Ultra-wide field of view concentric scanning sensor system with a piece-wise focal plane array

Abstract

A compact, high numerical aperture, high resolution, ultra-wide field of view concentric scanning optical sensor. In a most general embodiment, the inventive optical arrangement ( ) includes an at least semi-spherical lens ( ) having a base; a reflective surface ( ) centered at a center of said base and parallel thereto; and an array ( ) of detectors dispose to receive electromagnetic energy received through said lens and reflected by said surface. In the illustrative embodiment, the semi-spherical lens is a ball lens ( ). The reflective surface is aspheric and designed to effect aberration correction. A mechanism ( ) is included for rotating the ball lens ( ) causing the system to scan. A dome lens ( ) is disposed over the ball lens and concentric therewith. Electromagnetic energy is received through the dome and ball lenses and reflected by the mirror to the detector array. A field lens assembly ( ) is disposed between the detectors and the mirror. The field lens assembly allows for the use of flat piece-wise sensor chip assemblies (SCAs). The use of flat SCAs allows the system to have the compact advantages of a concentric system without the need of expensive curved focal surface array.