Raytheon Company

Edmund Optics, Inc.

Byron B Taylor

David G Jenkins

Robert Rinker

W Howard Poisl

Elka E Koehler

Michael Kennedy Burkland

Ronald L Roncone

Justin C Jenia

Michael P Schaub

David J Markason

David G Anthony

Daniel J Mosier

Thomas J Wetherell

Benjamin L Cannon

Richard C Juergens

Brian S Scott

Daniel Vukobratovich

James L Porter

Samuel P Sadoulet

Daniel R Melonis

Eric M Palmer

Anees Ahmad

Dwight L Denney

David J Park

Clarence C Andressen

Darrell R Rogers

John R Rutkowski

Christopher E Thomas

David D Jenkins

Howard W Poisl

A molded dichroic mirror and method of manufacture thereof. The dichroic minor may be molded from polysiloxane or lithia potash borosilicate and may be coated to reflect an infrared signal and configured to transmit a radio frequency signal between 33 GHz and 37 GHz.

Molded dichroic mirror and method of manufacture thereof

An optical position sensing system and method for sensing a gimbal position in a gimbal-based optical system. One example of an optical position sensing system includes an off-gimbal light source that generates a position sensing light beam and transmits the position sensing light beam along an optical coude path of the optical system, and an on-gimbal optical element that causes a change in an intensity of the position sensing light beam based on rotation of the gimbal about the axis. The system further includes an off-gimbal detector configured to receive the position sensing light beam returned from the optical element and to detect the change in the intensity of the position sensing light beam, and a controller coupled to the detector and configured to determine the gimbal position based on a correlation between the change in the intensity of the position sensing light beam and the gimbal position.

Remote optical position sensing device and methods

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a system for providing thermal management of an obscured laser system is provided that includes a primary mirror, a secondary mirror, and a plurality of energy redirectors. The primary mirror is configured to reflect beam energy for the laser system. The secondary mirror is configured to function as a limiting aperture for the laser system and is aligned on-axis with respect to the primary mirror. The energy redirectors are each configured to redirect energy away from a corresponding obscuration and out of the laser system.

System and method for providing thermal management of an obscured laser system

A beam-shaping element is provided to shape RF feed energy for reflector-based antennas. The RF beam-shaping element is located between the primary reflector and the antenna feed and configured to direct RF energy from the feed away from a blockage created by the feed itself towards unblocked regions of the primary reflector. The beam-shaping element allows for a simplified feed design. The feed may comprise one or more feed elements, each comprising a radiating element and a feed to the radiating element such as a cavity-backed slot radiator and stripline trace. In a monopulse tracking system, each quadrant may include only a single feed element. In common aperture systems, the RF beam-shaping element may be formed on only the rear surface of the secondary reflector that allows transmission at the predefined RF wavelength while reflecting energy of a second predetermined wavelength to another sensor.

Beam shaping of RF feed energy for reflector-based antennas

An infared-based scope configured to obtain and display video imagery that allows a user to estimate wind speed and direction over a trajectory to a target based on observed air motion in the video imagery. In certain examples, the scope further includes electronics configured to calculate the wind speed using video image processing techniques.

Short-wave infrared based scope

A molded dichroic mirror and a seeker comprising a molded dichroic mirror are provided. The dichroic mirror may be molded from polysiloxane or lithia potash borosilicate and may be coated to reflect an infrared signal and configured to transmit a radio frequency signal between 33 GHz and 37 GHz.

Seeker with a molded dichroic mirror

A seeker/receiver system for a moving body, such as for guiding the moving body to a target, includes an optics/receiver portion that tilts as a unit relative to other parts of the moving body. The optics/receiver portion includes a window which may be used to enclose and protect one or both of a pair of receivers or detectors, such as a laser energy detector or receiver, and an infrared energy detector or receiver. By moving the window and the receivers as a unit a set positional relationship is maintained between all of the elements of the optics/receiver portion. This simplifies the optics by obviating the need for all aspects of the window to present the same properties to energy detectors that tilt relative to it. The optics/receiver portion may be tilted using a tilt mechanism such as a gimbal.

