INFRARED SCANNING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An optical scanning system selectively operative as a camera and a microscope, said scanning system comprising:
- a folded optical path having a set of radiation converging and reflecting elements;
a camera field of view;
a microscope field of view;
a radiation detector;
selectable means for selecting first and second routings with significantly different optical properties for radiation through said set of elements of said optical path whereby said elements are operative in a different sequence in said first and second routings;
said first routing providing for radiation to traverse said folded optical path from said camera field of view to said radiation detector and providing for placement of said one or more converging elements relatively closer to said radiation detector;
said second routing providing for radiation to traverse said folded optical path from said microscope field of view to said radiation detector and providing for placement of said one or more converging elements in said second radiation routing relatively closer to said microscope field of view; and
means for providing scanning by said folded optical path of radiation incident on said radiation detector from said fields of view.
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Abstract
An optical scanning system particularly suited to detecting infrared radiation and selectively operative either as a camera or as a microscope in response to a simple adjustment. A single folded optical system is employed having a multiply reflecting horizontal scanning mirror oscillatory about a first axis to provide line scanning, and a vertical scanning mirror oscillatory about an orthogonal axis at a lower frequency to provide frame scanning. The focal point of the optical path is fixed while the field of view can be rotated in elevation or azimuth so that an orientation sensitive infrared detector may conveniently be used at the focal point. The oscillatory motion of each scanning mirror is preferably achieved by balanced forces oppositely acting at opposed edges of the scanning mirrors for providing efficient linear scanning with minimum bending distortion.
15 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An optical scanning system selectively operative as a camera and a microscope, said scanning system comprising:
- a folded optical path having a set of radiation converging and reflecting elements;
a camera field of view;
a microscope field of view;
a radiation detector;
selectable means for selecting first and second routings with significantly different optical properties for radiation through said set of elements of said optical path whereby said elements are operative in a different sequence in said first and second routings;
said first routing providing for radiation to traverse said folded optical path from said camera field of view to said radiation detector and providing for placement of said one or more converging elements relatively closer to said radiation detector;
said second routing providing for radiation to traverse said folded optical path from said microscope field of view to said radiation detector and providing for placement of said one or more converging elements in said second radiation routing relatively closer to said microscope field of view; and
means for providing scanning by said folded optical path of radiation incident on said radiation detector from said fields of view.
- a folded optical path having a set of radiation converging and reflecting elements;
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2. The optical scanning system of claim 1 further including means operative to provide rotation of at least one of said fields of view without rotation of said detector.
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3. The optical scanning system of claim 1 further including means for adjusting the point of convergence of radiation from said one or more converging elements relative to the position of said detector.
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4. An optical scanning system operative as a camera and as a microscope, said system comprising:
- a radiation detector;
a camera field of view;
a microscope field of view;
a folded optical path for radiation between said radiation detector and said camera and microscope fields of view, said folded optical path including;
a group of optical elements providing reflection of radiation incident upon said group in a direction generally different to the direction of incidence;
said group of elements having at least one oscillating reflective surface from which a plurality of reflections are made in returning incident radiation;
at least one reflective, converging optical element; and
adjustable means for selectively causing radiation incident over said camera field of view and said microscope field of view to traverse said folded optical path from a selected one of said camera and microscope fields of view respectively to said radiation detector and to provide operation of the optical elements in said group in different sequences depending upon the field of view selected;
said adjustable means, when causing passage of radiation from said camera field of view to said radiation detector, having said at least one converging element optically positioned in the then operative sequence of optical elements relatively closer to said radiation detector;
said adjustable means, when causing passage of radiation from said microscope field of view in said radiation detector, having said at least one converging element optically positioned in the then operative sequence of optical elements relatively closer to said microscope field of view.
- a radiation detector;
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5. The optical scanning system of claim 4 further including means for causing oscillation of said at least one converging element to provide, in conjunction with the oscillation of said at least one reflective surface of said group of elements, scanning of radiation incident on said radiation detector over a solid angle of said camera or said microscope fields of view.
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6. The optical scanning system of claim 5 wherein oscillations of said at least one reflective surface of said group of elements is substantially more rapid than the oscillations of said one or more convering elements to produce line scanning of radiation within said camera or microscope fields of view as detected by said radiation detector.
