Boeing North American, Inc.

Hughes Electronics Corporation

Marion N Todd

John E Davis

Tilman W Stuhlinger

Kenneth R Castle

Mitchell Ruda

Richard C Savage

Peter B Landecker

An optics assembly for observing a panoramic scene comprises a plurality of optical elements. A flat reflective element redirects light from a panoramic scene. A plurality of refractive elements, successively receive the redirected light from the reflective element and create a real pupil. An optical relay system receives light from a last of the plurality of refractive elements. The optical relay system establishes the focal length of the optics assembly, corrects optical aberrations produced at the real pupil, corrects field aberrations and produces an annular image on a flat focal plane assembly. The optics assembly produces a small F-number at field angles perpendicular to the optical axis of the optics assembly over a panoramic scene.

Panoramic optics assembly having an initial flat reflective element

An imaging system is attached to a satellite, the imaging system includes a transmitting segment which transmits a field of view of photonic radiation to a focal plane array imager. Displacements such as jitter and drift are capable of being applied to the imaging system, which can result in apparent movement of said field of view applied to the focal plane array imager. A stabilizing segment limits the apparent movement of the field of view detected by said focal plane array imager in two orthogonal sensed translational directions, and about a sensed rotary direction.

Satellite focal plane array imager

An optics assembly for observing a panoramic scene. The optics assembly includes a plurality of optical elements. A first element redirects light from the panoramic scene. The optical power of the first element forms an imaginary pupil. The energy from the first element is redirected about 90 degrees, forming an annular path. A second element receives the redirected light and re-images the imaginary pupil to form a real pupil. This portion of the energy continues to be in an annular form. A third element includes an optical relay system having a group of reimaging optics. The third element receives light from the second element while relaying the real pupil into the reimaging optics. It also establishes the focal length of the optics assembly, corrects pupil aberrations produced at the real pupil, corrects field aberrations and produces an annular image on a flat focal plane. The optical relay system interfaces with the second element through the use of the real pupil. The real pupil is formed at the cold stop and filter location in the third element. This pupil is relayed back through the system to be coincident with the first real pupil. The optics assembly produces a small F-number at field angles near perpendicular to the output optical axis of the optics assembly over a panoramic scene.

Optics assembly for observing a panoramic scene

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Monrovia, CA, United States of America

Marion N Todd