Multi-band seeker with tiltable optical/receiver portion

Embodiments of a laser imaging system with uniform line illumination and method for generating images are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the laser imaging system includes a polarizer beam splitter to angularly separate an input laser beam into a pair of overlapping cross-polarized beams having a first angular separation therebetween, and a diffraction optic beamlet generator to generate a plurality of beamlets of alternating polarization states with a second angular separation therebetween. The laser imaging system may also include a focal-plane array (FPA) having a field-of-view (FOV) to be illuminated by the plurality of beamlets.

Laser imaging system with uniform line illumination and method for generating images

A guidance system may include an optical system to focus incident radiation onto a detector configured to generate at least one guidance signal in response to the focused incident radiation. The optical system may include a first lens having a first side and a second side, the first side consisting of a Fresnel lens formed on a generally convex surface and the second side being generally planar.

Projectile guidance system including a compact semi-active laser seeker

An optical system includes actuators in a coupling between a detector, such as a focal plane array, and a frame (mount) that supports the detector. The actuators may be actuated piezoelectric shims that can have their thickness adjusted by applying a voltage to them. The adjustment of the thickness of the actuators (shims) may be used to control tilt and focus (axial position) of the detector relative to the frame (and other parts of the optical system). The optical system may be part of a flying vehicle, such as a spacecraft or aircraft, for instance a missile. The system may include a temperature sensor, and a control system that adjusts the thickness the actuated shims based on temperature, for example using a lookup table.

Optical system with adjustable shims

In a co-boresighted SAL/IR seeker, the optical system and particularly the secondary lens and position of the SAL detector are configured to produce a well-corrected spot of laser energy at the SAL detector. A spreader is positioned between the secondary mirror/lens and the SAL detector, possibly on the secondary mirror, away from the aperture stop and not in the optical path to the IR detector. The spreader is configured to spatially homogenize the laser energy to increase the size of the spot of focused laser energy at the SAL detector to set the system transfer function to meet slope requirements. Spatial homogenization serves to reduce both boresight shift and slope non-linearities. This approach greatly simplifies the time and labor intensive calibration of the SAL detector's system transfer function.

Co-boresighted dual-mode SAL/IR seeker including a SAL spreader

Methods and apparatus for countering a projectile according to various aspects of the present invention may operate in conjunction with a countermeasure system. The countermeasure system may comprise a beam source adapted to generate an electromagnetic beam. The countermeasure system may further include a beam control system adapted to aim the electromagnetic beam at the projectile according to a fire control solution. The beam heats at least a portion of the projectile to a disruption temperature to deflagrate the projectile.

Methods and apparatus for countering a projectile

There is disclosed a multimode seeker including an imaging infrared seeker and a radio frequency seeker. The imaging infrared seeker and the radio frequency seeker may share an optical system adapted to form an infrared image of an outside scene on a focal plane array image detector and to collimate radio frequency radiation transmitted from a radio frequency transceiver and focus millimeter ware radiation received from the outside scene onto the radio frequency transceiver. The shared optical system may include a plurality of baffles to block sunlight from reaching the focal plane array image detector, each baffle comprising a material that is opaque to infrared radiation and transparent to radio frequency radiation.

Multimode seeker system with RF transparent stray light baffles

Methods and apparatus for a guidance system according to various aspects of the present invention comprise include an energy concentrator configured to transmit an energy entering the entrance through the exit if the energy enters the entrance within a predetermined acceptance angle, and reject the energy entering the entrance if the energy enters the entrance outside the predetermined acceptance angle. The system may further comprise a detector coupled to the exit of the energy concentrator and configured to generate signals corresponding to a location of the transmitted energy incident upon the detector.

Methods and apparatus for non-imaging guidance system

Methods and apparatus for guidance systems according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with a projectile including a guidance system having a guidance controller, a detector, and an optical system. The guidance controller controls the path of the projectile according to signals from the detector. The detector generates signals according to an angle of incident energy. The optical system transfers the energy to the detector via a spreader and a condenser. The spreader spreads the incident energy, and the condenser converges the spread energy onto the detector.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Byron B Taylor