Hughes Aircraft Company

Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.

David R Wickholm

Donald J Strittmatter

Rene D Perez

Robert S Haek

James S Tingstad

James A Cunningham

A Michelson interferometer has transversely arranged arms defining first and second transverse optical axes of the interferometer. The interferometer includes a beamsplitter for receiving an incoming ray, and transmitting an output ray. The beamsplitter is configured as an optical wedge. The first optical axis is terminated by a first cube corner retro-reflector, and the second optical axis is terminated by a second cube corner retro-reflector. The first and second cube corner retro-reflectors provide self compensation for chromatic aberration and anamorphism between the incoming ray and the output ray, and the transversely arranged arms are free-of any compensator.

Self compensating cube corner interferometer

An interferometer includes a beamsplitter, and a compensator. At least one surface of the beamsplitter or compensator has a non-zero power. In one embodiment, one surface of the beamsplitter is flat and the other surface of the beamsplitter is curved. In another embodiment, the interferometer includes a beamsplitter and a compensator, each having at least one surface of non-zero power, and the non-zero power of the beamsplitter and the non-zero power of the compensator are equal to each other.

Interferometer with ghost suppression

A multiple field of view sensor lens assembly suitable for inclusion in an infrared imaging system. The lens assembly includes a rotatable telescope 10 for providing first and second fields of view for the sensor, the first field of view being along a first axis thereof L and the second field of view being along a separate second axis T. A servo mechanism 30 is included for rotating the telescope 10 from a first orientation at which the first axis is aligned with the optical axis to a second orientation at which the second axis is aligned with the optical axis. In a preferred embodiment the inventive lens assembly is disposed to provide fields of view in opposing directions along the first axis L, and a third field along the second axis T.

Multiple field of view sensor lens assembly

A camera (40) is mounted on a gimbal (44) inside a missile (30) and views forwardly through a transparent, generally conical front dome or ogive (70). An optically refractive corrector (72) is mounted in front of the camera lens (42) for integral movement therewith. The corrector (72) has a least one conical surface segment (74a,74b) which is dimensioned to reverse optical conical deformation created by the dome (70). The conical deformation includes little or no refractive power in a plane defined by the axis (38) of the dome (70) and the look axis (46) of the camera (40) and gimbal (44), and progressively varying one-dimensional refraction perpendicular to this plane. Variables including the apex angles (.alpha.1,.alpha.2) of cones (76,78) which define the surfaces (74a,74b), the angle (.alpha.3) between the axes (76b,78b) of the cones (76,78), the distances (D1,D2) between the apices (76 a,78a) of the cones (76,78) and the center (74c) of the corrector (72), the tilt angle (.alpha.5) and the index of refraction of the corrector (72) provide sufficient degrees of freedom to enable a best fit solution which substantially reverses the conical deformation created by the dome (70).

Optical imaging system including generally conical, transparent

A monocular inspection system (10) having a substantial eye relief (62), a large exit pupil, and a line of sight viewing of an object under observation (14). The inspection system (10) includes an objective lens assembly (20) which forms an image of the object (14) and which has an axis coincident with an optical path (66). A prism (16) redirects the optical path (66) to coincide with a viewing axis (64) such that the image is formed in a focal plane intersected by the viewing axis (64). A monocle assembly (40) having an axis coincident with the viewing axis (64) forms an exit pupil for the image.

Monocular optical inspection system with long eye relief and enhanced

Optical systems with very long eye relief and large working distances (10) and (110) with four lenses (12), (14), (16), (18) and (20) and three lenses (112), (114) and (116), respectively, have lens surfaces shaped to focus upon an object such that a high resolution image is formed at infinity substantially over the entire field of view. High resolution and low distortion are substantially maintained independent of the user's eye location.

Optical magnifying system

A stereomicroscopic inspection system having low eyestrain features is disclosed. The system (10) includes an objective lens assembly (12) for forming an image of a viewed object (22). A prism mechanism (14) is positioned adjacent to the objective lens assembly (12) for orienting the image along a heads-up axis. A telephoto objective assembly (16) is positioned adjacent to the prism mechanism (16) for focusing the image transmitted through the prism mechanism (14). A reticle (18) is positioned adjacent to the telephoto objective assembly, and the image is focused (16) onto the reticle (18). An assembly (20) is positioned adjacent to the reticle (18) for enabling heads-up viewing of the object by the viewer, (22) said system projecting a virtual image at a predetermined distance from the viewer. This distance may be substantially equal to the eye's natural focusing distance to minimize eyestrain. The eyepiece means produces large D shaped exit pupils having an interpupillary diameter substantially equal to the average viewer's natural interpupillary distance. A common objective assembly reduces magnification differences between the left and right eye. The system has high resolution over a wide field of view with a long object to lens working distance and enhanced depth perception.

Stereomicroscopic inspection system with low eyestrain features

A six element optical magnifying system (10) is disclosed. The primary lens (12), secondary lens (14), tertiary lens (16), quaternary lens (18), quinary lens (20), and sextiary lens (22) form an optical system (10), having surfaces shaped to focus upon an object such that a high resolution image is formed at infinity at 10.times. magnification substantially over the entire field of view.

Optical magnifying system: 10 x loupe

A four element optical magnifying system (10) is disclosed. The primary lens (12), secondary lens (14), tertiary lens (16), and quaternary lens (18) form an optical system (10) have surfaces shaped to focus upon an object such that a high resolution image is formed at infinity at 4.times. magnification substantially over the entire field of view.

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

David R Wickholm