Arete Associates

Raytheon Company

Andrew E Paul

David M Kane

Kelly Hillman

Christopher Hornberg

John Hunt

Philip A Selwyn

Scott G Martin

Robert W Knox

Tony Pittner

Tom Reilly

Stephen W Mc Cahon

Paul Eason

Plural image planes are illuminated through a single image-collecting objective system. The field of view or magnification (or both), is allocated dynamically among the plural planes. Preferably the planes include two detector planes&#x2014;one corresponding to a wide field of view (FOV) and the other to a steerable narrow one. Allocation is performed by a beam splitter in combination with a steering mirror, or steering-mirror array, that steers both fields together. The splitter isolates radiation corresponding to the narrow FOV from radiation corresponding to the wide FOV. In method forms of the invention, an electrooptical observation system produces simultaneous plural images for a region of interest. The system displays simultaneous images having respective plural resolutions. In operation a first, relatively wider FOV continuously covers a region of interest; while the second is narrower and has finer resolution than the first.

Electrooptical sensor technology with actively controllable optics, for imaging

Simultaneous movies of plural portions of a scene are acquired and shown, using one imager with electrooptical directing device to acquire, stepwise, an interleaved (e. g. alternating) sequence of subscene images. Apparatus is ideally in a vehicle: airborne or unmanned, or both. The invention records and transmits (via one data link, with no needed parallel path) the sequence as one image series; best sorts the received sequence into noninterleaved sequences, a separate sequence for each subscene; and shows these as movies. Alternatively, scene portions form a mosaic. Including gyro operation and pointing, the device best gets a new image roughly each 5 to 40 msec or less; or excluding gyros and pointing, 5 to 40 msec by FSM, 1 to 5 by MEMS, 1 to 5 (or 10) by LC, 1 by 2-axis nongimbal scanner and 0.1 to 0.2 by digigimbal. Subscene direction and focal changes best synchronize with frame reception. FSMs best have refractory bearings and electromagnetic pointing.

Apparatus and method for simultaneous plural-view image sequences from a single image sensor

The mirror has a base, inner stage, reflector, controller, and mechanical subsystems pivotally supporting stage and reflector: subsystem #, the stage (about one rotation axis, relative to the base); subsystem #, the reflector (about another axis, relative to the stage). Stage and reflector each rotate on respective jewel, ceramic or other refractory bearings. Controller establishes stage/base and reflector/stage angles. Subsystems include respective bearings. The method includes (1) using the two-axis mechanism to receive, and measure an incident angle of, incident rays from an external object; (2) then using that mechanism to direct a radiation beam from a laser source toward the external object, responsive to incident rays. Optionally step (1) operates the mirror at peak acceleration, or minimum response time, as function of mirror thickness; and provides two- to three-millimeter mirror thickness. Optionally step (2) directs the beam to disrupt object function or impair object structure.

Method of operating a fast scanning mirror

Method/system locate external articles using source, detector (PSD), entrance aperture, and magnifying/reducing afocal element&#x2014;expanding FOR&#x3e;90&#xb0;, or refining precision. Between (1) source or detector and (2) aperture, at least one plural-axis-rotatable mirror addresses source/detector throughout FOR. &#xbd;- to 15-centimeter mirror enables &#x2dc;25 to &#x2dc;45 &#x3bc;radian beam divergence. Aperture, afocal element, and mirror(s) define source-detector path. Mirror(s) rotate in refractory- (or air/magnetic-) bearing mount; or mirror array. Auxiliary optics illuminate mirror back, monitoring return to measure (null-balance feedback) angle. To optimize imaging, auxiliary radiation propagates via splitters toward array (paralleling measurement paths), then focusing on imaging detector. Focal quality is developed as a PSF, optimized vs. angle; stored results later recover optima. Mirror drive uses magnet(s) on mirror(s). 'Piston' motion yields in-phase wavefronts, so array dimensions set diffraction limit. Also: destructive reply; scaling optimizes acceleration vs. thickness; passive systems.

Optical system

A method for exploding a high explosive material confined in a casing which includes the steps of generating a laser beam; directing the laser beam toward a location on a surface of the casing; and irradiating the surface location with the laser beam a sufficient length of time to explode the high explosive material.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Andrew E Paul