Hughes Aircraft Company

Eltro Gmbh

Wolfgang Weigel

Heinrich Karning

Rochus Hien

Gerhard Raubinger

Hans Siebecker

Horst Vierling

Ekkehard Szillis

Appartaus is disclosed for harmonizing onto a common reference axis the optical/optronic axes (4;5;18) of an aiming apparatus consisting of day sight channel (3) and combined thermal image/laser reception channel (1) with a stand alone laser transmitter (2). The laser radiation (9) reflected by the target is incident together with the target and ambient inherent radiation (11) via the scanning mirror (12) on selected elements of the detector row array (30), is optoelectronically converted and represented on the light-emitting diode array (25). Via the back of the mirror the signals are imaged on the retina by means of the deflection mirror (23) swung into the ray path. The visible radiatioin (19) imaged in the plane of the day reticle (21) also passes to the observer's eye when the deflection mirror is swung out. The visible radiation (19) in the day sight channel (3) can be observed when the deflection mirror is swung out via an imaging in the plane of the day reticle (21). By observation of the thermal image the day reticle is replaced by the thermal image reticle (29) which is mirrored into the thermal image reproduction channel and superimposed on the thermal image. In the harmonized condition it is shifted onto the position of the day reticle (FIG. 1).

Apparatus for harmonizing a plurality of optical/optronic axis of

An improved laser rangefinder and thermal imager with enhanced scanning mirror control is disclosed. Optical axes (11,12) are aligned parallel to each other. The system includes only one common thermal image/laser reception channel (8,9,10,11). The angular movement of scanning mirror 8 is compensated during the range finding operation. Synchronizing means (1,2,3,4) located in the beam path controls the movement of the scanning mirror. An improved method for controlling the movement of the scanning mirror which enhances the measuring range of the device is also disclosed. In order to receive CO.sub.2 radiation of narrow bandwidth which is reflected from a target, the cyclical movement of the scanning mirror (8) is precisely controlled in order to position it favorably during the range measuring operation. The frequency of the scanning function is retarded so that the scanning mirror (8) is moved only through a fraction of the width of the image field. As a result, projections of the detector element (32) in the object plane which would otherwise be located in the outer areas of the laser pulse coincide relatively closely at the beginning and end of the range finding operation.

Laser rangefinder and thermal imager with enhanced scanning mirror

A thermal imaging device uses a scanning mirror (2) to guide incident radiation to a detector array (4) which, after optoelectronic conversion, drives a light-emitting diode array (6) synchronously; this image is represented via the back of the scanning mirror on the imaging optical system (9). On the visual collimator side of the scanning mirror, a scan position sensor (12) including a light source (12a) is provided in addition to a detector (12b), a beam splitter (12d), and a collimator objective (12c). A plane plate (7) which operates as a dichroic beam splitter is shown between the scanning mirror (2) and the light-emitting diode array (6). Another dichroic beam splitter (8) is shown between the scanning mirror (2) and the scan position sensor (12). Autocollimation is obtained since both beam splitters reflect the radiation from the light source in the direction of the scanning mirror. When the scanning mirror is deployed in a predetermined mirror position, the light source can be imaged on the associated detector. The great advantage of this invention is that the sensor can be arranged at any beam path angle relative to the scanning mirror as opposed to the rigid requirement of a perpendicular beam path angle in prior devices.

Thermal imaging device having non-orthogonal scan position sensor to

A method and apparatus for changing the operational state of an optical or optoelectronic sighting device from the READY state to an operational state and vice versa, wherein the change in the state of the device is effected automatically, thereby freeing the user's hands for use in other immediate tasks. The apparatus comprises an eyepiece, a deformable eye rest, shutter means formed integrally therewith, transmitter means, receiver means, reflecting means fixed to the shutter means, and switch means. In the READY state, only those parts of the apparatus which require a relatively longer start-up time are energized. Also, in the READY state, a beam is transmitted from the transmitter means to the reflecting means and then back to the receiver means. When the user presses his head against the deformable eye rest, the eye rest deforms and the shutter means opens, uncovering the sight channel formed by the eyepiece and the eye rest. Also, the optical path of the transmitted beam is interrupted. The switch means opens in response to this interruption, thereby fully energizing the apparatus and transferring it from the READY state to its operational state. When the head of the user is removed, the shutter means are restored to the closed position and the apparatus is switched back to the READY state.

Method and apparatus for the turning on and off of a signal in optical

The method and apparatus for scanning for radiated energy employs a scanning mirror (1) pivoting azimuthally about a vertical scanning axis (2) and capable of being pivoted also about a pivotal axis (3) that makes an angle with the scanning axis. The mirror reflects the incident IR energy onto a vertically disposed field composed on n individual IR detector elements (22) having (n-1) spacings of equal magnitude. The horizontal motion of the mirror takes place in customary manner but the pivotal motion is smaller than the individual detector elements and their separations. Therefore, the same thermal image requires several pivotal processes and, hence, also several mutually parallel horizontal scanning motions, resulting in achieving greater resolution of the image.

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Dossenheim, Germany

Wolfgang Weigel