Dual field of view multi wavelength sensor

• US 5,363,235 A
• Filed: 02/10/1993
• Issued: 11/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Kiunke, Pul C., Chen, Chungte W., Kebo, Reynold S.
• Primary Examiner(s): LaRoche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Andrew Q.
• Application Number:
  US08/015,941
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 359/350, 359/351, 359/355-357, 359/362-366, 359/399, 359/400, 359/402, 359/403
• US Class Current: 359/365
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/481 Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0828 off-axis or unobscured systems in which all of the mirrors share a common axis of rotational symmetry
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0896 with variable magnification or multiple imaging planes, including multispectral systems systems with only refractive elements G02B15/14
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0037 with diffracting elements G02B27/0056 takes precedence; holographic optical elements G02B5/32; zone systems G02B5/1876
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0056 by using a diffractive optical element
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4294 in multispectral systems, e.g. UV and visible

Abstract

An optical system (10) includes a three mirror anastigmat telescope (12) and imager optics (14). The imager optics (14) provide narrow and wide field of view staring of the viewed scene. The optical system is positioned in a turret assembly (50) and folded to provide a sensor. The sensor includes an output laser beam generator (90). The telescope (12) is shared by the infrared system and the laser (90) to provide a simplistic and compact turret arrangement (50) which is well suited for aircraft targeting and designation purposes.

Claims

1. A dual field of view multi wavelength sensor comprising:

an afocal three-mirror anastigmat telescope for providing a magnified unobscured image of a scene, said three mirror anastigmat positioned to receive rays from the viewed scene;

imager elements provided to receive rays from said three mirror anastigmat for providing dual field of view imagery of the viewed scene, said imager elements including a triplet and pair of optical elements, said triplet of optical elements positioned for providing a first field of view and said pair of optical elements removably positioned for providing a second field of view.

2. The dual field of view multi wavelength sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first field of view is a narrow field of view.

3. The dual field of view multi wavelength sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second field of view is a wide field of view.

4. The dual field of view multi wavelength sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said triplet of optical elements includes three positive power infrared optical elements.

5. The dual field of view multi wavelength sensor as set forth in claim 4, wherein one of said triplet of optical elements includes at least one diffractive optical surface.

6. The dual field of view multi wavelength sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pair of optical elements includes a positive and a negative power infrared lens.

7. The dual field of view multi wavelength sensor as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an output laser beam generator associated with said afocal three mirror anastigmat such that an output laser beam is reflected from the sensor to the viewed scene.