Trex Enterprises Corporation

Ophthonix, Inc.

Trey Enterprises Corp.

Other

Donald Bruns

Mikhail Belenkii

Shui T Lai

Timothy Brinkley

Andreas Wilhelm Dreher

Lawrence H Sverdrup

Todd Kent Barrett

Dave Sandler

Gomaa Abdel-Sadek

Vincent A Rye

Eric John Korevaar

Hus Tigli

David G Sandler

Chris Sexton

A celestial weapons orientation measuring system. The system includes a miniature celestial direction detection device. The device includes an inclinometer, a camera for imaging at least one celestial object and a processor programmed with a celestial catalog providing known positions at specific times of at least one celestial object and algorithms for automatically calculating target direction information based on the inclination of the system as measured by the inclinometer and the known positions of the celestial object as provided by the celestial catalog and as imaged by the camera. Similar to the training technique discussed in the background section, the pretend enemy wears a GPS detector and transmitter, and a computer system is preferably provided which determines when a trigger-pull results in a 'casualty'. Preferred embodiments also include an inertial navigation sensor including a magnetic compass and a memory-based optical navigation system that permits continued operation on cloudy days and even in certain in-door environments.

Celestial weapons orientation measuring system

A celestial direction finding system. The system includes an inclinometer, at least one camera for imaging both the daytime sky and the nighttime sky and a computer programmed with a sun, moon and star catalog and algorithms for automatically determining directions based on positions of celestial bodies imaged by at least one camera and incline positions measured by the inclinometer. In a preferred embodiment all of the above features are combined in a single battery operated miniature celestial direction finding module. Geographical positions of nearby objects can be determined with the addition of a rangefinder and knowledge of the geographical position of the camera. The geographical position of the system in preferred embodiments can be determined with the addition of a GPS unit.

Miniature celestial direction detection system

An optical element comprising: a first monomer polymerized while in the presence of a second monomer to form a first polymer intermixed with the second monomer, the first polymer having a spatially varying degree of cure that provides a predetermined refractive index profile; and the second monomer polymerized in the presence of the first polymer to form a second polymer intermixed with the first polymer, the second polymer stabilizing the refractive index profile.

Optical element for stabilizing refractive index profiles using polymer mixtures

A method for making an optical element comprises polymerizing a first monomer to form a first polymer, the first polymer having a spatially varying degree of cure that provides a predetermined refractive index profile; and polymerizing a second monomer in the presence of the first polymer to form a second polymer intermixed with the first polymer, the second polymer stabilizing the first polymer and the refractive index profile.

Method for stabilizing refractive index profiles using polymer mixtures

The wavefront aberrator is applicable to correct aberrations of the human eye. In one embodiment, the aberrator device comprises a pair of transparent lenses separated by a layer of curable resin comprising monomers and polymerization initiators. By controlling the extent of its curing, this monomer layer provides an adjustable index of refraction profile across the layer. Curing of the resin may be made by exposure to light, such as ultraviolet light. By controlling the extent of light exposure across the surface of the curable resin, for example, a particular and unique refractive index profile can be produced.

Apparatus and method of correcting higher-order aberrations of the human eye

Optically controlled micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a MEMS device may include a rotatable mirror having an optical sensor that is in electrical communication with the rotatable mirror via an associated electrode. Electrical potential may be supplied to an appropriately configured optical sensor so that a variable range of voltages may be supplied to the rotatable mirror. In operation, an optical control beam may be directed onto the optical sensor where it may be sampled to determine its optical characteristics (e.g., optical wavelength, light intensity, position, polarization, duty cycle, etc.) The optical sensor may then supply voltage to the rotatable mirror based on the determined optical characteristics of the optical control beam, causing the rotatable mirror to rotate about one or more axes.

Optically addressed MEMS

An automatic celestial navigation system for navigating both night and day by observation of K-band or H-band infrared light from multiple stars. One or more telescopes mounted on a movable platform such as a ship or airplane and directed at a substantially different portion of sky. Telescope optics focus (on to a pixel array of a sensor) H-band or K-band light from one or more stars in multiple telescopic fields of view. Each system also includes a GPS sensor and a computer processor having access to catalogued infrared star charts. The processor for each system is programmed with special algorithms to use image data from the infrared sensors, position and timing information from the GPS sensor, and the catalogued star charts information to determine orientation (attitude) of the platform.

