The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.

Sean McClain

Juha-Pekka J Laine

Stephen P Smith

Gregory P Blasche

Benjamin F Lane

Robin Mark Adrian Dawson

Erik L Waldron

Paul A Bohn

Walter D Foley

Matthew T Jamula

Samuel W Harrison

Francis J Rogomentich

John James Boyle

Robert A Larsen

Robin Dawson

Charles Arant

William Ostrowski

A digital camera optically couples a monocentric lens to image sensor arrays, without optical fibers, yet shields the image sensor arrays from stray light. In some digital cameras, baffles are disposed between an outer surface of a monocentric lens and each image sensor array to shield the image sensor arrays from stray light. In other such digital cameras, an opaque mask defines a set of apertures, one aperture per image sensor array, to limit the amount of stray light. Some digital cameras include both masks and baffles.

Hemispherical star camera

A device and method for selectively illuminating and designating multiple targets in the air or on the ground simultaneously. The device comprises a light source, a switching array and a ball lens. Light from the light source is routed through the switching array, which can addressably output multiple light beams simultaneously. The light beams from the switching array illuminate the backside of a low F-number ball lens. The ball lens creates highly collimated output beams independently (and simultaneously) from any of the output source points of the switching array. These output beams can be used to simultaneously designate multiple targets. When the target illuminating device includes an optional detector array, light scattered from targets can be refracted by the balls lens to impinge on the detector array. Signals from the detector array representing the received light beams can be used for target imaging.

Multi-target optical designator

Methods and apparatus ascertain a geographic position based on topographic contours of ocean surfaces. Observed ocean topographic contours are matched to predicted ocean topography and/or ocean topographic information stored in a database. Such systems and methods do not necessarily require INS, GPS, RF beacons, optical beacons or celestial sightings. These systems and methods may be used as references to correct INS. These systems and methods may be used to ascertain a geographic location of an aircraft, spacecraft, watercraft, landcraft (vehicle), person or the like. Similarly, these systems and methods may be used as part of a guidance system for guiding a craft to a destination. These systems and methods may be used in tandem with, or as backups for, other types of navigation or guidance systems or as one input to a navigation filter.

Navigation by ocean surface topography

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Somerville, MA, United States of America

Sean McClain