Cassegrain optical system for framing aerial reconnaissance camera

• US 6,374,047 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Recon/Optical, Inc. (Bourns Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baker, Allie M., Jones, John, Beran, Stephen R., Partynski, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOVAL, MELISSA J
• Application Number:
  US09/652,529
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 396/7, 396/8, 348/146
• US Class Current: 396/7
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/025 by scanning the object

Abstract

A dual band optical system for a framing aerial reconnaissance camera is described. The camera including at least two two-dimensional image recording media for generating frames of imagery of a scene external of an aerial reconnaissance vehicle carrying the camera. The camera includes a Cassegrain optical system forming an objective lens for the optical system, including a a primary mirror having a central aperture and a secondary mirror. The primary and secondary mirrors are aligned along an objective optical axis. The optical system also includes an azimuth mirror receiving radiation from the secondary mirror. The azimuth mirror is placed between the primary and secondary mirrors. A spectrum-dividing element in the form of a prism receives radiation from the azimuth mirror. The spectrum-dividing element directs radiation in a first band of the electromagnetic spectrum into a first optical path and radiation in a second band of the electromagnetic spectrum into a second optical path different from the first optical path. A first two-dimensional image recording medium is placed in the first optical path and a second two-dimensional image recording medium is placed in the second optical path. The first and second image recording media generating first and second images in two different portions of the electromagnetic spectrum simultaneously.

Claims

1. A dual band optical system for a framing aerial reconnaissance camera, said camera including at least two two-dimensional image recording media for generating frames of imagery of a scene external of an aerial reconnaissance vehicle carrying said camera, comprising;

(a) a Cassegrain optical system forming an objective lens for said optical system, said Cassegrain optical system receiving incident radiation from said scene and comprising a primary mirror having a central aperture and a secondary mirror, said primary and secondary mirrors aligned along an objective optical axis;

(b) an azimuth mirror receiving radiation from said secondary mirror, said azimuth mirror placed between said secondary mirror and a Cassegrain image plane and directing radiation in a direction away from said objective optical axis; and

(c) a spectrum dividing element receiving radiation from said azimuth mirror, said element directing radiation in a first band of the electromagnetic spectrum into a first optical path and directing radiation in a second band of the electromagnetic spectrum into a second optical path different from said first optical path;

(d) wherein a first two-dimensional image recording medium is placed in said first optical path and a second two-dimensional image recording medium is placed in said second optical path, said first and second image recording media generating first and second images in two different portions of the electromagnetic spectrum simultaneously.

2. The dual band optical system of claim 1, wherein said aerial reconnaissance vehicle comprises a roll axis and wherein said first and second paths are oriented and extend for a spatial extent generally in the direction of said roll axis, and wherein said objective optical axis is substantially orthogonal to said roll axis, whereby said dual band optical system provides a compact arrangement for said camera.

3. The dual band optical system of claim 1, wherein said first path comprises a visible spectrum path and wherein said second path comprises an infrared path, and wherein said visible spectrum path defines an axis which intersects said objective optical axis at a point, said azimuth mirror located at said point.

4. The dual band optical system of claim 2, wherein said Cassegrain optical system is coupled to a motor, said motor rotating said primary and secondary mirrors about a rotation axis substantially orthogonal to said roll axis and wherein said azimuth mirror is rotated about said rotation axis the rotation of said azimuth mirror and said Cassegrain optical system providing a technique for compensation for forward motion of said aerial reconnaissance vehicle.

5. The dual band optical system of claim 1, wherein said optical system has an f/number of between 4 and 8 and a focal length of between 50 and 100 inches.

6. The dual band optical system of claim 1, wherein said Cassegrain optical system, azimuth mirror, spectrum dividing element and first and second optical paths are incorporated into an aerial reconnaissance camera housing, and wherein said housing is coupled to a roll motor and to said aerial reconnaissance vehicle, said roll motor rotating said housing about the roll axis of said aerial reconnaissance vehicle.

7. The dual band optical system of claim 1, wherein said first and second image recording media comprise two-dimensional area array electro-optical detectors.

8. The dual band optical system of claim 1, wherein said first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum includes radiation with a wavelength of between 500 and 900 nm, and wherein said second portion of the electro-magnetic spectrum includes radiation with a wavelength of between 1.0 and 2.5 microns.

9. The dual band optical system of claim 4 wherein to compensate for forward motion of said vehicle said motor rotates said primary and secondary mirrors in the flight direction at a rate equal to V/R (in units of radians per second) where V is the velocity of aerial reconnaissance vehicle and R is either the range to the scene of interest or an approximation of said range, and rotates said azimuth mirror at rate equal to ½

(V/R) in the same direction as the rotation of said primary and secondary mirrors due to said motor.

10. The dual band optical system of claim 1, wherein said secondary mirror is centrally located in the entrance aperture of said Cassegrain optical system.

11. The dual band optical system of claim 1, wherein said Cassegrain optical system has a prescription substantially as set forth in Table 1.

12. The dual band optical system of claim 1, further comprising relay optics in said first and second optical paths having a prescription substantially as set forth in Tables 1 and 2.

13. The dual band optical system of claim 1, wherein said first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum includes radiation with a wavelength of between 500 and 900 nm, and wherein said second portion of the electro-magnetic spectrum includes radiation with a wavelength of between 3.0 and 5.0 microns.

14. The dual band optical system of claim 1, wherein said first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum includes radiation with a wavelength of between 500 and 900 nm, and wherein said second portion of the electro-magnetic spectrum includes radiation with a wavelength of between 8.0 and 14.0 microns.

15. A Cassegrain optical system for a framing aerial reconnaissance camera, said camera including a rigid camera housing, comprising:

a primary mirror receiving incident radiation from a scene external of said vehicle;

a secondary mirror receiving radiation from said primary mirror;

an azimuth mirror positioned between said primary mirror and said secondary mirror;

said primary and secondary mirrors defining an objective optical axis;

a primary mirror cell fixedly mounted to said camera housing;

a primary mirror holding ring receiving said primary mirror and movable with respect to said primary mirror cell;

structure rigidly coupling said secondary mirror to said primary mirror; and

a motor system coupled to said Cassegrain optical system adapted for rotating said primary mirror, secondary mirror and azimuth mirror about an axis orthogonal to said objective optical axis.

16. The optical system of claim 15, wherein said camera further comprises a spectrum-dividing prism receiving radiation from said azimuth mirror and separating said radiation into a first optical path and a second optical path, and wherein said first optical path includes a first two-dimensional image recording medium and wherein said second optical path includes a second two-dimensional image recording medium.

17. The optical system of claim 15, wherein said camera housing is coupled to said aerial reconnaissance vehicle by at least one roll motor which rotates said housing about the roll axis of said vehicle.

18. The optical system of claim 15, wherein said primary mirror, secondary mirror and azimuth mirror have a prescription substantially as set forth in Table 1.

19. The optical system of claim 15, further comprising relay optics in first and second optical paths receiving radiation from said azimuth mirror, and wherein said relay optics have a prescription substantially as set forth in Tables 1 and 2.