Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Teledyne Scientific and Imaging, LLC

Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Company, Inc.

John Mansell

Milind Mahajan

Sanan Shaibani

Joseph Krystkowiak

Akbar Arab-Sadeghabadi

Graham J Martin

Dennis P Bevan

Weiya Zhang

Bruce Kevin Winker

Dong-Feng Gu

Alexandros Papavasiliou

Robert Mihailovich

Brian Wesley Gregory

Akbar Arab-Sadenghabadi

Don Taber

Bryce Murray

Joseph Krysthowiak

Akbar Arab Sadenghabadi

Techniques for facilitating light signal assessment receiver systems and methods are provided. In one example, a light signal assessment device includes a light signal detection device including a filter array, a detector array, and a measurement device. The filter array is configured to filter a light signal incident on the filter array. The detector array is configured to receive the filtered light signal and generate a light signal detection image based on the filtered light signal. The measurement device is configured to determine a characteristic associated with the light signal based on the light signal detection image. The assessment device further includes a logic device configured to generate an output based on the characteristic. Related methods and systems are also provided.

Light signal assessment receiver systems and methods

A multi-spectral lens comprises a circular polarizer and a tunable cholesteric filter having an associated reflection band. Incoming light is circularly polarized to one handedness by the circular polarizer, and the tunable cholesteric filter transmits the circularly polarized light and reflects the opposite handedness of the circularly polarized light if within the reflection band of the filter, with the reflection band of the tunable cholesteric filter varying with a control voltage. In a preferred embodiment, a mirror is arranged to receive light transmitted by the tunable cholesteric filter and reflect it back towards the filter with flipped handedness, with the reflected light with flipped handedness that is within the reflection band of the tunable cholesteric filter reflected by the tunable cholesteric filter back toward the mirror. The architecture described effectively converts the reflection band of a tunable cholesteric filter into a tunable bandpass filter for a multi-spectral imaging lens.

Tunable multi-spectral lens

A moving object command link system includes a transmitter which outputs a EM beam and a steering mechanism which directs the beam toward one or more objects, at least one of which is moving. The system may include a variable attenuator which modulates the average output power of the beam, and/or a divergence controller to maintain a desired beam size. The beam may be polarized, and the system may include a polarization modulator which changes the beam's polarization in accordance with a predetermined sequence and schedule. The system may include a 1&#xd7;2 switch to selectively provide the beam to one of first and second outputs. A tiltable dichroic beam splitter may be used to couple beams received from first and second objects to track cameras having respective boresights that are offset with respect to each other.

Moving object command link system and method

A fiber optic sensing system for determining the position of an object requires a light source, an optical fiber, a fiber optic splitter, a fiber tip lens, an optical detector and signal processing circuitry. Light emitted by the light source is conveyed via optical fiber and the splitter to the lens and onto an object, such that at least a portion of the light is reflected by the object and conveyed via fiber and the splitter to the detector. Signal processing circuitry coupled to the detector determines the position of the object with respect to the lens based on a characteristic of the reflected light. The system is suitably employed with a hydraulic accumulator having a piston, the position of which varies with the volume of fluid in the accumulator, with the system arranged to determine the position of the piston, from which the volume can be calculated.

Fiber optic system for sensing the position of a hydraulic accumulator piston

A microelectromechanical shutter system includes an actuator beam formed in a substrate, at least one actuator electrode spaced apart and electrically isolated from the actuator beam, the at least one actuator electrode angling away from a base of the actuator beam to actuate the actuator beam using a zipper action, and a fiber-optic channel in the substrate to receive a fiber-optic cable. A shutter mirror is included on a distal end of the actuator beam, with the shutter mirror in substantial alignment with a centerline of the fiber-optic channel. Upon application of a voltage between the actuator beam and the at least one actuator electrode, an electrostatic force is created between them to move the shutter mirror across the end of the fiber-optic channel.

Microelectromechanical optical shutter system

A fiber optic acoustic transducer includes a mandrel having a first portion that preferably formed generally as a cylinder having a projection extending from one end. A grating collar also preferably formed in a generally cylindrical configuration. The grating collar has a passage extending therethrough so that it may mounted on the projection. An optical fiber has a sensor portion wound around the first portion of the mandrel and a second portion wound around the grating collar with a fiber Bragg grating being formed in the second portion of the optical fiber.

Transducer mandrel with attachment for holding fiber Bragg grating mounting collar

Optical fibers, especially those having a core layer, a cladding layer over the core layer, FBG's formed in the core layer, the cladding layer, or both, a buffer layer over the cladding layer, and an outer jacketing layer.

Optical sensor fiber with protective jacketing layers

Methods and apparatus for reducing noise in optical apparatus comprising a delay line by utilizing a plurality of wavelength specific delay lines to delay an input waveform such as a pulse rather than a single delay line. In a preferred embodiment an apparatus is configured to generate an optical waveform by distributing an input optical waveform among a plurality of environmentally isolated legs, wherein each leg contributes to the generated optical waveform by reflecting back at least a portion of light distributed to the leg, and the distribution among the plurality of legs is at least partially wavelength dependent.

Compensating interferometer including delay lines with reduced noise

Methods and apparatus for generating an optical waveform by distributing an input optical waveform among a plurality of environmentally isolated legs wherein each leg comprises a Bragg grating and contributes to the generated optical waveform by using the Bragg grating to reflect back at least a portion of light distributed to the leg.

Compensating interferometer with Bragg reflectors

A fiber optic array cable comprises a plurality of constituent cables that each include an optical fiber, a strength member connected to the optical fiber to provide tensile strength and a jacket surrounding the optical fiber and the strength member. A harness is arranged to enclose the plurality of constituent cables securely. The strength member preferably is formed of a plurality of metal strands layered around the optical fiber.

Fiber optic array harness

A housing for holding components of a fiber optic sensor array includes a base formed generally as an elongate rectangle with end caps connected to its ends. The sensor array includes an array cable formed of a plurality of constituent cables that each comprise an optical fiber and a tensile strength member corresponding to each optical fiber. Each end cap is formed to include a plurality of cable termination slots for connection to the strength members of selected constituent cables to which array components are connected and a plurality of cable bypass slots for routing constituent cables that are not connected to components around the housing.

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Thousand Oaks, CA, United States of America

John Mansell