The Boeing Company

General Nutronics, Inc.

Other

Avco Research Laboratory, Inc.

Richard B Holmes

David Roderick Gerwe

Paul S Idell

Jed Eden Donaldson

Bryan Lee Kelchner

Kenneth Jerkatis

Nikolaus McNerney

Steven Fulton Griffin

Brett A Spivey

Ralph R Galetti

Richard Halstead

Brandoch Calef

Angel Portillo

Jeremy Manning

Robert Fetner, Iii

Teresa Neudecker

Richard G Malmquist

Douglass M Nolte

A retrofittable subassembly that enhances the operational availability of a terrestrial optical surveillance system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the subassembly comprises a diffusely reflective and insulating external cover, a highly uniform plate-glass cover, an wide angle FOV camera and a passive thermal control system.

Method and apparatus for extending operational availability for terrestrial optical surveillance systems

An insertable beehive entrance device allowing entrance into the beehive and disrupting exit from the beehive in order to make the moving of honey bee hives to a new location less problematic. The device includes a base with an entrance opening and a two legs attached to the base forming a triangular frame, the frame forming an entrance at its apex. The frame includes a mesh top covering and a reflective bottom covering configured to be brighter than the inner hive. Once placed in the hive entrance it allows honey bees to enter the hive through the insertable device but disrupts their normal pattern of exit. Bees are now trapped in the hive making it simpler to move. When catching honey bee swarms, this device placed in the entrance makes coming back for the swarm box more convenient.

Insertable beehive entrance device

A device includes an image sensor, first optics, second optics, and a processor. The first optics are configured to form a first optical pattern (OP) on the image sensor. The first OP is associated with a first wavelength. The second optics are configured to form a second OP on the image sensor. The second OP is associated with a second wavelength that is longer than the first wavelength. The processor is configured to generate a first turbulence estimate based on relative motion of the first OP, to generate a second turbulence estimate based on relative motion of the second OP, and to generate error correction data. The processor is also configured to adjust the first turbulence estimate based on the error correction data and the second turbulence estimate to determine an estimated turbulence value. The processor may also be configured to estimate a wind profile, a turbulence profile, or both.

System and method for estimating turbulence based on multiple wavelengths

An aero-optical disturbance measurement system includes a mirror supported by a gimbal for receiving a light beam from a light emitting source, reflecting the light beam to a first periscope fold mirror and therefrom reflecting the light beam directly to a second periscope fold mirror. A first concave off-axis paraboloid mirror receives the light beam reflected from second periscope fold mirror and therefrom a first fold mirror receives the light beam reflected directly from first concave off-axis paraboloid mirror. A second fold mirror receives the light beam reflected directly from the first fold mirror. A second concave off-axis paraboloid mirror receives the light beam reflected directly from second fold mirror which reflects the light beam to a fast steering mirror. A fine tracker camera coupled to an embedded processer receives portion of light beam from fast steering mirror. Embedded processor controls movement of fast steering mirror and gimbal.

Aero-wave instrument for the measurement of the optical wave-front disturbances in the airflow around airborne systems

The aircraft includes a fuselage and at least one aerodynamic interface surface. It further includes a gimbaled mirror system which includes a mirror supported by a gimbal to receive a light beam from a light emitting source and reflect the light beam to a first periscope fold mirror. A wave front measuring system includes at least five reflective which reflects the light beam to a fast steering mirror. The fast steering mirror reflects the light beam directly to a beam splitter wherein the light beam is split into a transmitted portion and a reflected portion of the light beam.

Systems and methods that combine forward-model image reconstruction techniques with tomographic estimation of three-dimensional atmospheric turbulence to enable high-quality anisoplanatic imaging and beam control through the atmosphere over an extended field of view using a phased laser array. The system projects laser energy onto specific locations of extended objects in various geometries, overcomes atmospheric anisoplanatism and backscatter; estimates phase across the full aperture, and reconstructs the target object in great detail to enable high-resolution aimpoint selection and maintenance. Aimpoint maintenance is performed by sequentially analyzing a passive image and a laser spot in rapid succession, in each subaperture at high signal-to-noise ratio. As a further improvement, backscatter issues from the projected laser beam are eliminated by cycling the laser and/or sequentially lasing on different wavelengths within the laser gain bandwidth.

Laser phase diversity for beam control in phased laser arrays

Systems and methods which combine standard image reconstruction and beam-control techniques with tomographic estimation of three-dimensional atmospheric turbulence to enable high-quality anisoplanatic imaging of distant objects at long range through the atmosphere over an extended field-of-view using a large aperture. More specifically, the systems and methods combine the concepts of atmospheric tomography, forward-model image reconstruction and tip, tilt, beam-walk, and focus control techniques to produce image reconstructions of high quality for large objects that move rapidly as viewed by large apertures in weak or strong extended atmospheric turbulence.

Lenslet, beamwalk and tilt diversity for anisoplanatic imaging by large-aperture telescopes

Improvements to turntables that facilitate inoculation of petri dishes. In one embodiment, the present invention is a motorized turntable for a petri dish that allows the user to use both hands for inoculation of the petri dish. In another embodiment, the present invention features an improved upper plate for a petri dish turntable that allows the user to more easily remove the petri dish from the upper plate after inoculation. In another embodiment, the present invention provides an apparatus for rotating a conventional turntable for petri dishes.

