Other

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Richard I Billmers

Elizabeth J Billmers

Mary E Ludwig

Vincent Michael Contarino

William J Scharpf

Joseph David Matchett

Martin F Squicciarini

Rudolph Lucente

Swapan Kumar Gayen

Alan Edward Laux

David M Allocca

Kevin Owens

A system and method for viewing an object in a visually obscured environment includes a laser for generating a beam of light which is directed at the object. A pulse generator generates a reference pulse which triggers the laser and also a triggers a range generator which generates a range window positioned at a desired range. A gated optical detector (1) receives reflected light from the object, (2) receives the range window from the range generator, and (3) produces a gated optical output which contains reflections from ranges corresponding with the range window. A display is connected to the gated optical detector for displaying the gated optical output. In one embodiment, the transmitted light beam is polarized, and the received light beam passes through a selectable polarizing filter. In another embodiment, a plurality of received reflected light returns are integrated into a combined image.

System for viewing an object in a visually obscured environment and method of use

A narrowband filter with a wide acceptance angle which utilizes two holographic filter elements connected in series. The filter blocks light outside of a narrow spectral band of interest, while enabling light to be seen over a wide range of angles incident on the filter.

Volume holographic filter with broad acceptance angle and narrow spectral bandwidth

A system and method for viewing objects at a fire scene allows fire fighters to view objects, including persons, in a smoke and fire filled environment. The present invention utilizes two different techniques to discriminate reflections from an object from scattered reflections from smoke and fire. In one embodiment of the invention, the coherent nature of laser light is employed to pick out objects. Another embodiment of the invention utilizes a time-gated approach to select reflections from objects which are located a specific distance from the laser transmitter.

System for viewing objects at a fire scene and method of use

The present invention is directed to a monochromator device which uses single grating volume holograms. The holograms collect light of varying wavelengths such as polychromatic light, and separate one particular wavelength of interest. A wide wavelength spectrum can be targeted, either by angularly tuning the holograms, or by using an array of holograms each of which is tuned to a different center wavelength. The large aperture and high angular dispersion of the volume holograms provides a higher light throughput than that of prior art monochromators. The present invention can be used anywhere that efficient separation of polychromatic light into its narrowband components is required. The monochromator may be placed immediately before a light source, or before other optical or signal processing devices to provide the filtered wavelength of light input to such devices.

Monochromator employing single grating volume holograms and method of use

A narrowband, tunable filter with a wide acceptance angle utilizes two holographic filter elements connected in series. The filter blocks light outside of a narrow spectral band of interest, while enabling light to be seen over a wide range of angles incident on the filter.

Wavelength tunable holographic filter with broad acceptance angle and narrow spectral bandwidth

A magneto-optical rotation (MOR) spectrometer is disclosed having a laser as a light source and providing a high intensity input light source that yields improvements in the detection limits and in the dynamic operating ranges of the MOR spectrometer.

Laser magneto-optic rotation spectrometer (LMORS)

An excited state polarization altering optical filter includes a vapor cell having a population of electrons with a plurality of energy levels that receive light and transmit light according to the received light. A first pulsed dye laser applies a beam of light by way of a circular polarizer to provide a first beam of light having a first polarization to the vapor cell. The first beam of light causes transitions of the electrons from one energy level to another energy level. A second pulsed dye laser applies a second beam of light with a second, differing, linear polarization to the vapor cell. The vapor cell differentially transmits the first and second beams of light in accordance with the differing polarizations. A delay path is provided for delaying the second beam of light before the second beam of light is applied to the vapor cell. The delay path is tuned by adjusting the length. A third laser applies a beam of light to the first and second lasers. The third laser may be an Nd:YAG laser.

Excited state polarization altering optical filter

An actively pumped optical filter includes a vapor cell having a population of electrons with the plurality of energy levels which receives light and transmits light according to a pumping mechanism. A magnetic source is provided for applying a magnetic field to the vapor cell. A first pulsed dye laser applies a first beam of light to the vapor cell causing transitions of the electrons from a first energy level to a second energy level. A second pulsed dye laser is used for measuring the transmission through the vapor cell. A third laser applies a beam of light to the first laser and a beam of light to the second laser. The third laser may be an Nd:YAG laser. Polarizers are disposed before and after the vapor cell and a delay path is provided for delaying the second beam of light before the second beam of light is applied to the laser cell. The delay path is tuned by adjusting the length.

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Langhorne, PA, United States of America

Richard I Billmers