Dual RF and optical mode omnidirectional sensor

• US 10,175,349 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2015
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Department of The Air Force (U.S. Department Of Defense)
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force
• Inventors: Ternovskiy, Igor, Kim, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): Bythrow, Peter M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Seraydaryan, Helena H
• Application Number:
  US14/940,193
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 342 54
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/03 Details of HF subsystems specially adapted therefor, e.g. common to transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4811 common to transmitter and receiver

Abstract

A multi-modal omnidirectional sensor includes an ovaloid aperture having a plurality of tapered square prismatic cells formed from a plurality of partition walls. A focal ovaloid is concentric with the ovaloid aperture, and the focal ovaloid has an outer surface dimension that coincides with a focal distance of the ovaloid aperture. A multi-mode sensor array is disposed on the focal ovaloid, and is configured to receive an optical signal and a radio frequency (RF) signal. One of the plurality of partition walls comprises a non-metalic dielectric mirror. One of the plurality of partition walls is configured to be reflective to a band of desired wavelengths of the optical signal while being transparent to the RF signal.

Claims

1. A multi-modal omnidirectional sensor, the sensor comprising:

an ovaloid aperture having a plurality of tapered square prismatic cells formed from a plurality of partition walls;

a focal ovaloid concentric with the ovaloid aperture, wherein the focal ovaloid has an outer surface dimension that coincides with a focal distance of the ovaloid aperture;

a multi-mode sensor array disposed on the focal ovaloid, and configured to receive an optical signal and a radio frequency (RF) signal; and

wherein the plurality of partition walls are configured to be reflective to a band of desired wavelengths of the optical signal while being transparent to the RF signal.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the ovaloid aperture is spherical and wherein the focal ovaloid is spherical.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the ovaloid aperture and focal ovaloid are configured such that a light source directed into the ovaloid aperture yields substantially no light reflected out of the ovaloid aperture.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the partition walls include a first layer configured to be reflective to a first spectral interval, and further including a second layer configured to be reflective to a second spectral interval, and wherein the combination of the first layer and the second layer yields a reflectivity to a desired composite spectral signature.

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to yield plenoptic imaging without inclusion of microlenses.

6. The sensor of claim 1, further including a conductive antenna configured to capture a desired RF signal.

7. The sensor of claim 6, wherein the conducive antenna is configured to not substantially impact the optical sensing.

8. The sensor of claim 6, wherein the conductive antenna is disposed on one of the partition walls.

9. The sensor of claim 7, wherein the conductive antenna is disposed within a thickness of the partition wall.

10. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the prismatic cells comprise a plurality of sub-ovoid, and wherein each of the sub-spheres may be collapsed to a reduced volume by a shearing.

11. A multi-modal omnidirectional sensor, the sensor comprising:

an ovaloid aperture having a plurality of tapered square prismatic cells formed from a plurality of partition walls;

a focal ovaloid concentric with the ovaloid aperture, wherein the focal ovaloid has an outer surface dimension that coincides with a focal distance of the ovaloid aperture;

a multi-mode sensor array disposed on the focal ovaloid, and configured to receive an optical signal and a radio frequency (RF) signal;

wherein one of the plurality of partition walls comprises a non-metalic dielectric mirror, and

wherein the one of the plurality of partition walls is configured to be reflective to a band of desired wavelengths of the optical signal while being transparent to the RF signal.

12. A two dimensional multi-modal sensor, the sensor comprising:

a two dimensional aperture formed from a row of tapered square prismatic cells having vertical cell walls and horizontal cell walls;

a focal surface concentric with the two dimensional aperture, wherein the focal surface has an outer surface dimension that coincides with a focal distance of the two dimensional aperture;

a multi-mode sensor array disposed on the focal surface, and configured to receive an optical signal and a radio frequency (RF) signal;

wherein one of the plurality of partition walls comprises a non-metallic dielectric mirror;

wherein only the horizontal or only the vertical cell walls are reflective to a band of desired wavelengths of the optical signal; and

wherein both the horizontal and the vertical cell walls are transparent to the RF signal.