Flir Systems, Incorporated

Bruce A Dickerson

John L Miller

Bruce Ellison

Clifford J Luty

Bruce L Cannon

Gerard A Morelli

Bruce Cannon

Techniques are disclosed for mounting optical elements in optical systems. A system may include a mirror assembly. The mirror assembly may include a mounting stem and a mirror. The system may further include a mounting ring. The system may further include a metering structure. The metering structure may include a receiving interface having an inner surface defining an aperture. The metering structure may be configured to receive the mounting stem within the aperture and receive the mounting ring within a gap between the mounting stem and the inner surface. The system may further include a bonding layer disposed between the mounting stem and the mounting ring. Additional apparatus and related methods are provided.

Mounting optical elements in optical systems

Imaging systems in which an undedicated optical component&#x2014;i.e., a component that would be present in the system even in the absence of image stabilization&#x2014;is configured to undergo corrective motion and/or other correction of image data, and thus to function as a stabilization component. The stabilization component may be a mirror and/or a lens, and a positioner may be provided to tilt, rotate, and/or otherwise precisely adjust the position and orientation of the stabilization component to improve image resolution, compensate for platform motions such as platform vibration, and/or improve image tracking. Because an undedicated optical component functions as the stabilization component, the stabilization occurs upstream, rather than downstream, from separation (if any) of the incoming image data into two or more beams. As a result, only one stabilization component is required regardless of whether the system is configured to split the image data into multiple data channels, and imaging systems as described herein therefore may be particularly well-suited for integration into a shared-aperture imaging system. In some embodiments, the coefficients of thermal expansion of selected system components&#x2014;including optics, optical support structures, and/or positioners&#x2014;may be substantially the same or closely matched.

Image stabilization system

Imaging systems in which an undedicated optical component&#x2014;i.e., a component that would be present in the system even in the absence of image stabilization&#x2014;is configured to undergo corrective motion and/or other correction of image data, and thus to function as a stabilization component. The stabilization component may be a mirror and/or a lens, and a positioner may be provided to tilt, rotate, and/or otherwise precisely adjust the position and orientation of the stabilization component to improve image resolution, compensate for platform motions, and/or improve image tracking. Because an undedicated optical component functions as the stabilization component, the stabilization occurs upstream, rather than downstream, from separation (if any) of the incoming image data into two or more beams. As a result, only one stabilization component is required regardless of whether the system is configured to split the image data into multiple data channels, and imaging systems as described herein therefore may be particularly well-suited for integration into a shared-aperture imaging system.

Image detection improvement via compensatory high frequency motions of an undedicated mirror

Systems, including apparatus and methods, for driving airflow along a surface of a gimbal. The systems may comprise a gimbal apparatus including a payload and also including a gimbal mount supporting a first gimbal and a second gimbal. The first gimbal may be coupled pivotally to the gimbal mount. The second gimbal may be coupled pivotally to and supported by the first gimbal. The second gimbal may be coupled to and may support the payload. The gimbal apparatus may orient the payload by pivotal movement of the first and second gimbals relative to the gimbal mount about at least two nonparallel axes. The system also may comprise a fan mounted to the first gimbal. The systems also may comprise operating the fan to drive airflow through a gap disposed between the first and second gimbals.

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Tigard, OR, United States of America

Bruce A Dickerson