Eastman-kodak Company

Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.

Exelis Inc.

Thomas W Dey

Donald E Vandenberg

William D Humbel

John G Pitek

Alan L Wertheimer

Kenneth L Mason

Philip F Marino

Jennifer A Lebaron

Eugene George Olczak

Edward M Granger

Cormic K Merle

Jerold B Lisson

John J Hannon

James R Olson

Gene Olczak

Stephen D O'Donohue

Arthur E Jensen

Matthew F Walsh

A generator and projector system for providing a test target for testing sensing apparatus includes an aperture stop located adjacent to the sensing apparatus. Also included are a spherical mirror having a concave side facing the aperture stop and an object disposed between the spherical mirror and the aperture stop. The object includes various test targets for testing the sensing apparatus. A longitudinal optical axis passes through the aperture stop, the spherical mirror and the object. Illumination of the object generates the test target, which is then reflected from the spherical mirror toward the aperture stop, for testing the sensing apparatus.

Image generator and projector

A system for measuring deformation of at least one surface of an object including an interferometer for receiving illumination reflected from the surface of the object, and a surface treatment disposed on the surface of the object for providing a retro-reflective patina. The retro-reflective patina is configured to reflect the illumination from the surface of the object. The retro-reflective patina is attached to the surface of the object and may include a plurality of cube corners, or a plurality of dielectric spheres, or a combination of cube corners and dielectric spheres. Impinging light onto the object is provided by an optical source that may be separate from or integral to the interferometer. The impinging light may be directed toward the object through an objective lens, which is also used for receiving the illumination from the object. Alternatively, the impinging light may be directed toward the object by first bypassing the objective lens.

Surface deformation measuring system with a retro-reflective surface treatment

A system for aligning a segmented mirror includes a source of radiation directed along a first axis to the segmented mirror and a beamsplitter removably inserted along the first axis for redirecting radiation from the first axis to a second axis, substantially perpendicular to the first axis. An imaging array is positioned along the second axis for imaging the redirected radiation, and a knife-edge configured for cutting the redirected radiation is serially positioned to occlude and not occlude the redirected radiation, effectively providing a variable radiation pattern detected by the imaging array for aligning the segmented mirror.

Fine alignment of a large segmented mirror

An optical nulling apparatus for testing an optical surface includes an aspheric mirror having a reflecting surface for imaging light near or onto the optical surface under test, where the aspheric mirror is configured to reduce spherical aberration of the optical surface under test. The apparatus includes a light source for emitting light toward the aspheric mirror, the light source longitudinally aligned with the aspheric mirror and the optical surface under test. The aspheric mirror is disposed between the light source and the optical surface under test, and the emitted light is reflected off the reflecting surface of the aspheric mirror and imaged near or onto the optical surface under test. An optical measuring device is disposed between the light source and the aspheric mirror, where light reflected from the optical surface under test enters the optical measuring device. An imaging mirror is disposed longitudinally between the light source and the aspheric mirror, and the imaging mirror is configured to again reflect light, which is first reflected from the reflecting surface of the aspheric mirror, onto the optical surface under test.

Optical nulling apparatus and method for testing an optical surface

Apparatus for calibrating a linear image sensor, includes a fluorescent light source, at least as long as the image sensor; a fixture for holding the light source parallel to the image sensor and displaced from the image sensor by a fraction of the length of the image sensor; and a light level controller for producing a plurality of light levels from the lamp.

Apparatus for calibrating a linear image sensor

Apparatus and method for radiometrically calibrating an imaging sensor array using the sun as a calibration light source in an optical system of the type having an accessible real conjugate of the entrance pupil, includes a flux concentrator for concentrating the sunlight. A flux modulator modulates the intensity of the concentrated sunlight and a flux relay for relaying the intensity modulated sunlight to the real conjugate of the entrance pupil of the optical system. A flux diffuser located at the real conjugate of the entrance pupil of the optical system illuminates the imaging sensor array with diffuse intensity modulated sunlight for calibrating the imaging sensor. A radiometric calibration assembly is proposed to calibrate an imaging sensor array of an earth imaging system. The calibration assembly comprises a flux concentrator, a flux modulator, a flux relay lens and a flux diffuser located within a conjugate pupil of the earth imaging system. The flux concentrator transfers solar flux to the flux modulator, which modulates the flux to a number of controlled, deterministic levels. The flux relay lens transfers the modulated flux to the flux diffuser. The diffused flux illuminates the imaging sensor array, resulting in electrical signals that provide information to allow accurate calibration for use in imagery.

