Bae Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.

Jeffrey L Jew

Michael J Shaw

Ian B Murray

Philip Soletsky

Michael A Costolo

Adam O Powers

Jordan S Chabinsky

Hermanus Stephanus Pretorius

Paul R Moffitt

Michael J Choiniere

Benjamin R Johnson

Philip R Staver

Eric Charles Hoenes

Will R Grigsby

Leonard A Pomeranz

Aaron W Bennett

Joseph McLellan Owen, Iii

Peter N Russo

Ryan Bruce Zielinski

David E Lindenbaum

Techniques for reducing a likelihood of detection of an imaging system by another imaging system are provided. For example, a mechanism may be used to interrupt an optical path between pulse biased thermal sensors and an aperture of the system when the pulsed biased thermal sensors are pulse biased. For example, emissions may be directed to a beam dump. Other techniques may include a mechanism for linearly moving the thermal sensor array or rotating a mirror.

Signature mitigation for uncooled thermal systems

Techniques for reducing a likelihood of detection of an imaging system by another imaging system are provided. For example, the techniques may include controlling read-out such that the timings between frames of an image are non-uniform. For example, a processor may be configured to generate a plurality of frame synchronization signals from a main clock and transmit the plurality of frame synchronization signals to readout circuitry. Each frame synchronization signal is an instruction to start the biasing and reading for a respective frame. The plurality of frame synchronization signals may be generated such that a timing between pulse biasing the same thermal sensor is not uniform. The techniques may also include controlling the read-out such that the timings between lines within a frame are non-uniform which also results in the timing between pulse biasing of the same thermal sensor not being uniform.

A bi-static optical system utilizing a separate transmit and receive optical train that are identically steerable in azimuth-over-elevation fashion while accommodating an autoboresight technique and function. Further provided may be a common elevation assembly with two opposite-facing elevation fold mirrors on either side that are controlled by the same motor assembly allowing for common elevation control without overlapping or combining the apertures.

Bi-static optical transmit receive auto-boresight technique comprising an elevation assembly operable to move first scan mirror and second scan mirror in unison

The system and method for combining two optical assemblies into the same volume, particularly when the field of view of the two assemblies are different, so that the overall volume and swap for the system is reduced. This also allows both subsystems to use the same external protective window, reducing overall cost for a system of co-located dissimilar optical systems in a single aperture.

Method for co-locating dissimilar optical systems in a single aperture

Systems for detecting a presence of a microbolometer are provided. The systems may also discriminate a type of the microbolometer. The systems may comprise analog filtering and processing or digital filtering and processing. In some examples, both analog and digital filtering may be used. For example, a system may comprises a photodiode, an analog to digital converter (ADC) having a frequency sampling rate of at least two times an expected frequency range of known microbolometers and a processor. The ADC may receive an amplified output from the photodiode and produce a sampled sequence using the frequency sampling rate. The processor converts the sampled sequence into a frequency profile, examines the frequency profile to identity at least a fundamental frequency and determines whether a microbolometer is detected in a line of sight of the photodiode based on the fundamental frequency.

Detector, imaging system and method for detecting uncooled thermal systems

The system and method for combining two optical assemblies into the same volume, particularly when the field of view of the two assemblies are different, so that the overall volume and size, weight and power (SWaP) for the system is reduced. This also allows both subsystems (e.g., narrow field of view (NFOV) and wide field of view (WFOV) to use a single aperture and the same external protective window, reducing overall cost for a system of co-located dissimilar optical systems in a single aperture.

A laser warning receiver system and method having at least four optical components mapped to a photodetector array to provide for omnidirectional detection of incident laser light. In some cases, a fifth optical component is mapped to the central portion of a photodetector array to provide hemispheric detection of laser light. The laser warning receiver system is configured to detect laser light in the NIR, SWIR, MWIR, and/or LWIR range using a single photodetector array and ROIC.

Low cost, high accuracy laser warning receiver

The system and method for frequency encoded beacons for use in covert dismount identification, friend or foe and communications. Waveforms are capped at thresholds below human and conventional night vision detection. Waveforms are further modulated to identify dismounts as well as other information such as day and time, rank, health status, and the like. The beacons may operate at different wavelengths depending on whether they are used on ground, in air, or at sea.

Method of frequency encoding beacons for dismounted identification, friend or foe

An active receiver having a digital-pixel focal plane array (DFPA) ranges a target when observing return pulses from a pulsed laser beam synced with the receiver. The DFPA establishes a time when the pulsed laser beam contacts a target and the range can then be established because the speed at which the laser beam travels is known. Various basis functions may be implemented with the DFPA data to establish when the laser beam contacts the target. Some exemplary basis functions are binary basis functions, and other exemplary basis functions are Fourier basis functions.

System and method for ranging a target with a digital-pixel focal plane array

A fiber optic rotary joint includes a first fiber optic cable operably coupled to one of a stator and a rotor and a second fiber optic cable operably coupled to the other of the stator and the rotor. The stator and the rotor define a free space optical path between the first fiber optic cable and the second fiber optic cable. The rotor is rotatable about an axis of rotation parallel and collinear with an optical axis of at least one end of the fiber optic rotary joint. A first beam conditioning mechanism is configured to condition a light beam emitted from the first fiber optic cable and a second beam conditioning mechanism is configured to focus the conditioned light beam into the second fiber optic cable.

High efficiency and power fiber optic rotary joint

A method for fabricating crystalline dielectric material on top of metal layers to produce an apparatus for non-mechanical steering of an input laser beam is provided. The apparatus may include a plurality of stacked parallel dielectric waveguides, each waveguide of which is fabricated by separating layers of dielectric material from a donor wafer and bonding the separated layers of dielectric material to a receiving wafer. A plurality of voltages is applied across the stacked parallel dielectric waveguides. Each of the stacked parallel dielectric waveguides is electrically phase modulated to deflect an output beam in a predictable manner.

Optical phased array using stacked parallel plate wave guides and method of fabricating arrays of stacked parallel plate waveguides

Techniques are disclosed for producing and/or optimizing jamming codes for use in directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) systems. In some embodiments, Fourier analysis may be implemented to produce jamming codes which more efficiently (e.g., time efficient, power efficient) and/or more reliably (e.g., no frequency gaps) achieve optical break-lock (OBL) of infrared (IR)-seeking missiles/threats over a broad range of frequencies (e.g., short-wavelength IR, mid-wavelength IR), as compared to heritage jamming code methodologies. Some embodiments may be implemented in military/defense applications (e.g., protection of military/tactical aircraft or other vehicles); some other embodiments may be implemented in non-military/commercial applications (e.g., protection of domestic, civilian, and/or commercial aircraft or other vehicles). Some embodiments may be implemented to protect against IR-seeking air-to-air missiles (AAMs), surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), and/or man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS/MPADS). Numerous configurations and variations will be apparent in light of this disclosure.

Fourier transform-based jamming techniques

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to pre-jam waveforms for enhanced optical break lock jamming effects. In various examples, pre-jam waveforms for enhanced optical break lock jamming effects may be implemented in the context of systems, methods, computer program products and/or algorithms.

Pre-jam waveforms for enhanced optical break lock jamming effects

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to weighted waveforms for improved jam code effectiveness. In various examples, weighted waveforms for improved jam code effectiveness may be implemented in the context of systems, methods, computer program products and/or algorithms.

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Brookline, NH, United States of America

Jeffrey L Jew