US Government as Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Other

Manufacturing Techniques, Inc.

Martin Engineering Company

Bae Systems Oasys LLC

USA as Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.

Megastir Technologies LLC

Oasys Technology LLC

John M Hall

Richard A Wright

Scott M Packer

John J Curry

Scott Payette

Robert C Guckian

Andrew J Dotson

Russell J Steel

Dallas N Barr

Jonathan A Babb

David Rosal

Melvin H Friedman

Donald John Janeczko

Jeremy Peterson

Jennifer Aubrey

Russell Kingston

Philip Perconti

Bill A Blecha

Richard A Utano

Brian J Kowalewski

Robert A Spande

Hendrik K Sijgers

Howard T Graves

Bradley L Preece

Matt Collier

Samuel B McDowell

Thomas Coty

Brian D Kellermeyer

Patrick Sessions

Kent Kingston

Christina X Bourgeois

Joseph J Wiedmann

Thomas E Smith

Raemon N Samuels

Steve H Nguyen

For see-through AR displays, the current state of art uses geometric correction to lower the display location error, however this is far from an ideal solution and requires knowing range or pose of the devices. A dual-function optic for near-to-eye display & camera is disclosed, wherein a sensor camera imaging optics pipeline with a virtual projection point at an eye's retina reduces parallax errors to zero.

Dual-function optic for near-to-eye display and camera

A low magnification mode of operation of a multiple field of view optical system is based on off-axis reflective afocal assemblies with a common optical exit pupil and having a common mechanical axis of rotation which provides both field of view switching and image de-roll functions. A reflective afocal switching assembly permits variable fields of view while at the same time providing a common axis and mechanism to achieve an optical de-roll of the image. This complex arrangement provides a relatively large change in magnification for an all-reflective optical system than can image over 0.4-12.0 micron spectrum.

Low magnification mode of operation for common mechanical axis field of view switching and image de-roll

The current invention describes a compact objective lens with enhanced distortion for near-infrared imaging, comprising a positively powered, aspheric, and meniscus first lens element; a negatively powered, aspheric, and meniscus second lens element; a positively powered, aspheric, and biconvex third lens element; a negatively powered, aspheric, and meniscus fourth lens element; a negatively powered, aspheric, and meniscus field corrector element; and a detector assembly comprising a window and a detector plane where the light rays come to focus.

Compact objective lens with enhanced distortion for near-infrared imaging

A reflective afocal switching assembly permits variable fields of view while at the same time providing a common axis and mechanism to achieve an optical de-roll of the image. This complex arrangement provides a relatively large change in magnification for an all-reflective optical system than can image over 0.4-12.0 micron spectrum.

Magnification modes of operation for common axis FOV switching and image roll

The current invention describes an objective lens assembly and its optical function somewhat based on commercial cell phone camera lens forms, but adapted and optimized as a compact objective lens for use in near-infrared night imaging applications. An exemplary compact objective lens for near-infrared imaging comprises a first lens element which is bi-convex, aspheric, and has positive optical power; a second lens element which is of a general meniscus shape to provide a net negative optical power; a third element which is generally bi-convex with aspheres to provide positive optical power; a positive powered fourth optical element bi-convex in general form with aspheric curvatures; a negative field corrector lens which is generally of meniscus shape with strong, high order aspheric curvatures; and a windowed detector assembly where an image is focused.

Compact objective lens for near-infrared imaging

A novel optical design form for a biocular lens arrangement having a large format focal plane and large eye relief zone is disclosed. Key aspects of a large format biocular lens arrangement are: Lightweight plastic design for all but outermost lens, where more durable glass is desired; a large front aperture for comfortable eye motion; improved eye channel overlapping field of view with minimal distortion; and full color resolution.

Large format biocular lens

Multiple field of view reflective afocal assembly with common axis for FOV switching and image roll

A multiple field of view dual band optical device with integrated calibration source is disclosed. Such an optical device is modular, and has a rotating electro-mechanical 'tumbler' which houses two orthogonal Galilean afocal optical assemblies as well as at least one uniform temperature source. This modular device is intended to be inserted in front of a camera system which already has an imager optical assembly mated to a detector focal plane array. The disclosed modular device thus serves the purpose of providing to an existing dual-band camera imager up to four new optical fields of view as well as an integral calibration source, all of which can be electro-mechanically selected for viewing by a host camera imager.