Radiometric calibration device and method

A radiometric calibration system is proposed to calibrate the sensor array of a space born optical imaging system. The calibration system comprises an occulting plate with an occulting convolution aperture which executes a relative lateral motion with respect to an image of the sun, to effect a deterministic and continuously varying calibration flux level to the sensor array. The shape, size orientation and apodization of the aperture control the functional form of the temporal irradiance function reaching the sensor being calibrated. Continuous calibration functions covering a range from a minimum to a maximum desired flux level are readily achievable.

Radiometric calibration system

A method of shaping surface on an optical element includes directing a stream of gas and particles at the surface at a velocity sufficient to controllably remove material from the surface to figure the surface to a desired optical profile.

Abrasive air spray shaping of optical surfaces

A focus detecting system for detecting focus state of an image forming optical system relative to an object, includes a beam splitter assembly for forming at least three coplanar two-dimensional images of a scene, each image having a different focus setting. An area array image sensor senses the images at the image forming plane. Signal processing electronics determine the sharpness of the three images and calculates an optimum focus setting for the optical system by deterring the variances of the three images and calculating a position of maximum variance corresponding to a best focus setting of the optical system.

Focus detecting system using a beam splitter to form an image at nominal

An assembly preferably utilized in cooperation with a method for determining a surface topology of a workpiece. The assembly includes a projectile; means for coupling the projectile to a surface of a workpiece, and for imparting an initial momentum to the projectile with respect to the surface; and, means for sensing a relative movement of the projectile with respect to the workpiece surface, for generating a locus of positional points over time of the projectile as a measure of the surface topology of the workpiece.

Assembly suitable for determining a surface topology of a workpiece

A novel method for assessing a surface figure of an optical element. The method preferably comprises subjecting the optical element to a classical autocollimation testing procedure for ascertaining its surface figure relative to a predetermined ideal. The testing procedure is characterized by a step of modifying the classical optical testing procedure, so that the optical element under test simulates a paraboloid.

Method of assessing a surface figure of an optical element

A method for determining a surface topology of a workpiece preferably comprising a general symmetric asphere. The method includes the steps of coupling a projectile to a surface of a workpiece, and imparting a trajectory to the projectile with respect to the surface; sensing the trajectory of the projectile with respect to the workpiece surface, for assessing a locus of positional points over time of the projectile, the locus being a measure of the surface topology of the workpiece; and computing from the locus of positional points over time, the surface topology of the workpiece.

A method for determining a surface topology of a workpiece

A method for determining a vertex radius of curvature for an optical surface. The method comprises subjecting the optical surface to a classical collimation testing procedure, so that the optical surface simulates a paraboloid; and, subjecting the optical surface to a vertex focusing interferometric testing procedure, so that a vertex radius of the optical surface can be determined.

Method for assessing a vertex radius of curvature

The Foucault or knife-edge method may be employed for testing an optical surface defined by an imaging device, for example, a mirror surface, to ascertain its characteristics, for example, whether or not it is a source of optical aberrations. To this end, the traditional Foucault knife-edge method typically employs a knife-edge that comprises a metal razor blade. The present method, in contrast, provides an improved Foucault method, and features a novel optical element suitable for employment in the method. The optical element comprises a transparent substrate, and a coating material that can adhere to at least a portion of the transparent substrate, thereby forming at least one knife-edge pattern.

Foucault method for testing an optical surface

An optical reticle projector which may be employed for astronomical data collection. The projector consists of a cylindrical housing having a radius from 0.5 to 4.0 inches; a source of radiation secured by the housing, the source of radiation capable of outputting a radiation beam along an optical axis defined with respect to the housing; an optical field element secured by the housing and positioned on the optical axis; a reticle having a predetermined geometry, and in operative association with the field element; and an imaging lens secured by the housing, positioned on the optical axis, and capable of imaging the reticle to infinity.

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Springwater, NY, United States of America

Thomas W Dey