The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 19, 2012
Filed:
Oct. 14, 2008
David M. Kane, Tucson, AZ (US);
Kelly Hillman, Tucson, AZ (US);
Christopher Hornberg, Tucson, AZ (US);
John Hunt, Tucson, AZ (US);
Andrew E. Paul, Tucson, AZ (US);
David M. Kane, Tucson, AZ (US);
Kelly Hillman, Tucson, AZ (US);
Christopher Hornberg, Tucson, AZ (US);
John Hunt, Tucson, AZ (US);
Andrew E. Paul, Tucson, AZ (US);
Areté Associates, Northridge, CA (US);
Abstract
Method/system locate external articles using source, detector (PSD), entrance aperture, and magnifying/reducing afocal element—expanding FOR>90°, or refining precision. Between (1) source or detector and (2) aperture, at least one plural-axis-rotatable mirror addresses source/detector throughout FOR. ½- to 15-centimeter mirror enables ˜25 to ˜45 μradian beam divergence. Aperture, afocal element, and mirror(s) define source-detector path. Mirror(s) rotate in refractory- (or air/magnetic-) bearing mount; or mirror array. Auxiliary optics illuminate mirror back, monitoring return to measure (null-balance feedback) angle. To optimize imaging, auxiliary radiation propagates via splitters toward array (paralleling measurement paths), then focusing on imaging detector. Focal quality is developed as a PSF, optimized vs. angle; stored results later recover optima. Mirror drive uses magnet(s) on mirror(s). 'Piston' motion yields in-phase wavefronts, so array dimensions set diffraction limit. Also: destructive reply; scaling optimizes acceleration vs. thickness; passive systems.