Motorized turntable for petri dish

A large fiber optic switch system with a free-space optical interconnection configuration. The switch system comprises a plurality of individual switch units, each individual switch unit having a plurality of electronic multi-switch switches each multi-switch switch being re-configurable upon command of a computer processor and having a plurality of electronic input ports and electronics output ports. A first portion of these input ports and a first portion of these output ports are connected directly or indirectly to incoming and outgoing communication lines. A second portion of the output ports is connected to an electronic driver unit that drives an optical emitter array. Each emitter in the emitter array produces a light beam for carrying an optical communication signal. A second portion of the input ports of each of the multi-switch switches is connected to a detector array comprising an array of optical detectors for detecting optical signals and converting the signals to electronic signals and an array of amplifiers for amplifying the signals. The switch comprises a free space optical interconnection configuration for directing each of the light beams which are produced by said emitters of each emitter array in each switch unit to one of the optical detectors in each of the detector arrays of the other switch units. In a preferred embodiment signals incoming into a port of the first portion of the input ports of a first switch unit may be switched by the multi-switch to an emitter in the first switch unit which emits a light beam which is directed at one of the optical detectors of another switch unit. An optical detector of the other switch unit produces an electronic signal corresponding to the optical communication signals and the electronic signal is directed by the multi-switch switch of the other switch unit to one of the output ports from which the signal proceeds to a corresponding outgoing communication lines. In a preferred embodiment the optical interconnection configuration includes a mirror configured to direct beams from each of the emitters to one of the optical detectors.

Electronic fiber optic switch with optical interconnect

A switch device and method is disclosed that is capable of switching wavelength division multiplexed optical signals. The device comprises a switch element that includes a two-dimensional micro-electromechanical mirror. The two-dimensional micro-electromechanical mirror is adapted to reflect an optical signal so that it is directed to a selected target. The switch element may also comprise a beam splitter and a plurality of wave plates. The beam splitter is adapted to transmit light in one polarization and reflect light in another polarization. The wave plates are adapted to change the polarization of the light so that the beam splitter either reflects or transmits the light.

Method and device for switching wavelength division multiplexed optical signals using two-dimensional micro-electromechanical mirrors

A switch device and method is disclosed that is capable of switching wavelength division multiplexed optical signals. The device comprises a switch element, which may include a detector, an emitter array, and a switch controller. The detector is adapted to detect optical signals and is positioned to receive light from a source. The emitter array is positioned to transmit light to a plurality of targets. The emitter comprises a plurality of emitters, each emitter being adapted to generate light signals. The light signals generated by each emitter are transmitted to at least one predetermined target. The switch controller is in communication with the detector and the emitter array. The switch controller is adapted to cause the emitter array to generate the detected signal. The switch elements are grouped in an array and dichroic beam splitters may be used to reflect predetermined ranges of wavelengths to the individual switch elements.

Method and device for switching wavelength division multiplexed optical signals using emitter arrays

This invention enables a plurality of switch elements, each capable of receiving and transmitting a specific wavelength of light, to exchange information and to multiplex temporally-encoded information in time from two or more of the local processors. The process is accomplished by the use of an intermediate plane that has one or more ports that can detect light over a broad band of wavelengths, and that can transmit light at one or more specific wavelengths back to the local processors. The ports may be used to transmit time multiplexed and/or wavelength multiplexed signals.

Method and device for wavelength switching, wavelength division multiplexing, and time division multiplexing

A method and system is disclosed for switching signals between at least one optical fiber and a plurality of nodes through free space. The invention includes a switch that comprises at least one switch element. The switch element can detect signals transmitted by the optical fiber, at least one node, or both. The switch element can also transmit signals to the optical fiber, at least one node, or both. A mirror is provided for reflecting signals to and from the nodes through free space. An imaging telescope may also be provided for imaging light on to the mirror from the switch element.

System and method for switching optical signals through free space

An optical switching system, device, and method are disclosed that are capable of providing high throughput optical signal switching. Bandpass filters are provided for narrow-band demultiplexing of an optical signal to a plurality of switching elements. The system includes a demultiplexing device for wide-band wavelength demultiplexing to a plurality of optical switching devices.

High throughput optical switching system, device and method

A switch device and method is disclosed that is capable of switching wavelength division multiplexed optical signals. The device comprises a switch element, which may include a detector, an emitter array, and a switch controller. The detector is adapted to detect optical signals and is positioned to receive light from a source. The emitter array is positioned to transmit light to a plurality of targets. The emitter comprises at least one emitter and a modulator array. The modulator array selectively allows light to pass through the modulator array. The switch controller is in communication with the detector and the emitter array. The switch controller is adapted to cause the emitter array to generate the detected signal. The switch elements are grouped in an array and dichroic beam splitters may be used to reflect predetermined ranges of wavelengths to the individual switch elements.

Growing community of inventors

Cameron Park, CA, United States of America

Richard B Holmes