Optics assembly for observing a panoramic scene

• US 5,627,675 A
• Filed: 05/13/1995
• Issued: 05/06/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Boeing North American Incorporated (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Castle, Kenneth R., Ruda, Mitchell, Davis, John E., Stuhlinger, Tilman W., Todd, Marion N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lester, Evelyn A.
• Application Number:
  US08/455,885
• Time in Patent Office: 724 Days
• Field of Search: 359/725, 359/724, 359/366, 359/729, 359/731, 354/94, 354/95, 352/69
• US Class Current: 359/366
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/06 Panoramic objectives; So-called "sky lenses" including panoramic objectives having reflecting surfaces

Abstract

An optics assembly for observing a panoramic scene. The optics assembly includes a plurality of optical elements. A first element redirects light from the panoramic scene. The optical power of the first element forms an imaginary pupil. The energy from the first element is redirected about 90 degrees, forming an annular path. A second element receives the redirected light and re-images the imaginary pupil to form a real pupil. This portion of the energy continues to be in an annular form. A third element includes an optical relay system having a group of reimaging optics. The third element receives light from the second element while relaying the real pupil into the reimaging optics. It also establishes the focal length of the optics assembly, corrects pupil aberrations produced at the real pupil, corrects field aberrations and produces an annular image on a flat focal plane. The optical relay system interfaces with the second element through the use of the real pupil. The real pupil is formed at the cold stop and filter location in the third element. This pupil is relayed back through the system to be coincident with the first real pupil. The optics assembly produces a small F-number at field angles near perpendicular to the output optical axis of the optics assembly over a panoramic scene.

Claims

1. An optics assembly for observing a panoramic scene, comprising:

a plurality of optical elements, comprising;

a first element for re-directing light in an annular geometry from said panoramic scene, optical power of said first element forming an imaginary pupil;

a second element for receiving said annularly re-directed light and for re-imaging said imaginary pupil to form a real pupil; and

a third element comprising;

a) a sub-element having a curved reflecting surface thereon for receiving light from said second element, and

b) an optical relay system for receiving light being reflected from said sub-element, said optical relay system including a group of reimaging optics, said third element for;

i) relaying said real pupil into said reimaging optics,

ii) establishing a focal length of the optics assembly,

iii) correcting pupil aberrations produced at said real pupil,

iv) correcting field aberrations, and

v) producing an annular image on a flat focal plane, wherein said optics assembly produces a small F-number at field angles near perpendicular to an output optical axis of the optics assembly over a panoramic scene.

2. The optics assembly of claim 1, wherein said first element comprises a convex surface and said second element comprises a concave surface.

3. The optics assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second elements comprise a Mersenne optic, said first element being a convex parabolic mirror and said second element being a concave parabolic mirror.

4. The optics assembly of claim 1, wherein said optical relay system comprises a combination of refractive and reflective elements.

5. The optics assembly of claim 1, wherein said group of reimaging optics comprises a cold stop and band pass filter for receiving said relayed real pupil.

6. The optics assembly of claim 1, wherein said optical relay system comprises only reflective elements.

7. An optics assembly for observing a panoramic scene, comprising:

a plurality of optical elements, comprising;

a first element for re-directing light in an annular geometry from said panoramic scene, optical power of said first element forming an imaginary pupil;

a second element for receiving said annularly re-directed light and for re-imaging said imaginary pupil to form a real pupil; and

a third element comprising an optical relay system including a group of reimaging optics, said third element for;

i) receiving light from said second element while relaying said real pupil into said reimaging optics,

ii) establishing a focal length of the optics assembly,

iii) correcting pupil aberrations produced at said real pupil,

iv) correcting field aberrations, and

v) producing an annular image on a flat focal plane,

said optical relay system comprising a combination of refractive and reflective elements,

wherein said optics assembly produces a small F-number at field angles near perpendicular to an output optical axis of the optics assembly over a panoramic scene.

8. The optics assembly of claim 7, wherein said first element comprises a convex surface and said second element comprises a concave surface.

9. The optics assembly of claim 7, wherein said first and second elements comprise a Mersenne optic, said first element being a convex parabolic mirror and said second element being a concave parabolic mirror.

10. An optics assembly for observing a panoramic scene, comprising:

a plurality of optical elements, comprising;

a first element for re-directing light in an annular geometry from said panoramic scene, optical power of said first element forming an imaginary pupil;

a second element for receiving said annularly re-directed light and for re-imaging said imaginary pupil to form a real pupil; and

a third element comprising an optical relay system including a group of reimaging optics, said third element for;

i) receiving light from said second element while relaying said real pupil into said reimaging optics,

ii) establishing a focal length of the optics assembly,

iii) correcting pupil aberrations produced at said real pupil,

iv) correcting field aberrations, and

v) producing an annular image on a flat focal plane,

said group of reimaging optics comprising a cold stop and band pass filter for receiving said relayed real pupil,

wherein said optics assembly produces a small F-number at field angles near perpendicular to an output optical axis of the optics assembly over a panoramic scene.

11. The optics assembly of claim 10, wherein said first element comprises a convex surface and said second element comprises a concave surface.

12. The optics assembly of claim 10, wherein said first and second elements comprise comprise a Mersenne optic, said first element being a convex parabolic mirror and said second element being a concave parabolic mirror.

13. An optics assembly for observing a panoramic scene, comprising:

a plurality of optical elements, comprising;

a first element for re-directing light in an annular geometry from said panoramic scene, optical power of said first element forming an imaginary pupil;

a second element for receiving said annularly re-directed light and for re-imaging said imaginary pupil to form a real pupil; and

a third element comprising an optical relay system including a group of reimaging optics, said third element for;

i) receiving light from said second element while relaying said real pupil into said reimaging optics,

ii) establishing a focal length of the optics assembly,

iii) correcting pupil aberrations produced at said real pupil,

iv) correcting field aberrations, and

v) producing an annular image on a flat focal plane,

wherein said optical relay system comprises only reflective elements, and,

wherein said optics assembly produces a small F-number at field angles near perpendicular to an output optical axis of the optics assembly over a panoramic scene.

14. The optics assembly of claim 13, wherein said first element comprises a convex surface and said second element comprises a concave surface.

15. The optics assembly of claim 13, wherein said first and second elements comprise a Mersenne optic, said first element being a convex parabolic mirror and said second element being a concave parabolic mirror.