Method and system for mounting a detector

• US 6,747,821 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2003
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L3 Technologies, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Litton Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Short, Jeffrey C., Lewis, Allan B., Lund, Robert F., Porter, Jerry D., Ostromek, Timothy E., Hogan, Timothy B., Bacarella, Antonio V., Doster, Rodney L.
• Primary Examiner(s): MACK, RICKY LEVERN
• Application Number:
  US10/250,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20030231410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 359/819, 359/822, 359/694, 359/829, 359/703
• US Class Current: 359/822
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/16 Housings; Caps; Mountings; Supports, e.g. with counterweight
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/004 Manual alignment, e.g. micromanipulators

Abstract

A system (S) for mounting and aligning a detector (D) about an observation instrument (10) includes a first detector (12) movably coupled to the observation instrument (10) off an axis of observation centerline (14) for the observation instrument (10). A retainer (16) is mounted with the observation instrument (10) to secure the first detector (12) to the observation instrument (10). The retainer (16) permits rotatable movement of the first detector (12) about the axis of observation centerline (14). The retainer (16) also preferably includes an attachment point (20) for mounting the first detector (12) to the retainer (16). The first detector (12) should be adjustable at least about an axis (22) essentially perpendicular to the axis of the observation centerline (14) for the observation instrument (10).

Claims

1. A system for mounting and aligning a detector about an observation instrument, the system comprising:

a first detector movably coupled to the observation instrument off an axis of observation centerline for the observation instrument;

a retaining means with the observation instrument for securing the first detector and rotatable movement about the axis of observation centerline, the retainer including an attachment means for mounting the first detector to the retainer; and

,

the first detector being adjustable at least about an axis essentially perpendicular to the axis of the observation centerline for the observation instrument.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the retainer includes a strap circumferentially mounted about an objective lens housing of the observation instrument.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the first detector is pivotally secured by the circumferential strap.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the observation instrument is a night vision goggle.

5. A method of mounting and aligning a detector about an observation instrument with an adjacent laser generating a laser beam, comprising:

movably coupling a first detector to the observation instrument off an axis of observation centerline for the observation instrument;

securing the first detector with a retainer to the observation instrument to permit rotatable movement of the detector about the axis of observation centerline, the retainer including an attachment means for mounting the first detector to the retainer; and

,

adjusting the first detector at least about an axis essentially perpendicular to the axis of the observation centerline for the observation instrument.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the retainer includes a strap circumferentially mounted about an objective lens housing of the observation instrument.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the first detector is pivotally secured by the circumferential strap.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the observation instrument is a night vision goggle.