Variable field of view optical system

• US 7,010,202 B1
• Filed: 09/16/2003
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Leblanc, Richard A., Amon, Max, Graham, Amy G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHIEM, DINH D
• Application Number:
  US10/664,394
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 385/116, 385119- 1, 359/664, 359/642, 359/364, 359/648, 359652-654, 359726-850
• US Class Current: 385/119
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/12 with variable magnification
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/18 with lenses having one or more non-spherical faces, e.g. for reducing geometrical aberration G02B13/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/22 Telecentric objectives or lens systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/06 the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images

Abstract

A variable field of view optical system and method comprising providing a forward curved optical element, providing a rearward optical element comprising an axially gradient index material, providing a curved focal surface, and conveying an image on the curved focal surface to a flat detector surface.

Claims

1. A variable field of view optical system comprising:

a forward curved optical element;

a rearward optical element comprising an axially gradient index material;

a curved focal surface; and

means for conveying an image on said curved focal surface to a flat detector surface, wherein said means comprises a plurality of optical fibers, and wherein said fibers are concentrated more densely in a center of said focal surface than in a periphery of said focal surface.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said forward curved optical element comprises a ½

ball lens.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said conveying means comprises a backward curving or hollow field relay lens.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said fibers are mounted normal to said curved focal surface.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said rearward optical element comprises a dynamic index material.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said dynamic index material comprises an electroactive hydrogel.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said system provides simultaneous wide field of view with a lower resolution and narrow field of view with higher resolution.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said system comprises substantially no moving parts.

25. The system of claim 1 wherein said system provides simultaneous wide field of view with a lower resolution and narrow field of view with higher resolution.

9. A variable field of view optical method comprising the steps of:

providing a forward curved optical element;

providing a rearward optical element comprising an axially gradient index material;

providing a curved focal surface; and

conveying an image on the curved focal surface to a flat detector surface with a plurality of optical fibers which are concentrated more densely in a center of the focal surface than in a periphery of the focal surface.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the forward curved optical element comprises a ½

ball lens.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein conveying comprises employing a backward curving or hollow field relay lens.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the fibers are mounted normal to the curved focal surface.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the rearward optical element comprises a dynamic index material.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the dynamic index material comprises an electroactive hydrogel.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the method provides simultaneous wide field of view with a lower resolution and narrow field of view with higher resolution.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the method employs substantially no moving parts.

17. An optical system for conveying an image to an image sensor comprising:

fiber optic cable for conveying images to the image sensor, wherein the fiber optic cable comprises a plurality of optical fibers and said optical fibers are more densely concentrated at the center of the image sensor.

18. The optical system of claim 17 wherein the system further comprises a forward curved optical element.

19. The optical system of claim 18 wherein the forward curved optical element comprises a ½

ball lens.

20. The optical system of claim 18 further comprising a rearward optical element comprising an axially gradient index material.

21. The optical system of claim 17 further comprising a curved focal surface.

22. The optical system of claim 18 wherein the fibers are mounted normal to the curved focal surface.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein said rearward optical element comprises a dynamic index material.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said dynamic index material comprises an electroactive hydrogel.