Irvine Sensors Corporation

Isc8 Inc.

The Titan Corporation

Pfg IP LLC

Medhat Azzazy

James W Justice

David E Ludwig

Ying Wen Hsu

John C Carson

Itzhak Sapir

Robert W McCullough

Anthony E Smart

John B Abbiss

Virgilio Villacorta

Alan C Rogers

A spectrometer for capturing two dimensional images of observed scenes in a sequence of spectral sub-bands wherein each measurement of a sub-band occurs over a two dimensional detector array at the same time. Sub-band measurement sequences are executed based upon, a) environmental conditions, b) user priorities, and, c) results of real-time analysis of the two dimensional spectral scene data outputs from the sensor.

Adaptive, very high resolution imaging spectrometer

A low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) Agile Navigation and Guidance Enabled by LIDAR (ANGEL) sensor system that enables deployment on a wide variety of air and surface vehicle that have need of accurate situation awareness and have need of timely warning of potential objects that may cause collisions. A highly functional LIDAR sensor system provides accurate and timely detection and localization of potential threat objects. The ANGEL LIDAR sensor system operates in a fully eye-safe spectral band which enables it to be deployed and pose no threat to human vision impairment. The spectral band of operation also enables successful operation under day and night conditions and under conditions of degraded visual environment caused by such weather conditions as dust, fog, and rain.

Agile navigation and guidance enabled by LIDAR (ANGEL)

The Hy-ALERT processing system operates simultaneously on the data streams from visible and thermal imaging sensors and from hyperspectral imaging sensors. The visible and thermal image processing uses cognitive-inspired processing techniques that determine the salient content of the imagers based on the system user definition of salient content. The hyperspectral image processing uses anomaly detection and template matching techniques to determine the salient materials content of the observed scenes. Cross-correlation processing of the salient content of the various image and hyperspectral data streams enables the sensor systems to adapt their operating characteristics to optimize effectiveness in near real-time.

Real time signal processor for analyzing, labeling and exploiting data in real time from hyperspectral sensor suites (Hy-ALERT)

The ACASS 3D LIDAR system operates in a fundamentally new manner combining features of flash LIDARS and scanning LIDARS simultaneously which enables mission and performance trades to be conducted by varying the sizes of illumination patches within the scenes being observed. Further the combination of these modes of operation into a single LIDAR system enables multiple modes of operation and multiple missions to be accomplished with single lasers obviating the need for multiple lasers and enabling significant simplification of beam control modes. Systems which result from the new, expanded size, weight, power, cost trade space enabled by the ACASS concept can provide new levels of performance at significantly reduced risks and costs The achievement of wide area, three dimensional imaging using a LIDAR sensor system is accomplished with one laser which operates using an eye safe fiber laser with very high puke 13 rates but very low energy per pulse.

Active continuous awareness surveillance system (ACASS): a multi-mode 3D LIDAR for diverse applications

A LIDAR system that can accommodate both a clear atmosphere and be adaptable to environments in which smoke, dust or other particulates (i.e., a degraded environment) exist in the atmosphere around the target is described. The system operates in two fields of regard: clear view mode (wide field of regard) and a degraded view mode (narrow field of regard). The wide field of regard allows the output laser energy to be concentrated over a large number of detector pixels and thus resulting in high scene scan rate. The narrow field of regard allows concentrating the laser output energy on fewer pixels to compensate for the loss of laser energy due to atmospheric degradation. The combination of the ROIC and LIDAR modes of operation result in a system that is capable of operation under clear and degraded environments.

LIDAR device and method for clear and degraded environmental viewing conditions

A multilayer electronic imaging module and sensor system incorporating a micro-lens layer for imaging and collimating a received image from a field of regard, a photocathode layer for detecting photons from the micro-lens layer and generating an electron output, a micro-channel plate layer for receiving the output electrons emitted from the photocathode in response to the photon input and amplifying same and stacked readout circuitry for processing the electron output of the micro-channel plate. The sensor system of the invention may be provided in the form of a Cassegrain telescope assembly and includes electromagnetic imaging and scanning means and beam-splitting means for directed predetermined ranges of the received image to one or more photo-detector elements which may be in the form of the micro-channel imaging module of the invention.

Stacked micro-channel plate assembly comprising a micro-lens

A phase-sensing and scanning time-of-flight LADAR method and device are disclosed that take advantage of an atmospheric absorption bands within the solar IR spectrum. In the phase-sensing LADAR embodiment, an object is illuminated with electromagnetic energy such as a laser beam having a wavelength substantially equal to a predetermined atmospheric absorption band such as 1.39 microns. The transmitted laser beam is modulated at a predetermined frequency and has a first phase. The phase of the reflected and returned laser beam is altered proportional to the distance of the object and has a second phase. The first phase of the transmitted signal and the second phase of the received signal are compared and used to determine the distance of the object from the device. The system may comprise a modified laser that is tuned to operate in an atmospheric absorption band. A method to identify range ambiguity is disclosed by periodically altering the modulation frequency from a first modulation frequency to a second modulation frequency. In the scanning LADAR embodiment, an object is scanned or illuminated with electromagnetic energy having a wavelength substantially equal to a predetermined atmospheric absorption band at a first time and detects the reflection of the beam at a second time. The difference in time from the transmission of the scanning beam and the detection of the reflection of the beam from the object is used to calculate the range of the object.

Phase sensing and scanning time of flight LADAR using atmospheric absorption bands

A device and method for the detection of one or more gases is disclosed. A MEMS structure comprising a micro gas cell array is provided comprising one or more micro gas cells having a predetermined gas therein. The micro gas cells define an optical path therethrough and may comprise a micro lens. Electromagnetic energy from a scene is collected and passed through one or more micro gas cells whereby electromagnetic energy emitted or reflected from a gas of interest in a scene is absorbed by a substantially identical gas contained within a micro gas cell. In this manner, the micro gas cell acts as a spectral filter. The electromagnetic outputs of the micro gas cells, which may comprise one or more spectrally inert micro gas cells, are received by one or more detector elements such as a photon detector array. The ratio of the outputs of the related detector elements are computed by processing electronics, resulting in the identification of the gas of interest.

Micro gas cell array device and method

A source produces light, preferably in a wavelength band of approximately 185-200 nm and in pulses at a suitable frequency (e.g., 100 Hz). The light may be directed in a progressively diverging beam into the atmosphere for a Rayleigh scattering by molecules in the atmosphere in the 185-200 nm wavelength band and for fluorescence by particular molecules (e.g. oxygen) in the atmosphere in another wavelength band (e.g. 210-260 nm). The Rayleigh scattered light and the fluorescent light may pass in a progressively converging beam to two detectors, one responsive to the Rayleigh scattered light to produce first signals and the other responsive to the fluorescent light to produce second signals. Optical elements may prevent the second detector from responding to the fluorescent light and the second detector from responding to the scattered Rayleigh light. A data processor processes the first and second signals to provide outputs representative of the atmospheric pressure and temperature. These outputs may have a great accuracy, in part by regulating the characteristics of the light source and the first and second detectors at times between the successive light pulses from the source. The progressively diverging and progressively converging beams may have a focal point displaced externally of the housing by at least a particular distance to avoid effects of turbulence when the housing is in a moving vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Laguna Niguel, CA, United States of America

Medhat Azzazy