Imaging sensor having multiple fields of view and utilizing all-reflective optics
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A multiple field of view imaging sensor having a detector, comprising:
- first means for imaging a scene onto the detector with a first field of view, the first means comprising a first optical path having at least one reflective component but no refractive component therein;
second means for imaging the scene onto the detector with a second field of view;
the second means comprising a second optical path having at least one reflective component but no refractive component therein; and
means including one or more flat moveable reflective components for selecting between first means and the second means by alternately routing light from the scene;
to either the first first means or the second means first to the second means.
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Abstract
An imaging sensor has multiple fields of view of the same scene that may be selected by the user for viewing through mechanical movements. The imaging and selection are accomplished entirely with reflective optical components (mirrors) and without the use of any refractive optical components (lenses). A movable field-shifting mirror selects between a direct view and a modified-of-view image of the scene. The modified-view image is accomplished using a multi-mirror afocal telescope. Additional field-shifting mirrors may be used to select other fields of view and reference sources, as desired, or between various detectors.
55 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A multiple field of view imaging sensor having a detector, comprising:
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first means for imaging a scene onto the detector with a first field of view, the first means comprising a first optical path having at least one reflective component but no refractive component therein; second means for imaging the scene onto the detector with a second field of view;
the second means comprising a second optical path having at least one reflective component but no refractive component therein; andmeans including one or more flat moveable reflective components for selecting between first means and the second means by alternately routing light from the scene;
to either the first first means or the second means first to the second means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A multiple field of view imaging sensor, comprising:
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a detector; a detector optical path having an input image and an output image that is imaged onto the detector, the detector optical path having at least one reflective component but no refractive component therein; a field-modifying optical path having an input image of the scene and an output image of the scene with a modified field of view, the field-modifying optical path including a telescope with at least one mirror but no retractive component therein; and a field-shifting flat mirror movable between a first position and a second position, the mirror having an input in the first position of a scene with a first field of view and an input in the second position of the scene through the field-modifying optical path with the modified field of view, the field-shifting mirror having as an output in both the first position and the second position the input image to the detector optical path. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A multiple field of view imaging sensor, comprising:
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a detector; a detector optical path having an input image and an output image that is imaged onto the detector, the detector optical path having at least one mirror but no refractive component therein, comprising an image motion compensation mirror that receives the input image, a fixed fold mirror that receives as an input the output of the image motion compensation mirror, and an imager optics having at least one reflective mirror, the output of the image optics being the output image; a field-shifting mirror movable between a first position and a second position, the mirror having an input in the first position of a scene and an input in the second position, the mirror having as an output in both the first position and the second position the input image to the detector optical path; and a field-modifying optical path having an input image of the scene and an output image of the scene with a modified field of view, the field-modifying optical path comprising a multi-mirror afocal telescope with at least one mirror but no refractive component therein, and a fixed mirror that receives as an input the output of the multi-mirror afocal telescope; an optical input selected from the group consisting of an output of a reference source and an output of a second field-modifying optical path; and a second field-shifting mirror movable between a first position and a second position, the mirror having an input in the first position of the scene with a modified field of view from the field-modifying optical path and an input in the second position of the optical input, the mirror having as an output in both the first position and the second position the input in the second position of the field-shifting mirror. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification