Multiple-sensor imaging system

• US 10,057,509 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2015
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teledyne FLIR LLC (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Espersen, Adam C., McKaughan, Stephen V., Lagadinos, Nicholas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E
• Application Number:
  US14/727,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20150350569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/006 Apparatus mounted on flying objects
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/17 with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 19/023 Multi-image cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for an imaging system having a plurality of sensors associated with input optics. In one example, an imaging system includes input optics configured to receive incident radiation along an input optical axis and a first optical sensor and a second optical sensor, each configured to detect the incident radiation. The imaging system further includes a rotating member positioned between the first and second optical sensors and configured to rotate about the input optical axis and a reflector coupled to the rotating member configured to be selectively positionable by the rotating member to a first orientation, in which the reflector directs the incident radiation along a first secondary axis to the first optical sensor, and to a second orientation, in which the reflector directs the incident radiation along a second secondary axis toward the second optical sensor.

Claims

1. An imaging system, comprising:

input optics configured to receive incident radiation along an input optical axis;

a first optical sensor and a second optical sensor, each configured to detect the incident radiation;

a rotating member positioned between the first and second optical sensors and configured to rotate about the input optical axis; and

a reflector coupled to the rotating member configured to be selectively positionable by the rotating member to a first orientation, in which the reflector directs the incident radiation along a first secondary axis to the first optical sensor, and to a second orientation, in which the reflector directs the incident radiation along a second secondary axis toward the second optical sensor.

2. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the reflector comprises a prism comprising an incident face, an angled reflective face, and an extension portion, wherein the prism is configured to receive the incident radiation at the incident face and pass the incident radiation to the angled reflective face, wherein the angled reflective face is configured to redirect the incident radiation through the extension portion along the first and/or second secondary axis and toward the first and/or second optical sensor.

3. The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the extension portion protrudes along the first secondary axis when the prism is positioned to the first orientation, and wherein the extension portion protrudes along the second secondary axis when the prism is positioned to the second orientation.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotating member is rotatable about an axis parallel to the optical input axis, the system further comprising:

a motor comprising a drive gear coupled to the rotating member configured to rotate the rotating member;

a controller electrically coupled to the motor configured to provide an electrical signal to control the motor; and

a feedback mechanism comprising a feedback gear coupled to the rotating member configured to rotate proportional to the rotating member.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the motor is further configured to rotate the rotating member to selectively position the reflector toward the first and/or second optical sensor.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the feedback mechanism further comprises a position sensor coupled to the feedback gear configured to sense a position and an orientation of the rotating member and provide associated position and orientation information to the controller, wherein the position sensor comprises a potentiometer, a counter, and/or a switch.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first secondary axis is substantially orthogonal to the optical input axis.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the second secondary axis is substantially orthogonal to the optical input axis and parallel to the first secondary axis.

9. The system of claim 1, further including a gimbal assembly pivotably coupled to the imaging system, wherein the imaging system is pivotably orientable by the gimbal assembly to provide a pan and tilt movement of the imaging system.

10. A gimbal system, comprising:

a support portion;

a gimbal assembly pivotably connected to and supported by the support portion; and

a payload pivotably orientable with respect to the support portion by the gimbal assembly, to provide pan and tilt movement of the payload;

wherein the payload includes an imaging system having a single objective, a plurality of sensors associated with the single objective, and a selectively positionable reflector configured to direct incident radiation from the single objective to any one of the plurality of sensors.

11. The gimbal system of claim 10, wherein the positionable reflector comprises a rotatable prism.

12. The gimbal system of claim 10, further including a drive system operatively connected to the positionable reflector, the drive system configured to selectively position the reflector by rotating the reflector about an input optical axis.

13. The gimbal system of claim 10, wherein the positionable reflector is configured to redirect the incident radiation by one of a plurality of selected angles, each selected angle corresponding to one of the sensors.

14. The gimbal system of claim 10, further comprising:

a rotating member coupled to the reflector;

a motor comprising a drive gear coupled to the rotating member configured to rotate the rotating member;

a controller electrically coupled to the motor configured to provide an electrical signal to control the motor; and

a feedback mechanism comprising a feedback gear coupled to the rotating member configured to rotate proportional to the rotating member, wherein the feedback mechanism further comprises a position sensor coupled to the feedback gear configured to sense a position and an orientation of the rotating member and provide position and orientation information to the controller.

15. A method of using the gimbal system of claim 10, the method comprising:

receiving incident radiation using the single objective of the imaging system, wherein the single objective directs the incident radiation along a path corresponding to an input optical axis;

redirecting the incident radiation from the input optical axis to a first secondary axis different from the input optical axis using the selectively positionable reflector;

detecting the redirected incident radiation using a first sensor of the plurality of sensors;

receiving a request to utilize a second sensor of the plurality of sensors to process the incident radiation received by the input optics;

responding to the request by positioning the selectively positionable reflector such that the incident radiation is directed along a second secondary axis; and

detecting the incident radiation using the second sensor different from the first sensor.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the positionable reflector comprises a prism comprising an incident face, an angled reflective face, and an extension portion, wherein the prism is configured to receive the incident radiation at the incident face and pass the incident radiation to the angled reflective face, wherein the angled reflective face is configured to redirect the incident radiation through the extension portion along the first and/or second secondary axis and toward the first and/or second optical sensor.

17. The method of claim 15, further including using the first sensor to convert the incident radiation into sensed electronic information, and to process the sensed electronic information to produce a first image.

18. The method of claim 17, further including using the second sensor to convert the incident radiation into sensed electronic information, and to process the sensed electronic information to produce a second image.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving the request includes receiving an input generated by a processor of a host system.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising a rotating member coupled to the reflector, wherein positioning the reflector includes rotating the reflector using the rotating member.