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7. The optical scanning system of claim 5 further comprising:
- a display having controllably illuminated and positioned points on a surface;
means for controlling the illuminations of said points on said surface in response to the radiation incident on said detector; and
means for controlling the position of said points of illumination on said surface in correspondence with the oscillations of said at least one converging element and said at least one reflective surface.
- a display having controllably illuminated and positioned points on a surface;
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8. The optical scanning system of claim 4 wherein said group of elements comprises:
- a plane mirror; and
a convex mirror having its reflective surface positioned to receive and reflect back said radiation incident on said group of elements after a reflection of said plane mirror.
- a plane mirror; and
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9. The optical scanning system of claim 4 wherein said group of elements comprises a plurality of intersecting plane reflecting surfaces angled relative to each other and rotated about an axis of intersection to provide line scanning radiation incident within said camera or microscope fields of view.
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10. The optical scanning system of claim 4 wherein:
- said detector is an infrared radiation detector having a sensitive surface;
a reservoir of liquified gas is provided; and
means are provided for expanding said liquified gas in thermal contact with said sensitive surface;
the expansion of said liquified gas maintains the sensitive surface of said infrared detector at extremely low temperatures substantially indepEndent of the orientation of said detector.
- said detector is an infrared radiation detector having a sensitive surface;
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11. An optical scanning system comprising:
- a radiation detector;
a folded optical path which includes;
a horizontal scanning mirror having a scanning axis coplanar with the reflecting surface thereof;
means for rotationally oscillating said horizontal scanning mirror about said axis parallel to the surface of said horizontal scanning mirror and providing said oscillation motion in response to oppositely directed forces of equal strength applied to opposite edges of said horizontal scanning mirror;
a rotationally supported vertical scanning mirror having a concave reflecting surface;
said horizontal scanning mirror being disposed along the optical axis of said vertical scanning mirror and inclined at an angle thereto;
means for rotationally oscillating said vertical scanning mirror about an axis out of parallel with both the scanning axis of said horizontal scanning mirror and the optical axis of said vertical scanning mirror;
a third reflecting surface having a reflecting area substantially smaller than the reflecting area of said horizontal scanning mirror and positioned, relative to said horizontal scanning mirror, to provide an optical path with said horizontal scanning mirror, which path is operative to cause radiation incident on said horizontal scanning mirror along said optical axis to be returned substantially along said optical axis;
said horizontal scanning mirror receiving radiation over a solid angle camera field of view provided by the oscillations of said horizontal and vertical scanning mirrors; and
reflecting said received radiation toward said vertical scanning mirror; and
means for directing radiation from said folded optical path to said detector after being received by said horizontal scanning mirror and reflected towards said concave vertical scanning mirror rereflected with convergence toward said horizontal scanning mirror and sequentially rereflected by said third reflecting surface, said horizontal scanning mirror, and said directing means whereby radiations from objects within said field of view are substantially converged to a focus at said detector.
- a radiation detector;
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12. The optical scanning system of claim 11 further comprising:
- means for receiving radiation from a microscope field of view and for directing said received microscope field of view radiation toward said vertical scanning mirror substantially along said optical axis;
means for directing radiation from said folded optical path to said detector after being received from said microscope field of view and reflected by said concave mirror and rereflected sequentially by said horizontal scanning mirror, said third reflecting surface, said horizontal scanning mirror, and said directing means whereby radiations from objects within said microscope field of view are substantially converged to a focus at said detector; and
means for selectively blocking reception of radiation from said camera field of view and said microscope field of view whereby said system is operative as either a camera with said concave vertical scanning mirror relatively closer to said detector or a microscope with said concave vertical scanning mirror relatively closer to said microscope field view.
- means for receiving radiation from a microscope field of view and for directing said received microscope field of view radiation toward said vertical scanning mirror substantially along said optical axis;
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13. The optical scanning system of claim 11 further including means operative to provide rotation of at least one of said fields of view about said optical axis without providing rotation of said detector.
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14. The optical scanning system of claim 11 further comprising:
- a display having controllably illuminated positioned points on a surface;
means for controlling the illumination of said points on said surface in response to the radiation incident on said detector; and
means for controlling the position of said illuminated points on said surface in correspondence with the oscillations of said vertical and horizontal scanning mirrors.
