Telescope cluster

Claim 2

Apparatus according to claim i, wherein said optical means comprises an adjustable mirror and a deflecting mirror, said composite optical structure being disposed between said adjustable mirror and said deflecting mirror in a common optical path.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said composite structure includes a pair of parallel plates mounted for rotation about said spin axis and adapted to transmit a non-nutated image at visible frequencies, said plates retaining therebetween said dichroic mirror which is 48 8,231 39 284/72 tilted with respect to said spin axis, said dichroic mirror being adapted to reflect infrared radiation of said predeterm frequency range so as to form a nutating image at said infrared detector.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim i, 2 or 3, wherein said telescopic arrangement comprises: a telescope having a field of view which is wider than the field of view of said common objective lens and whose optical axis is substantially parallel to the optical axis of said common objective lens, said telescope forming an image by transmitting visual frequency radiation; a first reticle positioned at the focal plane of said telescope; a second reticle positioned in the path of radiation transmitted by said dichroic mirror onto the focal plane of said common objective lens; relay optics optically coupled to said common objective lens and to said telescope; and a switching mirror optically intermittently coupled to said first and second reticles and enabling rapid switching of radiation between said common objective lens and said telescope.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said common objective lens also transmits radiation of a preselected laser frequency.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said optical means includes a second dichroic mirror which is positioned between the first dichroic mirror and said second reticle and is angled relative to received radiation for transmitting visual frequency radiation and reflecting infrared and laser frequency radiation into a folded path, and a first stop positioned in said folded path at the focal plane of said common objective lens. 48 8,231 39,284/72

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said second dichroic mirror is embedded in a multifaced prism. 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said optical means includes a third dichroic mirror which is disposed in said folded path between said second dichroic mirror and said field stop and is at an angle relative to the radiation directed along said folded path, for folding selected frequency radiation out of said folded path into a second folded path, and a second field stop in said second folded path at a face of said multifaced prism. 9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said optical means comprises a corner reflector optically coupled to said deflecting mirror, a second objective lens optically coupled to said corner reflector, and a mangin mirror optically coupled to said second objective lens and spinning during the operative mode of said apparatus. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein second objective lens is combined with a radiation sensor. 11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said radiation sensor is electrically connected to an error computer. 12. Apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein said optical means includes a boresight laser electromagnetically coupled to said second field stop. 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a laser sensor arrangement is electromagnetically coupled to the first field stop for receiving energy emanating from said boresight laser through said multifaced prism and determining the angle and range of incoming laser radiation. 14. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said optical means includes a fixed corner reflector optically coupling said common objective lens and said deflecting mirror. 48 8,231 39,284/72 Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical means includes a transparent block optically coupled to saic common objective lens, a folding mirror optically coupled tc said block, and a laser range finder optically coupled to said folding mirror. 16. Optical apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in any of the accompanying drawings. Dated this 25th day of October 1977 HUGHES AIRCRAFT COMPANY By their Patent Attorney: of GRIFFITH HASSEL FRAZER 4 8 8,2 31 39.284/72 48 8.231 39, 284/72 ON; fa to7 e0 CY 48 8231 39,2 84/72 9r) 48 8.231 09, 2 84 R NN 00 48 8,231 39,284/72 N C-C) N0 CL 0~ 1~ CD I.U 04D(Dl x~ I 48 8,231 39, 284 77n 48B .2 3 1 "'9,284 72 Fig. 8. 48 8231 too9, 2S4I72 Fig.9. 48 8.231 39,284/72 Fig. 48 8.231 39.,284/72 4 8 8.2 3 1