Bae Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.

The B. F. Goodrich Company

Bae Systems Information and Electronics Systems Integration Inc.

Gerard M Perron

James D Targove

David J Korwan

Steven J Wein

Raymond J Silva

John J Polizotti

Kevin R Maschhoff

Mark L Oskotsky

Michael J Russo, Jr

Dennis P Bowler

Glenn L Sindledecker

Stephen Felix Sagan

Berge Tatian

Bruce W Baran

William G McKinley

Scott A Derushia

A mid-wave infrared system provides high spatial and temporal resolution measurements of atmospheric temperatures and moisture fields using a constellation of low earth orbit satellites. The disclosed system is smaller, lighter, less complex, and requires less energy than existing systems, due to implementation of an infrared avalanche photodiode array detector that provides enhanced sensitivity with reduced cooling requirements, and an Offner spectrometer having a novel a refractive element inserted near the grating that reduces the size and power requirements of the spectrometer. Embodiments of the disclosed method include deploying a constellation of devices for cooperative infrared sensing of atmospheric phenomena at similar rates, lower cost, and much higher resolution compared to geosynchronous approaches. Some embodiments further include combined analysis of measurements obtained by the disclosed devices with complementary measurements made by other low-earth and high-earth orbital and/or ground-based devices.

Hyperspectral infrared sounders deployable as a constellation for low orbit MWIR atmospheric measurements

A surveillance sensor system is described. The surveillance sensor system includes a polygonal-shaped assembly having four substantially identical quadrant segments. Each of the quadrant segments includes a first set of lens, a second set of lens, and a third set of lens. Images captured by the first, second and third sets of lens can be combined to form a telecentric image on an intermediate image plane. The surveillance sensor system also includes a relay optic module having a set of lens, multiple focal plane array detectors and a dewar. The relay optic module can re-image the telecentric image located on the intermediate image plane onto an image plane.

Passive infrared search and track sensor system

A method of weather observations by a constellation comprises at least a first cluster of three micro-satellites each orbiting around earth, and each micro-satellites comprises a spectrometer. Orbiting the three micro-satellites of the first duster around the earth in three separate orbits offset with respect to one another. Staggering the three micro-satellites with respect to one another as they orbit. Selecting the offset and the staggering, of each of the three micro-satellites with respect to one another, so that each one of the three micro-satellites have a substantially identical viewing area as each one of the three micro-satellites orbits around the earth. Sequentially collecting observations, from each of the three micro-satellites, as the micro-satellites orbit around the earth and observe substantially identical viewing areas, to separately gather atmospheric measurements and provide critical data for weather forecasting by infrared temperature and humidity soundings and motion vector winds of the earth.

Device and method for making weather observations using infrared spectral radiometry

A multi field of view (FOV) imaging system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a dual FOV imaging system includes a composite lens array including a first lens set positioned to focus a first type of FOV and a second lens set positioned to focus a second type of FOV and a composite focal plane array (FPA) including multiple focal plane arrays (FPAs). Further, the composite FPA is disposed at the first type of FOV and the second type of FOV for producing a seamless mosaic dual FOV image of a target region.

Multi field of view imaging system

Techniques and structures to facilitate efficient replacement of windows/domes of optical systems, such as turreted pointer/tracker systems and seekers and other such gimbal-based or fixed targeting systems. The techniques can be implemented, for example, in a mounting ring or bezel, wherein the dome/window center of curvature is actively aligned during assembly to a reference feature on a mounting bezel during the dome-to-bezel alignment. This reference feature then mechanically registers the dome-bezel assembly to a given chassis. In some embodiments, the techniques allow for positioning of a replacement window/dome on an optical lens system, such that co-boresight of multiple beam paths is automatically maintained.

Replaceable dome assembly

A system and method for enhanced conditioning light so a camera can capture images from it in a variety of brightness ranges is presented. A camera has an optical lens and a photochromic filter. The photochromic filter may be placed in front of the lens. The photochromic filter extends an exposure range of the camera without the need for a mechanical iris.

Extending sensor dynamic range by use of a photochromic filter

An optical LOS toggle uses two refractive optical elements located in the afocal space of an optical sensor. Optical surfaces of the two elements are shaped appropriately to work in combination with lateral displacements of the two elements such that the LOS angle is shifted. For a prescribed, discrete LOS shift, the optical image quality of the toggle module is corrected by a combination of aspheric shapes and diffractive surfaces on the optical surfaces of the two elements. To maintain performance along any radial direction and simplify fabrication, these aspheric or spheric shapes and diffractive surfaces should be rotationally symmetrical. Image quality is further improved through proper selection of the optical materials used to construct the optical elements.

Optical line of sight toggle module

A compact, lens suitable for airborne photography and mapping has distortion less than 0.6% and is athermal from &#x2212;15&#xb0; C. to +40&#xb0; C. The lens is near-telecentric to less than 11&#xb0;, apochromatic over the wavelength range 450 nm-650 nm, and has a full field of view of 60&#xb0; (high quality field over 53&#xb0;). The lens can be secondary color corrected. In embodiments, the focal length is 101 mm and the back working distance is more than 10 mm. Embodiments have a focal plane diameter of 104 mm and are compatible for use with a CMOS 1.8 gigapixel multiple FPA. In embodiments, the lens comprises three groups of optical elements, with an aperture located within the second optical group. In some embodiments the first group includes two elements, the second group includes six or seven elements, and the third group include three elements. In embodiments the lens (without window) is less than 180 mm long.

Low distortion athermalized imaging lens

A compact momentum-balanced internal optical scanning mechanism is provided for a wide angle camera used in photo reconnaissance and the like, in which a large high resolution but not fully populated array is used to provide full scene coverage with high pixel densities, in which sharpness is maintained and in which the image can be scanned without vibration due to momentum compensation so that the image may be shifted on the focal plane array in such a manner that images focused on a dark portion of the array will move to an active portion of the array, with the sequential read out of the information concatenated into high resolution full scene image data.

Momentum balance optical scanning for wide field of view optical sensors

A photolithography system includes a light source and illumination optics which receive light from the light source and project illumination light onto a mask. Light transmitted through the mask is received by projection optics which generate an enlarged image of the mask. The enlarged image is projected onto the surface of a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer or flat panel display. The system achieves a wafer or panel feature size of less than 10 &mgr;m, preferably 3 &mgr;m, while enlarging the image of the mask to produce large wafers and panels in a single exposure. A deformable substrate chuck is selectively deformable to ensure a flat substrate surface. An alignment subsystem ensures precise registration between exposure layers.

Growing community of inventors

Acton, MA, United States of America

Gerard M Perron