Raytheon Company

James P Mills

David James Knapp

Scott W Sparrold

Jim Hicks

Daniel C Harrison

Wayne Lee Sunne

David G Garrett

Daniel W Brunton

Nicholas D Trail

Blake G Crowther

Frank E Smith, Iii

Eric C Fest

Michael P Schaub

David G Anthony

Dean B McKenney

Richard A Paiva

Kenneth Scott Ellis

Thomas D Arndt

Emmet R Anderson

Douglas M Beard

Gregory P Hanauska

Michael R Whalen

Eero H Ala

Michael J Aden

Clifton J Charlow

Anthony Vinson Damommio

Jim R Hicks

Frank E Iii Smith

A system includes one or more lasers, a collimator, and a controller. The one or more lasers are configured to generate laser illumination. The collimator is configured to adjust at least one of a degree of collimation, a divergence, and an intensity of the laser illumination and to direct the laser illumination towards one or more targets. The controller is configured to control the one or more lasers and the collimator in order to adjust the laser illumination directed at the one or more targets, and the controller is configured to control the one or more lasers and the collimator differently in different operating modes. Example operating modes could include a spotlight mode, a single-color dazzler or pulsating mode, a multi-color dazzler or pulsating mode, a communication mode, and an infrared-based operation mode.

Adaptive multi-wavelength laser illuminator

An optical transceiver is provided with a light pipe that intercepts, offsets and redirects a portion of the collimated transmit beam to create a virtual object in the receiver field-of-view to perform the BIT. The light pipe comprises an input face and first reflective surface in the transmitter FOV to intercept a portion of the beam along a first axis and re-direct the beam, a second reflective surface and output face in the receiver FOV that re-directs the portion of the beam along a second axis towards the receiver to create the virtual object in the receiver FOV and an optical channel that guides the redirected portion of the beam from the first reflective surface to the second reflective surface to offset the second axis from the first axis. The same detector used during normal operation of the transceiver is used to perform the BIT, which may include a simple 'on/off' test or a radiometry test. The light pipe may be designed with an acceptance FOV that preserves collimation, which facilitates a measurement of alignment error between the transmit beam and receiver.

Optical transceiver built-in test (BIT)

A control mechanism pins an optical fiber assembly on and off gimbal and between gimbals to route the assembly from an off-gimbal optical source across the gimbal axis/axes to an on-gimbal optical element so that the fiber assembly moves with the rotation of the gimbals. To accommodate a relatively large range of motion, the control mechanism is suitably configured to route the fiber assembly in a 'U-shaped' loop with one end pinned off-gimbal in a stationary guide track and the other end pinned on-gimbal point in a rotating guide track so that the loose fiber assembly is constrained in the concentric tracks on and off gimbal. As the gimbal rotates, the loop seats onto one guiding track and peels off of the other guiding track while always maintaining its U shape. To accommodate a relatively small range of motion in other gimbal configurations, the control mechanism is suitably configured to pin one end of the fiber assembly off-gimbal and pass the fiber assembly directly over the gimbal where it is pinned on the other side of the gimbal. In a multi-gimbal pointer, the fiber assembly preferably exhibits different mechanical stresses as it crosses the different gimbals.

Optical fiber assembly wrapped across roll-nod gimbal axes in a DIRCM system

Optical fiber assembly wrapped across gimbal axes

An adaptive spectral imaging device operable to analyze a scene includes a detector having a detector output signal and an optical system disposed in an optical ray path between the scene and the detector to image the scene onto the detector. A controllable optical disperser is disposed along the optical ray path between the scene and the detector. The controllable optical disperser has a disperser input command signal. A controller has a controller output signal responsive to the detector output signal. The controller output signal is provided to the controllable optical disperser as the disperser input command signal.

Adaptive spectral imaging device and method

A sensor system includes a sensor, and an optical train adjustable to provide an optical beam to the sensor from a selected line of sight that may be varied. The optical train includes a wavefront error-introducing element in the optical train, which introduces a wavefront error that is a function of the selected line of sight. There is further a rigid-body wavefront error-correcting element in the optical train. The rigid-body wavefront error-correcting element has a spatially dependent correction structure with the nature of the correction being a function of the selected line of sight. The adjustment of the optical train to the selected line of sight moves the optical beam to the appropriate location of the rigid-body wavefront error-correcting element to correct for the corresponding introduced wavefront error of the wavefront error-introducing element at that selected line of sight.

Sensor system with rigid-body error correcting element

A steerable optical arrangement. The inventive arrangement includes a first prism mounted for rotation about an optical axis and a second prism mounted for rotation about the optical axis. In accordance with the inventive teachings, the first prism and/or the second prism have at least one surface contoured to correct for optical aberration. In the illustrative embodiment, the first and second prisms are Risley prisms. In addition, the illustrative implementation includes a first motor arrangement for rotating the first prism about the optical axis and a second motor arrangement for rotating the second prism about the optical axis. A controller is provided for activating the first and second motors to steer the beam at an angle &phgr; and nod the beam at an angle &thgr;. At least two surfaces at least one prism is contoured to correct for astigmatism, coma, trefoil and other non-rotationally symmetric aberration. The contour is effected by laser etching, micro-machining or optical thin-film coating of the prisms in the manner disclosed herein.

Beam steering optical arrangement using Risley prisms with surface contours for aberration correction

A missile seeker. The inventive missile seeker includes a dome within which a novel optical arrangement is retained. The optical arrangement includes a first prism mounted for rotation about an optical axis and a second prism mounted for rotation about the optical axis. In the illustrative embodiment, the first and second prisms are Risley prisms. In addition, the illustrative implementation includes a first motor arrangement for rotating the first prism about the optical axis and a second motor arrangement for rotating the second prism about the optical axis. A controller is provided for activating the first and second motors to steer the beam at an angle &phgr; and nod the beam at an angle &thgr;. In a specific implementation, the first prism and/or the second prism have at least two surfaces contoured to correct for optical aberration. A teaching is provided to contour the surfaces to correct for astigmatism, coma, trefoil and other non-rotationally symettric abberation. The contour may be effected by laser etching, micro-machining optical thin-film coating or other such technique.

Missile seeker having a beam steering optical arrangement using risley prisms

A programmable optical system that dynamically corrects or induces aberrations into the optical path of a missile seeker. The system is dynamic in that the amount and type of aberration may be changed while the missile is in flight. The dynamic correction is accomplished by means of deformations applied to a low-mass mirror or mirrors in the optical path of the missile seeker. The missile includes an aspheric dome, and the optical system is dynamically compensated for aberrations introduced by the dome as the seeker system is moved through the field of regard.

Sensor system with dynamic optical corrector

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

James P Mills