Corning Incorporated

Kollsman, Inc.

Kenneth Smith Woodard

Lovell Elgin Comstock, Ii

Richard Lynton Wiggins

Leonard Gerard Wamboldt

James Scott Sutherland

Jeffry John Santman

Bruce Hildreth Myrick

James Dixon Cornell

Ii Lovell Elgin Ii Comstock

A support for optical elements is described. The support includes a base substrate with high specific stiffness and a finishing layer. The base substrate is a non-oxide ceramic material, preferably a carbide, such as boron carbide or silicon carbide. The finishing layer is preferably Ge or an alloy of Al and Si. The finishing layer is or is capable of being processed to provide a surface with low finish. Low finish is achieved by diamond turning or polishing the finishing material. The finishing layer has a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the base substrate. The optical element optionally includes a reflective stack on the finishing layer.

Reflective optical element

A high stiffness substrate for optical elements is described. The substrate includes a graphite finishing layer and a non-oxide ceramic base substrate. The non-oxide ceramic base substrate is preferably a carbide, such as boron carbide or silicon carbide. The graphite finishing layer may include a surface with low finish. Low finish may be achieved by diamond turning the graphite surface. The graphite finishing layer may be joined to the non-oxide base ceramic with a solder. A supplemental finishing layer may be formed on the graphite finishing layer. A reflective stack may be formed on the graphite or supplemental finishing layer. Methods for making the substrate are also described.

Reflective optical element with high stiffness substrate

A hyperspectral imaging system and a method are described herein for providing a hyperspectral image of an area of a remote object (e.g., scene of interest). In one aspect, the hyperspectral imaging system includes at least one optic, a rotatable disk (which has at least one spiral slit formed therein), a spectrometer, a two-dimensional image sensor, and a controller. In another aspect, the hyperspectral imaging system includes at least one optic, a rotatable disk (which has multiple straight slits formed therein), a spectrometer, a two-dimensional image sensor, and a controller. In yet another aspect, the hyperspectral imaging system includes at least one optic, a rotatable drum (which has a plurality of slits formed on the outer surface thereof and a fold mirror located therein), a spectrometer, a two-dimensional image sensor, and a controller.

Hyperspectral imaging systems and methods for imaging a remote object

A hyperspectral imaging system and a method are described herein for providing a hyperspectral image of an area of a remote object. In one aspect, the hyperspectral imaging system includes a fore optic with optics for acquiring and projecting an image from a remote object, a scannable slit mechanism with a plurality of slits for receiving the projected image, where the projected image simultaneously illuminates two or more of the plurality of slits, a spectrometer for receiving and dispersing images passing through the two or more simultaneously-illuminated slits, and a two-dimensional image sensor for recording images received from the spectrometer, where the images received from different slits are recorded on different sets of detection elements of the two-dimensional image sensor.

A combination fluid and air washing apparatus for washing a vehicle's viewing surface. The apparatus includes a housing, a nozzle assembly with at least one fluid nozzle and at least one air nozzle corresponding to each of fluid nozzles. A shaft is pivotally attached to the housing. The fluid and air nozzles are adjacently attached to the shaft and point towards the vehicle viewing surface. The air nozzle points lower on the vehicle viewing surface than the fluid nozzle. A pressured lines provides pressured air to the washing apparatus. The air compressor provides pressured air to the fluid reservoir forcing the fluid through the fluid nozzle and the air compressor simultaneously provides pressured air through the line to the air nozzle. Thus, the vehicle's viewing surface with the fluid and the fluid washes the vehicle's viewing surface and the air dries the vehicle's viewing surface.

Growing community of inventors

New Boston, NH, United States of America

Kenneth Smith Woodard