Recon/optical, Inc.

Gilbert W Willey

Stephen R Beran

Russell A Bennett

Andre G Lareau

A multi-spectral decentered catadioptric-type optical system suitable for use with long range oblique aerial reconnaissance camera systems, spectrum analyzers, astronomical imagers, remote sensing, and other applications is described. The optical system includes an aspheric primary mirror receiving incident radiation and defining a central aperture. An aspheric secondary mirror is provided for receiving the radiation from the primary mirror. The primary and secondary mirrors are positioned and constructed such that entrance aperture of the system is displaced or decentered relative to the optical axis of the system, so as to thereby increase the modulation transfer function of the optical system as compared to a centrally obscured system. The aspheric secondary mirror directs the incident radiation onto a means for splitting the radiation to a first optical path and a second optical path. A first field optical assembly is placed in the first optical path for directing radiation in a first portion of the electromagnetic spectrum onto a first radiation receiving device, such as a film camera or electro-optical detector. A second field optical assembly is placed in the second optical path for directing radiation in a second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, for example, wavelengths in the infrared portion of the spectrum, onto a second radiation receiving device, such as an electro-optical detector. The optical system permits dual spectrum imaging by the first and second detectors of both visible and infrared portions of the spectrum, while providing improved modulation transfer functions for both portions of the spectrum. Further, the optical system is especially suitable for applications requiring a long focal length of the optical system and a wide field of view, such as long range aerial reconnaissance camera systems and astronomical imagers.

Multi-special decentered catadioptric optical system

An electro-optical step-frame camera system in which successive overlapping frames of scene imagery are generated by an electro-optical imaging array, and in which electronic image motion compensation is performed by the array during the generation of at least some of the frames of imagery. The successive frames of imagery are made in a stepping pattern that is repeated in a series of cycles of steps, each step separated by a framing interval in which a frame of imagery is obtained. The stepping cycles of the camera generate sweeping coverage of the terrain of interest. As the velocity to height ratio of the reconnaissance aircraft changes, the stepping cycle and electronic image motion compensation are continually adjusted, so as to ensure maximum scene coverage and preservation of image resolution.

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Arlington Heights, IL, United States of America

Gilbert W Willey