are powered by high-performance rechargeable lithium batteries with a continuous runtime of up to 20 hours. A smaller PoyntIR module, weighing approximately 300 grams and 100 mm in length, is available for custom applications and can be retrofitted into illuminators used with existing thermal viewers on mobile and airborne combat platforms or included in new platform designs.

Existing LED or low power, near-IR laser-based targeting systems are effective at a maximum distance of just a few hundred meters and can be used only with commonly available IR viewers--not with the newer midwave infrared (MWIR) or longwave infrared (LWIR) viewers. In contrast, the PoyntIR system operates in MWIR or LWIR spectral regions.

The BeckonIR-46 and BeckonIR-96 are compact IFF devices carried by the individual soldier or mounted on vehicles to provide reliable and safe identification. Since the BeckonIR-46 and BeckonIR-96 operate in the first and the second infrared transmission regions, their signals are seen only when using the MWIR or LWIR thermal viewers. The Pranalytica beacons emit no near infrared or visible emission, and thus do not betray their locations. In addition to battlefield environments, these beacons may find use in next-generation traffic-management systems.

The PoyntIR Infrared Handheld Illuminator and BeckonIR Compact Beacons are available at both 4.6 micron and 9.6 micron wavelengths; they can also can be produced to emit both wavelengths in a single unit.

A couple of interesting notes:

--C. Kumar N. Patel, the president and CEO of Pranalytica, invented the carbon dioxide laser in 1964 when he was at Bell Labs.

--Patel has been a member of the board of directors of Newport Corporation for more than 20 years.

--posted by John Wallace
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