Boresight alignment measuring apparatus and method for electro-optic systems
First Claim
1. An apparatus for static and dynamic testing of the boresight alignment of an electro-optic system having a line-of-sight sensor responsive to first radiation from a target for sensing the location of the target and setting the direction of a target vector to correspond to the location of the target, and a line-of-sight illuminator for directing an illumination beam of second radiation at the located target, the boresight alignment being the extent to which the target vector and the illumination beam have achieved a predetermined angular relationship, said apparatus comprising:
- a main optic optically coupled to the electro-optic system and aligned with a principal radiation path for receiving the second radiation from the electro-optic system and focusing the second radiation about a focal point in a focal plane substantially perpendicular to said principal radiation path, said main optic including a primary reflector for reflecting the first and the second radiations between the electro-optic system and a subreflector zone, and a secondary reflector positioned in said subreflector zone and spaced from said primary reflector for reflecting the first and second radiations between said primary reflector and said focal plane along said principal radiation path;
first radiation source means positioned effectively in said principal radiation path for generating a target beam of the first radiation and for directing said target beam along said principal radiation path sequentially to said secondary reflector, to said primary reflector, and to the sensor of the electro-optic system, said target beam causing the sensor to set the direction of the target vector in substantial correspondence with said target beam; and
detecting means positioned effectively in said focal plane and in said principal radiation path and responsive to the second radiation for detecting the location of the illumination beam relative to the location of the target vector.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for static and dynamic testing of the boresight alignment of an electro-optic system, the system having a line-of-sight sensor responsive to first radiation from a target for sensing the location of the target and setting the direction of a target vector to correspond to the location of the target, and having a line-of-sight illuminator for directing an illumination beam of second radiation at the located target. The apparatus comprises a main optic for receiving the second radiation from the electro-optic system and focusing the second radiation about a focal point in a focal plane substantially perpendicular to a principal radiation path. The main optic includes a primary reflector for reflecting the first and the second radiations between the electro-optic system and a subreflector zone, a secondary reflector positioned in the subreflector zone and spaced from the primary reflector for reflecting the first and second radiations between the primary reflector and the focal plane along the principal radiation path. The apparatus comprises a first radiation source for generating a target beam of the first radiation and for directing the target beam along the principal radiation path sequentially to the secondary and primary reflectors and to the sensor of the electro-optic system, thereby causing the sensor to set the direction of the target vector in substantial correspondence with the target beam, and a detector responsive to the second radiation for detecting the location of the illumination beam relative to the location of the target vector.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for static and dynamic testing of the boresight alignment of an electro-optic system having a line-of-sight sensor responsive to first radiation from a target for sensing the location of the target and setting the direction of a target vector to correspond to the location of the target, and a line-of-sight illuminator for directing an illumination beam of second radiation at the located target, the boresight alignment being the extent to which the target vector and the illumination beam have achieved a predetermined angular relationship, said apparatus comprising:
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a main optic optically coupled to the electro-optic system and aligned with a principal radiation path for receiving the second radiation from the electro-optic system and focusing the second radiation about a focal point in a focal plane substantially perpendicular to said principal radiation path, said main optic including a primary reflector for reflecting the first and the second radiations between the electro-optic system and a subreflector zone, and a secondary reflector positioned in said subreflector zone and spaced from said primary reflector for reflecting the first and second radiations between said primary reflector and said focal plane along said principal radiation path; first radiation source means positioned effectively in said principal radiation path for generating a target beam of the first radiation and for directing said target beam along said principal radiation path sequentially to said secondary reflector, to said primary reflector, and to the sensor of the electro-optic system, said target beam causing the sensor to set the direction of the target vector in substantial correspondence with said target beam; and detecting means positioned effectively in said focal plane and in said principal radiation path and responsive to the second radiation for detecting the location of the illumination beam relative to the location of the target vector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for static and dynamic testing of the boresight alignment of an electro-optic system having a line-of-sight sensor responsive to first radiation from a target for sensing the location of the target and setting the direction of a target vector to correspond to the location of the target, and a line-of-sight illuminator for directing an illumination beam of second radiation at the located target, the boresight alignment being the extent to which the target vector and the illumination beam have achieved a predetermined angular relationship, said method comprising:
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generating a target beam of the first radiation defined by an aperture in a focal plane and directing said target beam along a principal radiation path substantially perpendicular to said focal plane to a secondary reflector, reflecting said target beam at said secondary reflector to a primary reflector, and reflecting said target beam at said primary reflector to the sensor of the electro-optic system, said primary and secondary reflectors collimating said target beam, said target beam causing the sensor to set the direction of the target vector in substantial correspondence with said target beam; and reflecting the illumination beam at said primary reflector to said secondary reflector, reflecting the illumination beam at said secondary reflector to a detector positioned in said focal plane along said principal radiation path, said primary and secondary reflectors focusing said illumination beam, and detecting the location of the illumination beam relative to the location of the target vector at said detector. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification