Lockheed Martin Corporation

Jeff Cole

Mark T Myers

John G Hughes

Kevin F Williams

Peter Falter

A compact, wide field of view, infrared imaging system with two Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) and, optionally, an additional one Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) band, has a single, color corrected lens element embedded within the detector/dewar assembly. The lens element has two aspherical surface profiles and utilizes a holographic optical element to manipulate and detect bands of energy that are harmonic components of each other. The infrared imaging system simplifies and shrinks the MWIR/LWIR imager while maintaining all of the required functionality. An exemplary infrared imaging apparatus performs at an F-stop (F/#) of at least 1.4 with a square field of view of 90&#xd7;90 degrees.

Multiband, single element wide field of view infrared imaging system

A method for optical dithering and a dither device comprising a mounting structure, a refractive optic, an optic mounting structure surrounding the optic, and one or more linear drive motors. Four linear coils are preferably employed together with a control system operating in open loop mode. The dither device and method provides double resolution to a detector receiving output therefrom. The invention can operate in a single axis or in two axes.

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Orlando, FL, United States of America

Jeff Cole