Multiple field of view dual band optics with integrated calibration source

A system and method for providing a folding load bearing hard tonneau cover which includes a hinge/connection element using a novel friction stir welding method to weatherproof the bed contents, wherein each folding section is constructed using friction stir welds for strength, stiffness and visual appeal, wherein the system does not rely on attached bed rails to support and lock the cover because loads are reacted on the bed caps, wherein a spring loaded latching system has the strength to react the moments generated by heavy loads on top of the cover, wherein installation does not require modification to the bed, and wherein the tonneau cover may carry heavy loads on top that are easy to secure, while still allowing a cover that folds open.

Load bearing tonneau structure

The basis of the invention is an apparatus and a process by which a variable aperture stop mechanism coupled with imaging optics and detector processing electronics achieves measurements of detector pixel gain and level offsets without temporarily blocking the scene from the detector, and without the addition of any other exterior calibration equipment.

Method of detector gain and offset level estimation by means of a variable aperture transmission mechanism

Provided herein is an imager device for fusing an image from multiple sources. The device includes a focal plane array detector for obtaining an image of a scene at a first wavelength; a display projector for projecting a projected image of the scene obtained by the focal plane array detector at a second wavelength; and a splitter/combiner element positioned to direct a line of sight of the focal plane array detector in a first direction and to direct the projected image in a second direction. The device is configured such that a normal line of sight having a third wavelength passes through the splitter/combiner element without being deflected by the splitter/combiner element. An assembly including an optical scope and an imager device for fusing an image from multiple sources is also provided. The scope may be a direct view optical scope or an indirect view optical scope.

Imager device for fusing an image from multiple sources

A system and method for friction stir welding of small diameter tubing, wherein the small diameter tubing is held in a correct position with a grasp sufficient to perform FSW when the tubing is comprised of high melting temperature materials, wherein the small diameter tubing can be rotated by the positioning and holding system while a FSW tool is held stationary, or vice versa, wherein internal mandrels are also described which can fit inside the smaller dimensions of the small diameter tubing and expand to provide a counter force to prevent deformation of the tubing when forces are applied by the FSW tool, wherein new FSW tool geometries are also described which enable the FSW tool to direct more heat on a tool/workpiece interface to counteract a lack of contact between the FSW shoulder and the workpiece because of tube curvature, and wherein the FSW tool is positioned on a small diameter tube by trailing the joint to provide desirable heating at the joint/workpiece interface and surface finishing.

Out of position friction stir welding of casing and small diameter tubing or pipe

An electro-optical system and method are provided for analyzing images of a scene to identify the presence of a target color, such as human skin tones. The system includes a thermal detector for obtaining a thermal image of the scene within a thermal waveband. The system also includes at least one additional detector for obtaining at least one additional image of the scene at an additional waveband different from the thermal waveband. The system also includes a controller. The controller is configured to: process the thermal image to identify portions of the scene having a temperature exceeding a threshold value; process the additional image to identify portions of the scene having a target color; and output a positive response if a same portion of the scene is identified in the thermal image and the additional image.

Electro-optical system and method for analyzing images of a scene to identify the presence of a target color

An optical system for producing color images includes: an objective lens system having an entrance aperture; a multi-faceted prism positioned at the entrance aperture of the objective lens system and including at least a first face having a first optical filter formed thereon and a second face having a second optical filter formed thereon; and a monochromatic detector array positioned to receive light from the objective lens system. The multi-faceted prism intercepts light from a scene and splits a pupil of the objective lens system into two or more spectrally separated sub-images which are projected onto the monochromatic detector array.

Prismatic image replication for obtaining color data from a monochrome detector array

Provided herein is an optical turbulence device configured for insertion between the target collimator and the sensor unit being tested, which simulates a turbulence effect. The turbulence device for imparting wavefront aberrations to a projected radiation beam includes an optical phase element for altering the optical phase of a radiation beam. The optical phase element includes a plurality of active areas disposed on a surface of the phase element. The plurality of active areas includes a plurality of variations for imparting wavefront aberrations to a radiation beam, thereby altering optical phase of the beam. The device further includes a driving mechanism coupled to the optical phase element for transitioning the optical phase element between a plurality of positions, thereby exposing a different active area of the optical phase element to the radiation beam. The optical phase element is configured to be positioned at an intermediate focal plane of an inverting a focal optical assembly.

Optical instrument for the simulation of atmospheric turbulence

Growing community of inventors

Stafford, VA, United States of America

John M Hall