Optical imaging system made from a single piece of material

• US 5,181,145 A
• Filed: 02/27/1991
• Issued: 01/19/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rafael - Armament Development Authority Ltd.
• Original Assignee: State of Israel--Ministry of Defence Armament Development Authority Rafael
• Inventors: Eden, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher, Constantine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Glick, Edward J.
• Application Number:
  US07/661,677
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 359/399, 359/857, 359/858, 359/859, 359/641, 359/366, 359/365, 359/364, 250/330
• US Class Current: 359/859
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/061 on-axis systems with at least one of the mirrors having a central aperture
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0694 with variable magnification or multiple imaging planes, including multispectral systems systems with only refractive elements G02B15/14
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification

Abstract

An integrally-formed optical imaging system including at least two facing, reflective surfaces defining a single optical axis and formed on a single piece of material.

Claims

1. An optical imaging system integrally-formed on a single piece of material, comprising:

at least a first and second facing, reflective surfaces defining a single optical axis,

said first reflective surface defining a central aperture through which said optical axis extends and said second reflective surface formed coaxially with said first reflective surface and defining a focus lying on said optical axis,

radiation impinging on said first reflective surface being reflected therefrom towards said second reflective surface and further reflected from said second reflective surface towards said focus; and

a plurality of elongate rib members integrally formed with said first and second reflective surfaces, said plurality of elongate rib members defining therebetween a plurality of openings communicating with said central aperture, so as to enable passage of radiation reflected from said second reflective surface to said focus thereof.

2. A system according to claim 1, and wherein said single piece of material also defined baffle means disposed between said first reflective surface and said rib members, said baffle means being operative to at least partially prevent the impingement on said second reflective surface of stray radiation.

3. A system according to claim 1, and wherein said single piece of material further defines means for mounting imaging apparatus in association with said focus of said second reflective surface.

4. A system according to claim 1, and wherein at least one of said first and second reflective surfaces is aspheric.

5. A system according to claim 1, and wherein said system is a Cassegrainian system.

6. A system according to claim 5, and having at least one of the following properties:

accuracy of centering of said first and second reflective surfaces relative to said optical axis better than approximately 0.05 mm;

accuracy of perpendicularity of said first and second reflective surfaces to said optical axis of better than approximately 0.05 mm; and

accuracy of the distance between the traces of said first and second reflective surfaces of better than approximately 0.1 mm.

7. A system according to claim 5, and having at least one of the following properties:

accuracy of centering of said first and second reflective surfaces relative to said optical axis of approximately 0.2 μ

m;

accuracy of perpendicularity of said first and second reflective surfaces to said optical axis of approximately 0.2 μ

m; and

accuracy of the distance between the traces of said first and second reflective surfaces of approximately 0.05 mm.

8. A system according to claim 1 and also comprising:

beamsplitting means receiving radiation reflected from said second reflective surfaces; and

plural detectors, each operating at a different optical wavelength, each receiving radiation from said beamsplitting means.

9. A system according to claim 8 and wherein at least one of said plural detectors is operative for detecting laser radiation.

10. A system according to claim 1 and also comprising:

beamsplitting means receiving radiation reflected from said second reflective surfaces; and

plural detectors, each having a different field of view, each receiving radiation from said beamsplitting means.

11. An optical system according to claim 1 and also comprising electronic circuitry mounted onto said single piece of material.

12. A system according to claim 1 wherein each of said reflective surfaces has an external configuration that is generally circular when projected parallel to said optical axis, the diameter of said first reflective surface being greater than the diameter of said second reflective surface.

13. A system according to claim 1, and wherein said single piece of material is metallic and said reflective surfaces are diamond turned surfaces on said single piece of material.