Raytheon Company

David J Markason

Nicholas D Trail

Frederick B Koehler

Byron B Taylor

David G Anthony

Robert Rinker

Richard C Juergens

William D Werries

Frederic W Kingdon

Michael D Ernest

Megan Cheney

Michael G Foley

George T Strother

Christopher Janich

Thomas E Roberts

David D Jenkins

Methods and systems for calculating a reflectance value of a reflective coating on a curved surface of an optical element include calculating the reflectance value by taking a series of photon count measurements of an extended radiation source over a range of values of emitted radiation reflected from the curved surface into a detector. A combination of the measurements and a known value of accepted or conforming reflectance for the reflective coating is used to calculate the reflectance value of the reflective coating on the curved surface.

Method for testing curved reflective surfaces

A method for configuring an alignment of a plurality of optical segments in a sparse aperture configuration of an optical device includes providing at least one beam of light from at least one light source located on the sparse aperture optical device, directing the at least one beam of light toward at least one segment of the plurality of optical segments, detecting a reflection or transmission of the at least one beam of light off of the at least one segment of the plurality of optical segments, determining a characteristic of the reflected or transmitted light, and based on the characteristic of the reflected or transmitted light, determining an alignment of the at least one segment of the plurality of optical segments.

Sparse aperture optical alignment methods

An infrared imaging sensor compatible with 2Generation Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) Horizontal Technology Integration (HTI) B-Kit based sensors. In one example, the infrared imaging sensor includes a set of refractive opto-mechanical modules, including an afocal optical module, a receiver assembly, and backward- and forward-compatible electronics modules. The afocal optical module is configured to provide a plurality of different fields of view for the infrared imaging sensor. In one example, the sensor is configured for MWIR and LWIR imagery.

Infrared imaging system

Sparse aperture optical alignment and related methods

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

Embodiments of a gimbaled system with an optical coud&#xe9; path and method for transferring data are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the gimbaled system includes optical coud&#xe9; path to provide a data communication path with a gimbaled payload, an on-gimbal communication laser to transmit modulated camera data via the coud&#xe9; path, and an off-gimbal communication detector to detect the camera data received via the coud&#xe9; path. In some embodiments, the optical coud&#xe9; path may include at least two mirrors to provide a bi-directional communication path through an azimuth axis and an elevation axis of the gimbaled payload.

Gimbaled system with optical coud&#xe9; path and method transferring data

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

David J Markason