Antinarcissus reflector assembly for infrared detector

• US 4,011,452 A
• Filed: 11/06/1975
• Issued: 03/08/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force
• Inventors: Meyers, Franklin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Borchelt, Archie R.
• Application Number:
  US05/629,467
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 250/347, 250/352, 250/353
• US Class Current: 250/352
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/06 Arrangements for eliminating effects of disturbing radiation; Arrangements for compensating changes in sensitivity for adjusting of solid angle of collected radiation G01J5/07; means for wavelength selection G01J5/0801
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification

Abstract

The antinarcissus reflector assembly comprises: a cold stop subassembly that includes an aperture; and a concave spherical mirror having an opening, and also having a center of curvature at the center of the aperture of the cold stop subassembly. Unlike in the prior art devices, the only cold surface that is seen by the optics ahead of the detector is the face portion thereof, which shows through the opening in the concave spherical mirror, rather than reflections of the interior of the cold stop subassembly. Therefore, the undesirable diffused, cool patch which appears in the center of the picture when prior art devices are used is eliminated or, at the very least, is minimized.

Claims

1. An antinarcissus reflector assembly for use with a source of infrared light and with an infrared light detector which is a constituent component of an imaging infrared light scanner, comprising:

a. cold stop subassembly comprising a plate of suitable material, with said plate having an aperture therein, and with said plate interposed between said source of infrared light and said infrared light detector;

b. and, a concave spherical mirror having an opening therein, and also having a center of curvature at the geometric center of said aperture of said cold stop plate, with said concave spherical mirror interposed between said cold stop subassembly and said infrared light detector, and with said concave surface of said spherical mirror facing toward said cold stop aperture, and also with said mirror opening in alignment with said cold stop aperture and exposing said infrared light detector.