Line scanning system

Claim 2

A ground mapping system comprising: transmitter means for scanning a target area with a laser beam; receiver means for detecting light reflected from said target area being scanned, said receiver means including a lineal focal surface; optical means for forming images of the scanned target area along said lineal focal surface, said optical means including a spherical corrector lens, a spherical primary mirror oriented in concentric juxtaposition to said corrector lens, and a secondary mirror mounted on the surface of said corrector lens adjacent to said spherical primary mirror; and means for electronically scanning said lineal focal surface including image dissecting tube means for generating signals representative of the intensity of sAid images formed along said lineal focal surface, and converter means for converting the geometrical configuration of said images formed along said lineal focal surface and for applying the converted images to said image dissecting tube means; and recorder means for producing a record of the light reflected from said target area.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein said converter means comprises a plurality of fiber optic bundles wherein a first end of said converter means has a first transverse shape and a second end has a second transverse shape.

Claim 4

A ground mapping system comprising: a transmitter including laser means for providing a beam of coherent light and means for causing said beam of coherent light to scan across a target area under observation; a receiver including optical means for focusing light reflected from said target area along a curved focal surface thereby providing images of the scanned target area along said curved focal surface, said optical means including a spherical corrector lens having a concave surface and a convex surface, a spherical primary mirror oriented in concentric juxtaposition to said convex surface of said corrector lens, a secondary mirror supported by the convex surface of said corrector lens, and aperture stop means for controlling the quantity of reflected light applied to said corrector lens whereby said aperture stop means is oriented at the center of curvature of said corrector lens; and means for electronically scanning said curved focal surface and for producing signals representative of said images; and recorder means for producing a record representative of said images formed along said curved focal surface.

Claim 5

A ground mapping system comprising: a transmitter including laser means for providing a beam of coherent light and means for causing said beam of coherent light to scan across a target area under observation; a receiver including optical means for focusing light reflected from said target area along a curved focal surface thereby providing images of the scanned target area along said curved focal surface, said optical means including a spherical corrector lens having a concave surface and a convex surface, a spherical primary mirror oriented in concentric juxtaposition to said convex surface of said corrector lens, a secondary mirror supported by the convex surface of said corrector lens, and aperture stop means for controlling the quantity of reflected light applied to said corrector lens whereby said aperture stop means is oriented at the center of curvature of said corrector lens; and means for electronically scanning said curved focal surface and for producing signals representative of said images; and recorder means for producing a record representative of said images formed along said curved focal surface.

Claim 6

The system of claim 3 wherein said means for electronically scanning said curved focal surface includes: an image dissecting tube means for generating video signals representative of the intensity of images applied thereto; and converter means for altering the geometrical form of said images formed along said curved focal surface and for applying the altered images to said image dissecting tube means.

Claim 7

The system of claim 4 wherein said image dissecting tube means comprises: a faceplate having an interior surface; photocathode means deposited on said interior surface of said faceplate for emitting photoelectrons upon the incidence of photons applied to said faceplate; electron multiplier means comprising an aperture and a plurality of stages for amplifying the effect of photoelectrons directed through said aperture; and accelerating means for accelerating said photoelectrons toward said aperture of said electron multiplier.

Claim 8

The system of claim 5 wherein said converter means comprises a plurality of fiber optic bundles which are bonded together at their ends wherein a first end of said converter means has a transverse lineal shape and a second end is formed to have a transverse nonlinear shape said second end being oriented in operational adjacency to said image dissecting tube means.

Claim 9

In a system including a transmitter having means for providing a beam of electromagnetic energy and means for scanning a target area under observation with said beam of electromagnetic energy thereby providing coverage of said target area, receiving means for receiving portions of said electromagnetic energy reflected from said target area, and recorder means for providing a record of the electromagnetic energy received by said receiver means, said receiver comprising: optical means for forming images of said reflected electromagnetic energy along a focal surface, said optical means including a corrector lens having a concave surface and a convex surface, a spherical primary mirror oriented in concentric juxtaposition with the convex surface of said lens, a secondary mirror deposited on the convex surface of said corrector lens and having the configuration of a narrow strip, and aperture stop means for controlling the quantity of reflected electromagnetic eNergy applied to said lens wherein said aperture stop means is oriented at the center of curvature of said corrector lens; and means for electronically scanning said focal surface and for producing electrical signals representative of the characteristics of said images formed along said focal surface, and said means for electronically scanning including an image dissector tube and converter means for converting the geometrical form of said images formed at said focal surface and for applying the converted images to said image dissector tube.

Claim 10

In a system including a transmitter having means for providing a beam of electromagnetic energy and means for scanning a target area under observation with said beam of electromagnetic energy thereby providing coverage of said target area, receiving means for receiving portions of said electromagnetic energy reflected from said target area, and recorder means for providing a record of the electromagnetic energy received by said receiver means, said receiver comprising: optical means for forming images of said reflected electromagnetic energy along a focal surface, said optical means including a corrector lens having a concave surface and a convex surface, a spherical primary mirror oriented in concentric juxtaposition with the convex surface of said lens, a secondary mirror deposited on the convex surface of said corrector lens and having the configuration of a narrow strip, and aperture stop means for controlling the quantity of reflected electromagnetic eNergy applied to said lens wherein said aperture stop means is oriented at the center of curvature of said corrector lens; and means for electronically scanning said focal surface and for producing electrical signals representative of the characteristics of said images formed along said focal surface, and said means for electronically scanning including an image dissector tube and converter means for converting the geometrical form of said images formed at said focal surface and for applying the converted images to said image dissector tube.

Claim 11

The system of claim 7 wherein said converter means comprises: a plurality of fiber optic bundles arranged in a coherent configuration and bonded together at the ends whereby a first end of said converter means has a transverse lineal shape and a second end has a transverse circular shape, said second end being physically oriented in operational abutment with said image dissecting means.

Claim 12

The system of claim 8 wherein said electromagnetic energy is in the form of light.

Claim 13

The system of claim 9 wherein said image dissecting tube means comprises: a faceplate adapted to have exterior and interior surfaces; photocathode means deposited on the interior surface of said faceplate for emitting photoelectrons upon the application of said converted images to said faceplate; electron multiplier means comprising an aperture and a plurality of stages for providing amplification of the effect of photoelectrons directed through said aperture; and a plurality of accelerating means for accelerating said photoelectrons toward said aperture.