Texas Instruments Corporation

Drs Rsta, Inc.

Raytheon Company

Drs Network & Imaging Systems, LLC

Donald Andrew Powell

Falvey L Malarcher

Susan V Bagen

Bryce Daniel Sawyers

Terry Alan Bartlett

Steven Monroe Penn

Stephen Wesley Marshall

Frank Joseph Poradish

Steven Edward Smith

Elisabeth Marley Koontz

Roger S Carver

William M Bommersbach

Frederick C Wedemeier

Donald C Whitney

An imaging system which includes a housing for a radiation detector having a window disposed above and in axial alignment with the radiation detector, a variable aperture assembly which includes a base ring having a first opening and mounted on the radiation detector housing such that the first opening is in axial alignment with the window, a plate having a first aperture and adapted to engage the base ring such that the first aperture is disposed over the window, at least one aperture blade each operatively coupled to the base ring, and an aperture drive mechanism having a body and an actuator coupling member extending at an angle from the body. In addition, the imaging system includes an actuator assembly having an actuator and an actuator arm, the actuator arm disposed adjacent to the radiation detector housing in proximity to the actuator coupling member.

Variable aperture and actuator assemblies for an imaging system

A dynamic gain equalizer-monitor (DGEM) includes a light modulator operable to modulate one or more component wavelengths of an input optical signal. The DGEM also includes a grating operable to receive one or more modulated component wavelengths from the light modulator. The grating is also operable to combine a first portion of each of the one or more modulated component wavelengths and transmit that first portion into an output optical signal. The DGEM may also include a detector array operable to receive, from the grating, a second portion of modulated component wavelengths that are separated from the first portion by the grating. The detector array is operable to generate an electrical signal proportional to an optical characteristic associated with each of the modulated component wavelengths of the second portion.

Dynamic gain equalizer-monitor

Disclosed is an add-drop multiplexer that receives an optical signal having a plurality of channels. The multiplexer spatially separates the channels, and a spatial light modulator within the multiplexer, which in some embodiments is a switched blazed grating, routes the channels along first or second paths according to whether the particular channels are to be sent along as a part of an output communication signal or 'dropped' into a dropped-channel optical communications signal. The add-drop multiplexer is also operable to receive optical channels to be added to an optical signal and to use a spatial light modulator to add those optical signals to that optical signal.

Reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer

Variable aperture and actuator assemblies are provided for a radiation detector housing in an imaging system. The variable aperture assembly includes a ring mounted over the housing's window, a plate having a first aperture disposed over the window, an aperture blade operatively coupled to the ring so the blade moves laterally relative to the first aperture, and an aperture drive mechanism having a body and an actuator coupling member extending at an angle from the body. The drive mechanism is adapted to drive the blade laterally away from the first aperture when the member is moved in a first lateral direction, and over the first aperture to define a second aperture disposed over the window when the member is moved in a second lateral direction. The actuator assembly has an actuator and an actuator arm adapted to engage the actuator coupling member to control the lateral movement of the member.

Described embodiments provide for an optical communications assembly or other optical assembly in which the post-dispersion optical signals are controlled in dispersive and non-dispersive directions. In one embodiment, the assembly includes an optical signal collimator configured to emit an optical signal based on an input communication signal. In addition, the assembly includes a dispersive device that receives the optical signal and disperses multiple wavelength channels of the optical signal in a dispersive direction. The assembly further includes a first light-directing device configured to control the dispersion of the multiple wavelength channels in the non-dispersive direction. A second light-directing device is provided to control dispersion in the dispersive direction. Specifically, the first and second light-directing devices focus the multiple wavelength channels in the dispersive and non-dispersive directions so as to make the multiple wavelength channels either propagate in parallel or re-converge or diverge at a different rate in both directions. By controlling the multiple channel wavelengths through the use of the light-directing devices, the spot sizes and shapes of the channels projected onto a light modulating device can be controlled. Related methods of such modulating are also disclosed.

Optical assembly having cylindrical lenses and related method of modulating optical signals

An optical system for projecting an image having x and y axes onto a image plane is provided. The system includes an SLM device spaced from the image plane, the SLM device having a plurality of pixels operable to project pixels of the image onto the image plane and positioned such that the individual pixels of the projected image are oriented at substantially 45 degrees relative to the x and y axes of the image. The system further includes an optic element disposed between the SLM device and the image plane and a linear displacement device operatively connected to and operable to selectively displace at least one of the SLM device and the optic element. A method for projecting an image onto a image plane is also provided.

Optical system and method for increasing image resolution and/or dithering in projection applications

An optical module having an integral optical waveguide with waveguide ports at each end. The optical waveguide receives an input light beam through a first waveguide port. The input light beam passes through the waveguide and is emitted from the second waveguide port, where it is reflected by the reflective surface. After being reflected by the reflective surface, the input light beam can be directed onto the surface of a DMD array, where the input light beam can be selectively reflected in a particular direction. The reflective surface may also comprise a diffractive grating, thereby enabling wavelength selective switching. In addition, the reflective surface may comprise a generally concave surface that converts a diverging input light beam into a generally collimated light beam, thereby facilitating more accurate selection and switching by the DMD array.

Compact DMD-based optical module

Disclosed is a mounting system and method in which symmetrical springs are used about a collar in a gimbal system to capture an assembly of a ball and an optical or other type of component. Once captured within the mounting system, the ball/component assembly can pivot until an optimal alignment is reached. Once the optimal alignment is reached, the ball/component assembly is fixed using laser welding.

Tilt-in-place alignment system and method

An improved interconnect structure for electrically connecting an infrared detector to external circuitry wherein thin film metal conductors are deposited on a thin, insulating tape. One end of the structure terminates at the detector at about 77.degree. Kelvin, the other end terminating at external electronics at about 300.degree. Kelvin. Due to the small cross section of the conductor, heat leak to the detector is minimized. In addition, the carrier film is only 15 microns thick, thus minimizing outgassing material. The use of epoxies is eliminated. The structure can be fabricated in a variety of configurations using standard semiconductor equipment.

Thin film flexible interconnect for infrared detectors

A method of forming an interconnect including the steps of providing a processing substrate, adhering a first electrically insulating layer to the substrate, forming an electrically conductive pattern on the first electrically insulating layer, forming a second electrically insulating layer adhered to the first electrically insulating layer with the electrically conductive pattern between the first and second electrically insulating layers, forming connections to the pattern and then removing the adhered first and second electrically insulating layers and the electrically conductive pattern from the substrate to provide a freestanding film.

Growing community of inventors

Dallas, TX, United States of America

Donald Andrew Powell