Method and apparatus for viewing target

• US 20050018279A1
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Johnson, Richard W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,327,513 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/363
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/06 Panoramic objectives; So-called "sky lenses" including panoramic objectives having reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/16 for use in conjunction with image converters or intensifiers , or for use with projectors, e.g. objectives for projection TV
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/08 Periscopes arrangements on floating structures of underwater viewing devices B63C11/49; arrangement of visual watch equipment on submarines B63G8/38

Abstract

Apparatus and method for viewing a target. A primary lens produces an image plane of the target, and an optical magnifier in an optical path of the primary lens magnifies a region of the image plane, providing a magnified image. A detector receives the magnified image.

Claims

1. An apparatus for viewing a target, the apparatus comprising:

a primary lens that produces an image of the target at an image plane;

an optical magnifier positioned in an optical path of an exit pupil of said primary lens for magnifying a region of the image at the image plane, producing a magnified image;

a detector for receiving the magnified image.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an optical splitter positioned in an optical path between said input lens and the image plane, said splitter producing at least images at first and second image planes from the image;

a second detector positioned to receive the image at the first image plane;

wherein said optical magnifier receives and magnifies a region of the image at the second image plane.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a selectively movable translator for moving said optical magnifier, wherein the region of the second image plane that produces the magnified image is selectable by operation of said translator.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said translator comprises a mechanical translator for moving said optical magnifier along at least two axes with respect to the second image plane.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a dove prism that rotates to produce an image at a third image plane that is a rotated version of the image at the second image plane, the image at the third image plane being received by said optical magnifier.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:

a first collimator lens positioned between said splitter and said dove prism to produce a collimated beam from the image at the second image plane, wherein the dove prism receives and rotates the collimated beam;

a second collimator lens positioned between said dove prism and said optical magnifier for producing said rotated image at the third image plane.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

a mechanical translator that moves said optical magnifier along at least one axis with respect to the third image plane.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:

a rotating prism for scanning the rotating flux bundle emerging from said dove prism, and producing a scanned image at a fourth image plane, wherein said optical magnifier receives the scanned image at the fourth image plane.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

an input for selectively operating said translator to optically magnify the selected region of the image at the second image plane.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input lens comprises at least one wide angle lens.

11. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a second optical splitter disposed in an optical path of said optical splitter to split at least one of the images at the first and second image planes;

a third detector for receiving at least one of the images at the split first and second image planes.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein at least one of said second detector and said third detector detects and images non-visible light.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

displaying the received first image;

simultaneously displaying the received magnified image.

19. The method of claim 7 wherein said moving is controlled automatically.

13. A method for viewing a target, the method comprising:

producing an image of the target at an image plane;

optically magnifying a region of the image at the image plane, producing a magnified image;

receiving the magnified image.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

optically splitting the image at the image plane into at least images at first and second image planes;

receiving the image at the first image plane wherein said optically magnifying is performed on the image at the second image plane.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

prior to said optically magnifying, rotating the flux bundle behind the second image plane, wherein said optically magnifying is performed on the resulting rotated image at a third image plane.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

moving an optical magnifier to a region of said rotating image at the third image plane.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said moving is controlled by an operator.