Daytime stellar imager for attitude determination

An automatic celestial navigation system for navigating both night and day by observation of K-band or H-band infrared light from multiple stars. In a first set of preferred embodiments three relatively large aperture telescopes are rigidly mounted on a movable platform such as a ship or airplane with each telescope being directed at a substantially different portion of sky. Embodiments in this first set tend to be relatively large and heavy, such as about one cubic meter and about 60 pounds. In a second set of preferred embodiments one or more smaller aperture telescopes are pivotably mounted on a movable platform such as a ship, airplane or missile so that the telescope or telescopes can be pivoted to point toward specific regions of the sky. Embodiments of this second set are mechanically more complicated than those of the first set, but are much smaller and lighter and are especially useful for guidance of aircraft and missiles. Telescope optics focus (on to a pixel array of a sensor) H-band or K-band light from one or more stars in the field of view of each telescope. Each system also includes an inclinometer, an accurate timing device and a computer processor having access to catalogued infrared star charts. The processor for each system is programmed with special algorithms to use image data from the infrared sensors, inclination information from the inclinometer, time information from the timing device and the catalogued star charts information to determine positions of the platform. Direction information from two stars is needed for locating the platform with respect to the celestial sphere. The computer is also preferably programmed to use this celestial position information to calculate latitude and longitude which may be displayed on a display device such as a monitor or used by a guidance control system. These embodiments are jam proof and insensitive to radio frequency interference. These systems provide efficient alternatives to GPS when GPS is unavailable and can be used for periodic augmentation of inertial navigation systems.

Daytime stellar imager

An automatic celestial navigation system for navigating both night and day by observation of K-band or H-band infrared light from multiple stars. A preferred embodiment uses three telescopes with each of the three telescopes rigidly mounted with respect to each other and rigidly mounted on a movable platform such as a ship or airplane with each telescope being directed at a substantially different portion of sky. Telescope optics focuses, onto the pixel array of a sensor, H-band or K-band light from stars in the field of view of each telescope. The system also includes an inclinometer, an accurate timing device and a computer processor having access to cataloged infrared star charts.

An optical cross connect switch. In this switch any optical fiber in an input set of optical fibers, each carrying a communication beam, can be cross connected to any optical fiber in an output set of optical fibers. An alignment beam is added to and aligned co-axially with the communication beam carried by each fiber in the input set of optical fibers to define a communication-alignment beam for each fiber. Each communication-alignment beam is directed within a confined optical pathway to a specific exit aperture in an input array structure. The exit apertures for all of the communication-alignment beams are arranged in a pattern defining an input array so that each communication-alignment beam can be identified by the location of its exit aperture in the input array structure. Each communication-alignment beam is formed into a cross-connection beam by a micro-lens in a first lens micro-lens array. Each cross-connection beam is directed to a lens in a second lens array by two mirrors, a first mirror in a first mirror array and a second mirror in a second mirror array. The lens in the second micro-lens array focuses the communication beams into a specific input aperture of a confined optical pathway, preferably an optical fiber, in an output array structure. Each of the confined optical pathways in the output array structure is optically connected to an optical fiber of an output set of optical fibers. A first detector array located near the second lens array monitors the position of each alignment beam and provides position information to a processor for control of the mirrors in at least one of the mirror arrays.

Optical cross connect switch with axial alignment beam

The wavefront aberrator of the present invention includes a pair of transparent windows, or plates, separated by a layer of monomers and polymerization initiator, including a broad class of epoxies. This monomer exhibits a variable index of refraction across the layer, resulting from controlling the extent of its curing. Curing of the epoxy may be made by exposure to light, such as ultraviolet light. The exposure to light may be varied across the surface of the epoxy to create a particular and unique refractive index profile.

Wavefront aberrator and method of manufacturing

A method of aligning fiber arrays includes the method steps of inserting optical fibers into a ferrule array with a predetermined portion of the fiber extending from the ferrule. The ends of the fibers are then inserted at least partially through a fiber alignment hole in a substrate. Once the fibers extend at least partially through the substrate, the substrate is then displaced in a direction perpendicular to the optical fiber to ensure contact between the end of the fiber and a corner formed on the inside edges of the fiber alignment holes in the substrate. Once the fiber is positioned, a bonding block may be attached to both the ferrule array and the substrate to maintain the positional relationship between them and to maintain the proper positioning of the fiber within the substrate.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Donald Bruns