Multiple field of view sensor

• US 5,049,740 A
• Filed: 08/26/1986
• Issued: 09/17/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Demas, Themi H., Pines, Michael Y., Schaefer, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Westin, Edward P.
• Application Number:
  US06/917,944
• Time in Patent Office: 1,848 Days
• Field of Search: 250/347, 250/334, 250/351, 250/339, 250/345, 250/234, 250/235, 356/323, 356/325, 356/343, 358/206, 358/208, 350/6.6
• US Class Current: 250/235
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/10 Scanning systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 3/09 for electromagnetic radiation in the invisible region, e.g. infrared

Abstract

Images of two fields of view of one or two scenes in a radiation sensor are generated by use of a single detector and common signal process circuitry. The two imaged fields of view, typically a narrow view and a wide view, are provided by two independent telescopes (18, 20), and are combined by use of a field-of-view switch (32) comprising a chopper wheel (34) or an optical switch in synchronized operation with a mirror scanner (22). The same field-of-view switch is employed in performing detector non-uniformity correction functions, such as automatic responsivity control and direct current restoration. Folding optics couples scanned radiation from the scanner to the switch. An additional field of view may be introduced by displacing a folding mirror of the folding optics. Also, a portion of a reflecting surface of the switch may be tilted to admit a reference beam of radiation useful in performing the functions of responsivity control and D.C. restoration.

Claims

1. A multiple field of view sensor comprising:

a detector;

means for viewing at plural fields of view and for acquiring electromagnetic radiation therefrom;

scanner means optically coupled to said viewing means, said scanner means comprising an oscillating mirror means, said viewing means including means for directing radiations of a first and a second of the plural fields of view toward said oscillating mirror means to effect a simultaneous scanning of said first and said second fields of view by said oscillating mirror means, said scanner means further comprising folding optics for directing radiations of scanned fields of view from said mirror means to a common intersection;

a switch disposed at said intersection and synchronizd with said scanner means for alternately directing the radiations of said first and said second fields of view to said detector, said switch comprising a rotating wheel having sections thereon for the alternate directing of the radiation to said detector, one of said sections being a mirrored surface disposed parallel to a plane of rotation of said wheel; and

wherein a second section of said wheel is a reflector extending radially along said wheel and being angled relative to said plane of rotation.

2. A multiple field of view sensor comprising:

a detector;

means for viewing at plural fields of view and for acquiring electromagnetic radiation therefrom;

scanner means optically coupled to said viewing means, said scanner means comprising an oscillating mirror means, said viewing means including means for directing radiations of a first and a second of the plural fields of view toward said oscillating mirror means to effect a simultaneous scanning of said first and said second fields of view by said oscillating mirror means, said scanner means further comprising folding optics for directing radiations of scanned fields of view from said mirror means to a common intersection;

a switch disposed at said intersection and synchronized with said scanner means for alternately directing the radiations of said first and said second fields of view to said detector, said switch comprising a rotating wheel having sections thereon for the alternate directing of the radiation to said detector, one of said sections being a mirrored surface disposed parallel to a plane of rotation of said wheel; and

wherein a second section of said wheel is a reflector extending radially along said wheel and being angled relative to said plane of rotation, and wherein a third section of said wheel is transparent, each of said sections admitting a separate field of view to said detector for a total of three fields of view.

3. A sensor according to claim 2 further comprising a second switch serially coupled along an optical path with said first mentioned switch for substituting a fourth field of view in place of one of said three fields of view.

4. A sensor according to claim 3 wherein said folding optics includes a folding element, and wherein said second switch includes means for displacing said folding element from an optical path of one of said three fields of view.

5. A multiple field of view sensor comprising:

a detector;

means for viewing at plural fields of view and for acquiring electromagnetic radiation therefrom;

scanner means optically coupled to said viewing means, said scanner means comprising an oscillating mirror means, said viewing means including means for directing radiations of a first and a second of the plural fields of view toward said oscillating mirror means to effect a simultaneous scanning of said first and said second fields of view by said oscillating mirror means, said scanner means further comprising folding optics for directing radiations of scanned fields of view from said mirror means to a common intersection;

a switch disposed at said intersection and synchronized with said scanner means for alternately directing the radiations of said first and said second fields of view to said second fields of view to said detector, said switch comprising a rotating wheel having sections thereon for the alternate directing of the radiation to said detector, one of said sections being a mirrored surface disposed parallel to a plane of rotation of said wheel; and

further comprising a second switch serially coupled along an optical path with said first mentioned switch for substituting a third field of view in place of one of said first and said second fields of view.

6. A sensor according to claim 5 wherein said folding optics includes a folding element, and wherein said second switch includes means for displacing said folding element from an optical path of one of said first and said second fields of view.

7. A sensor according to claim 6 wherein said oscillating mirror means reflects said field of view from a first side of said mirror means, and said second field of view from a second side of said mirror means.

8. A sensor according to claim 7 wherein said mirror means is a two-sided mirror having opposed reflecting surfaces.

9. A method for sensing multiple fields of view comprising the steps of:

scanning at least two fields of view with a scanner for acquiring electromagnetic radiation from the fields, said scanning including steps of illuminating a reflector simultaneously with radiation from two of said fields of view and oscillating the reflector to effect a simultaneous scanning of the two fields of view;

directing scanned radiations of the respective fields of view along separate intersecting paths through a switch for serially directing the radiation to a detector while synchronizing and scanning and directing steps, said directing including a locating of the switch at an intersection of the paths;

substituting a third field of view in place of one of the scanned fields of view outputted by said scanning step;

transmitting said third field of view to said switch for detection by said detector;

said directing step comprising the steps of utilizing a wheel having at least one transparent surface and one reflective surface thereon, and rotating the wheel to permit the radiation from individual fields of view to be directed to the detector in synchronism with the scanning; and

further comprising a step of tilting a section of a reflective surface of said wheel, and introducing a reference beam of radiation via a tilted section of the reflective surface of said wheel for restoring a D.C. level to signals outputted by said detector in response to radiation incident thereon.