- a display having controllably illuminated positioned points on a surface;
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15. The optical scanning system of claim 11 wherein sAid means for rotationally oscillating said horizontal scanning mirror further comprises:
- electro-mechanical transducers mounted near opposite edges of said horizontal scanning mirror;
means for applying a periodic electrical signal to said transducers to cause the rotational oscillation of said horizontal scanning mirror;
means for sensing the oscillation of said horizontal scanning mirror and providing a corresponding electrical pick-off signal; and
means for providing said electrical pick-off signal as an input to said means for applying said periodic electrical signal in a feedback relationship to provide stabilization of the oscillation of said horizontal scanning mirror in response to said periodic electrical signal, said stabilized oscillation being more consistently representative of a predetermined oscillation characteristic.
- electro-mechanical transducers mounted near opposite edges of said horizontal scanning mirror;
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16. The optical scanning system of claim 11 wherein said third reflecting surface is a convex reflecting surface providing a reduction in the rate of convergence of radiation reflected from said vertical scanning mirror to said horizontal scanning mirror and thence to said third reflecting surface.
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17. The optical scanning system of claim 11 wherein said third reflecting surface is positioned to intercept radiation from said camera field of view which radiation would, in the absence of said third reflecting surface, be directed to said detector after the first reflection from said horizontal scanning mirror.
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18. The optical scanning system of claim 11 wherein said vertical scanning mirror is slidably mounted relative to the optical axis thereof to provide adjustment in the position of focus of radiation from said folded optical path.
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19. An optical scanning system selectively operable in a microscope of a camera mode, said system comprising:
- a radiation sensitive detector;
a folded optical path having;
a camera field of view;
a microscope field of view;
a concave mirror;
a substantially plane mirror having a hole therethrough which is located approximately on the front facing optical axis of said concave mirror;
said plane mirror being inclined at an angle to the optical axis of said concave mirror to receive radiation from said camera field of view and reflect it substantially along the optical axis of said concave mirror;
a rotatable drum having a plurality of mirrors positioned around its periphery and being rotatably positioned to cause, during rotation of said drum, sequential ones of said plurality of mirrors to pass through a condition of perpendicularity with the optical axis of said concave mirror beyond said hole of said plane mirror;
means for rotating said drum;
means positioned between said concave and said plane mirrors for reflecting radiation towards said detector after reflection from one of said plurality of mirrors and for directing radiation from said microscope field of view toward said concave mirror substantially along the optical axis thereof; and
means for selectively causing said radiation to traverse said optical path to said radiation detector either exclusively from said camera field of view with said concave mirror relatively closer to said detector or exclusively from said microscopic field of view with said concave mirror relatively closed to said microscope field of view thereby to provide operation of said system selectively in said camera or microscope mode.
- a radiation sensitive detector;
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20. The system of claim 19 further comprising:
- means for causing the rotation of said drum to be at a predetermined rate; and
means for causing oscillation of said concave mirror about an axis angled to both the optical axis of said concave mirror and the axis of rotation of said drum;
said means for causing oscillation of said concave mirror providing an oscillatory rate at a substantially lower frequency than the rate at which adjacent ones of said plurality of mirrors on the periphery of said drum are caused to pass through the condition of a Perpendicularity with the optical axis of said concave mirror by the predetermined rate of rotation of said drum;
the rotation of said drum and the oscillation of said concave mirror cooperating to produce scanning of a solid angle within said camera and microscope fields of view.
- means for causing the rotation of said drum to be at a predetermined rate; and
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21. An optical scanning system for scanning electro-magnetic radiations from a field of view comprising:
- a radiation detector;
a reflecting structure comprising two thin plates perpendicularly intersecting at an axis;
said plates having radiation reflecting surfaces on one or more sides thereof;
means for rotating said reflecting structure about an axis of intersection;
a concave reflecting surface having an optical axis passing through said axis of intersection of said reflecting structure;
reflecting means pivotally supported in first and second positions and having first and second parallel, oppositely facing reflecting surfaces disposed between said reflecting structure and said concave reflecting surface with the optical axis of said concave reflection surface passing therethrough at an inclined angle, said first and second parallel reflecting surfaces having reflecting areas smaller than the reflecting area of said concave reflecting surface;
an optical path existing between said field of view and said detector, said optical path leading from said field of view to said first surface of said reflecting means in said first position and thence by sequential reflections to said reflecting structure, said concave reflecting surface, said second surface of said reflecting means and said detector to provide camera operation;
said optical path leading from said field of view to said second surface of said reflecting means in said second position and thence by sequential reflections to said concave reflecting surface, said reflecting structure, said first surface of said reflecting means, and said detector to provide microscope operation.
- a radiation detector;
Specification