Raytheon Company

Gordon C MacKenzie

Benjamin Klaus, Jr

Barry N Levitt

Richard A Beckerleg

Richard R LaTorre

Robert A Eckel, Jr

Ernest Goldberg

David R Wakeman

Joseph C Ottney

An imaging optical system is described including an array of photodetectors, each photodetector having a surface, and a focusing system for focusing a beam of electromagnetic infrared energy on the surface of at least one of the photodetectors. The focusing system further includes a technique for periodically defocusing the beam of electromagnetic infrared energy on the surface of at least one of the photodetectors. With such an arrangement, a scanning and focusing system is provided wherein fixed pattern noise can be decreased.

Optical system including focal plane array compensation technique for

An optical system focuses a portion of electromagnetic energy into a spot on a focal plane and rotates the focused spot about an optic axis. A plurality of detectors is disposed in a detector plane. The array of detectors is arranged in a plurality of sets of such detectors. Each one of such sets of detectors is disposed along a different region extending radially from a central region of the array. When the detector and focal planes are skewed, a processor processes signals produced by a selected one of the plurality of sets of detectors. The selected one of the sets is the set disposed in one of the radially extending regions disposed along, or adjacent to, a line formed by the intersection of the skewed detector and focal planes.

Optical system

A rate gyroscope having a spinning mass flexibly coupled to a rotor through a pair of orthogonally disposed, diametrically extending suspension arms. The spinning mass is adapted to pivot about the arms in response to a pair of orthogonal angular rates being measured by the gyroscope. The angular orientation of the mass with respect to the gyroscope housing provides an indication of the angular rates. An optical sensor system disposed within the housing of the gyroscope and supporting electronics are used to produce an electrical signal representative of the angular orientation of the mass and, hence, such signal provides a measurement of a pair of angular rates being measured by the gyroscope. Such sensor system includes a tilted mirror attached to an axial end of the spinning mass which reflects collimated light rays from a light emitting diode, through a reticle, to a silicon diode detector. The light passing through the reticle is modulated in accordance with the angular orientation of the spinning mass, and hence, in accordance with the angular rates being measured. The signal data is converted into an electrical signal, which after amplification and processing provides a measurement of the angular rates, such as pitch and yaw.

Rate gyroscope having an optical sensor system

An antitank weapon system is shown to include a projectile carrying at least one pulsed laser radar which periodically illuminates swaths of the underlying terrain, means for processing return signals to distinguish between the radar signatures of objects on such terrain and means for firing submunitions to impact on any object whose radar signature corresponds to that of a tank or other desired target.

Antitank weapon system and elements therefor

A 'free-gyro' configuration of an optical seeker is shown to consist of a focusing and reticle arrangement rotatable about a point on an axis and an optical detector array translatable along a path parallel to such axis to maintain the center of such detector array on the image plane of the focusing and reticle means.

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North Billerica, MA, United States of America

Gordon C MacKenzie