Discovision Associates

Ford Aerospace & Communications Corporation

Ford Aerospace Corporation

John S Chudy

D Yvonne McNeil

M John Kniffin

Robert M Shoji

Carlyle J Eberly

Dudley A Roberts

Consolidation of active and passive detectors (26, 28, 34) on a single coldfinger (20) in a dewar (10) is made possible by interposing between the detectors (26, 28, 34) an electromagnetic interference shield (64, 68) which acts as a waveguide filter blocking any interfering frequencies. The waveguide is formed by a pair of spaced interleaved shields (64, 68), one of which (64) is associated with the dewar envelope and is externally grounded, and the other of which is associated with the coldfinger (20). Photons which penetrate through the waveguide (64, 68) are deflected to the outside of the dewar (10) by a flanged narcissus shield (40) surrounding the passive detector (34). Alignment of the detectors (26, 28, 34) and assembly of the dewar (10) is greatly facilitated by constructing the envelope in several generally cylindrical sections (14, 16, 18), the lowermost one of which (14) is shorter than the coldfinger (20); and by fusing the coldfinger (20) and lowermost envelope section (14) to a metal mounting base (12) prior to the final assembly of the dewar (10).

Multi-detector dewar

The relative intensity of the transmit beam and the local oscillator beam in a ladar diplexer can be continuously adjusted during operation by using a rotatable retardation plate with a slightly inclined 'C' axis to turn a polarized laser beam into a composite beam having two components polarized in mutually perpendicular directions. The relative intensity of the components is adjustable by varying the inclination of the 'C' axis. The composite beam is applied to the same polarizer element normally used to separate the return signal from the transmit beam. The polarizer acts as the beam splitter which separates the local oscillator beam from the transmit beam. The described configuration also saves one beam splitter and allows improved packaging and alignment of the diplexer.

Laser radar with adjustable local oscillator

Consolidation of active and passive detectors (26, 28, 34) on a single coldfinger (20) in a dewar (10) is made possible by interposing between the detectors (26, 28, 34) an electromagnetic interference shield (64, 68) which acts as a waveguide filter blocking any interfering frequencies. The waveguide is formed by a pair of spaced interleaved shields (64, 68) one of which (64) is associated with the dewar envelope and is externally grounded, and the other of which is associated with the coldfinger (20). Photons which penetrate through the waveguide (64, 68) are deflected to the outside of the dewar (10) by a flanged narcissus shield (40) surrounding the passive detector (34). Alignment of the detectors (26, 28, 34) and assembly of the dewar (101) is greatly facilitated by constructing the envelope in several generally cylindrical sections (14, 16, 18), the lowermost one of which (14) is shorter than the coldfinger (20); and by fusing the coldfinger (20) and lowermost envelope section (14 ) to a metal mounting base (12) prior to the final assembly of the dewar (10).

A control system for use in controllably adjusting a prescribed characteristic of a beam scanning a record medium. In the preferred embodiments, the control system is embodied in a tracking apparatus for use in a playback system for recovering information from a selected recording track on an optical record medium such as a video disc. The tracking apparatus produces a tracking error signal representative of the deviation of a scanning reading beam from the centerline of the selected track, and couples this error signal to a movable tracking mirror to form a servo for controllably positioning the beam in alignment with the track. The tracking apparatus further includes a dimple compensation circuit for monitoring the tracking error signal and producing a tracking loop disable signal whenever it determines that the reading beam is scanning a video disc defect, such as a dimple. This disable signal is used to uncouple the tracking error signal from the tracking mirror, so that the reading beam is maintained at its current position until the dimple has been passed.

Scanning beam control system

Tracking apparatus and related method for use in a playback system for recovering information from a selected recording track on an optical record medium such as a video disc. The tracking apparatus produces a tracking error signal representative of the deviation of a scanning reading beam from the centerline of the selected track, and couples this error signal to a movable tracking mirror to form a servo for controllably positioning the beam in alignment with the track. The tracking apparatus further includes a defect detection circuit for monitoring the tracking error signal and producing a pair of control signals that indicate when video disc defects of prescribed types are being scanned, and a threshold detector circuit for comparing the error signal to prescribed positive and negative thresholds that are selectively-variable in accordance with the pair of control signals. A tracking loop disable signal is produced whenever the magnitude of the error signal exceeds either threshold, and this disable signal is used to uncouple the tracking error signal from the tracking mirror, so that the reading beam is maintained at its current position until the dimple has been passed.

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Long Beach, CA, United States of America

John S Chudy