R.F. transparent RF/UV-IR detector apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for collecting and detecting radiant energy in optical and radio frequency regions of the electromagnetic spectrum comprising:
- a. an optical telescope having an entrance aperture for collecting and focusing energy in an optical band of said electromagnetic spectrum onto a detector, said telescope being comprised of RF-transmissive elements including a primary mirror, at least one of said RF-transmissive elements having thereon on a conductive metal coating which is reflective to optical wavelengths and transmissive to radio frequency energy, andb. a radio frequency antenna located rearward of said primary mirror, said radio frequency antenna being so constructed as to permit transmission and reception of radio frequency energy through all of said entrance aperture of said optical telescope.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dual-mode, radio frequency, optical-wavelength detector apparatus includes RF-transparent optical elements adapted to focusing optical energy in a wavelength range including ultraviolet through infrared wavelengths, on an optical detector, and an RF antenna located behind the optical elements. One embodiment of the apparatus employs a Cassegrain infrared optical telescope system having a concave primary mirror, the front surface of which has applied thereto multiple layers of dielectric material comprising an interference filter reflective in a band of infrared wavelengths, and transmissive to radio frequency energy. A convex secondary mirror having a similar reflective coating is so located as to reflect infrared energy backwards through a central coaxial perforation through the primary mirror onto an infrared detector. The apparatus includes a planar RF antenna rearward of the primary mirror, which antenna utilizes the full aperture of the infrared optical system for the reception and transmission of RF energy.
264 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus for collecting and detecting radiant energy in optical and radio frequency regions of the electromagnetic spectrum comprising:
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a. an optical telescope having an entrance aperture for collecting and focusing energy in an optical band of said electromagnetic spectrum onto a detector, said telescope being comprised of RF-transmissive elements including a primary mirror, at least one of said RF-transmissive elements having thereon on a conductive metal coating which is reflective to optical wavelengths and transmissive to radio frequency energy, and b. a radio frequency antenna located rearward of said primary mirror, said radio frequency antenna being so constructed as to permit transmission and reception of radio frequency energy through all of said entrance aperture of said optical telescope. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A dual-mode, optical and radio frequency detector apparatus comprising:
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a. a primary mirror, said primary mirror comprising an RF-transmissive body having on a front surface thereof an optically reflective, RF-transmissive coating adapted to reflect optical energy forward, b. a secondary mirror located in front of said primary mirror, said secondary mirror comprising an RF-transmissive body having on a rear surface thereof an optically reflective, RF-transmissive coating, said secondary mirror being adapted to reflect optical energy rearward, at least one of said optical reflective, RF-transmissive coatings comprising a conductive metal film, c. an optical detector rearward of said secondary mirror, said detector being adapted to receive optical energy reflected rearward from said secondary mirror, and d. a radio frequency antenna located rearward of said primary mirror, said antenna being adapted to receive radio frequency energy distributed over the entire aperture area of said primary mirror. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A dual-mode, optical and radio frequency detector apparatus comprising:
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a. a primary mirror including a body having a concave front face on which is formed an optically reflective, RF-transmissive surface, b. a secondary mirror comprising a body having a convex rear surface on which is formed an optically reflective, RF-transmissive layer, said layer being reflective to optical energy in a first wavelength band and transmissive to optical energy in a second wavelength band of the optical spectrum, c. a first optical detector rearward of said secondary mirror, said first detector being adapted to receive optical energy in said first wavelength band reflected from said secondary mirror, d. a second optical detector located forward of said secondary mirror, said second optical detector being adapted to receive optical energy in said second wavelength band of said optical spectrum transmitted through said secondary mirror, and e. a radio frequency antenna located rearward of said primary mirror, said antenna being adapted to receive radio frequency energy distributed over the entire aperture area of said primary mirror. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification