US3858046A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Catadioptric beamsplitter system
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1973-12-26
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Granted: 1974-12-31
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Expires: 1993-12-26
Abstract
Abstract Optical systems especially suitable for tracking an object which emits infrared energy and directing a laser beam thereto are disclosed each including a lens and a first reflector for reflecting infrared energy to a first focal point and an interference filter being selectively reflective of laser energy and having a second focal point for directing laser energy to the target. The interference filter may be transmissive to infrared wavelengths of 3 to 5 microns and reflective to laser wavelengths of 10.6 microns.
Inventors
- 👤 R Cubalchini
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:11
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B17/00; G02B17/08; G02B17/0896; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/781; G02B17/0804; G02B17/0808; G02B17/0884; G02B27/00; G02B27/10; G02B27/1006; G02B27/14; G02B27/142; G02B27/148
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
An optical tracking system for tracking a target by a first wave and directing a second wave thereto, comprising: reflecting means having first and second planar reflecting surfaces, said reflecting means including a lens defining a wedge, said lens having a selected index of refraction for providing a predetermined refraction of a first infrared wave having a first wavelength passing therethrough, said first and second reflecting surfaces being disposed on opposite faces of said wedge lens, said first reflecting surface for reflecting said first infrared wave to infrared detector means, said first infrared wave being received from a first direction, said second reflecting surface being transmissive to said first infrared wave and being reflective to a second infrared wave having a second wavelength, said second reflecting surface for receiving said second infrared wave from a second direction and reflecting said second infrared wave along said first direction; infrared detector means for receiving said first infrared wave; and laser means for emitting said second infrared wave from said second direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
An optical tracking system for tracking a target by a first wave and directing a second wave thereto, comprising: reflecting means having first and second planar reflecting surfaces, said reflecting means including a lens defining a wedge, said lens having a selected index of refraction for providing a predetermined refraction of a first infrared wave having a first wavelength passing therethrough, said first and second reflecting surfaces being disposed on opposite faces of said wedge lens, said first reflecting surface for reflecting said first infrared wave to infrared detector means, said first infrared wave being received from a first direction, said second reflecting surface being transmissive to said first infrared wave and being reflective to a second infrared wave having a second wavelength, said second reflecting surface for receiving said second infrared wave from a second direction and reflecting said second infrared wave along said first direction; infrared detector means for receiving said first infrared wave; and laser means for emitting said second infrared wave from said second direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
169 words
An optical tracking system for tracking a target by a first wave and directing a second wave thereto, comprising: reflecting means having first and second planar reflecting surfaces, said reflecting means including a lens defining a wedge, said lens having a selected index of refraction for providing a predetermined refraction of a first infrared wave having a first wavelength passing therethrough, said first and second reflecting surfaces being disposed on opposite faces of said wedge lens, said first reflecting surface for reflecting said first infrared wave to infrared detector means, said first infrared wave being received from a first direction, said second reflecting surface being transmissive to said first infrared wave and being reflective to a second infrared wave having a second wavelength, said second reflecting surface for receiving said second infrared wave from a second direction and reflecting said second infrared wave along said first direction; infrared detector means for receiving said first infrared wave; and laser means for emitting said second infrared wave from said second direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
169 words
An optical tracking system for tracking a target by a first wave and directing a second wave thereto, comprising: reflecting means having first and second planar reflecting surfaces, said reflecting means including a lens defining a wedge, said lens having a selected index of refraction for providing a predetermined refraction of a first infrared wave having a first wavelength passing therethrough, said first and second reflecting surfaces being disposed on opposite faces of said wedge lens, said first reflecting surface for reflecting said first infrared wave to infrared detector means, said first infrared wave being received from a first direction, said second reflecting surface being transmissive to said first infrared wave and being reflective to a second infrared wave having a second wavelength, said second reflecting surface for receiving said second infrared wave from a second direction and reflecting said second infrared wave along said first direction; infrared detector means for receiving said first infrared wave; and laser means for emitting said second infrared wave from said second direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
161 words
An optical tracking system for tracking a target by a first wave and directing a second wave thereto, comprising: reflector means having first and second planar reflecting surfaces, said reflecting means including a lens defining a wedge, said lens having a selected index of refraction for providing a predetermined refraction of a second infrared wave having a second wavelength passing therethrough, said first and second reflecting surfaces being disposed on opposite faces of said wedge lens, said first reflecting surface for reflecting said first infrared wave having a first wavelength to infrared detector means, said first infrared wave being received from a first direction, said first reflecting surface being transmissive to said second infrared wave, said second reflecting surface for receiving said second infrared wave from a second direction and reflecting said second infrared wave along said first direcTion; infrared detector means for receiving said first infrared wave; and laser means for emitting said second infrared wave from said second direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
161 words
An optical tracking system for tracking a target by a first wave and directing a second wave thereto, comprising: reflector means having first and second planar reflecting surfaces, said reflecting means including a lens defining a wedge, said lens having a selected index of refraction for providing a predetermined refraction of a second infrared wave having a second wavelength passing therethrough, said first and second reflecting surfaces being disposed on opposite faces of said wedge lens, said first reflecting surface for reflecting said first infrared wave having a first wavelength to infrared detector means, said first infrared wave being received from a first direction, said first reflecting surface being transmissive to said second infrared wave, said second reflecting surface for receiving said second infrared wave from a second direction and reflecting said second infrared wave along said first direcTion; infrared detector means for receiving said first infrared wave; and laser means for emitting said second infrared wave from said second direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
185 words
An optical tracking system for receiving a first wave from a target and for transmitting a second wave thereto, comprising: primary reflector means having first and second reflecting surfaces with first and second focal lengths, respectively, said primary reflector means including a lens being of a material having a preselected index of refraction for providing a predetermined refraction for a first infrared wave passing therethrough, said infrared wave having a first wavelength, said lens being disposed between said first and second reflecting surfaces, said first reflecting surface for reflecting said first infrared wave to infrared detector means, said first infrared wave being received from a first direction, said second reflecting surface being transmissive to said first infrared wave and being reflective to a second infrared wave having a second wavelength, said second reflecting surface for receiving said second infrared wave from a secondary reflector and reflecting said second infrared wave along said first direction; secondary reflector means for reflecting said second infrared wave to said primary reflector; infrared detector means for receiving said first infrared wave; and laser means for emitting said second infrared wave.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
185 words
An optical tracking system for receiving a first wave from a target and for transmitting a second wave thereto, comprising: primary reflector means having first and second reflecting surfaces with first and second focal lengths, respectively, said primary reflector means including a lens being of a material having a preselected index of refraction for providing a predetermined refraction for a first infrared wave passing therethrough, said infrared wave having a first wavelength, said lens being disposed between said first and second reflecting surfaces, said first reflecting surface for reflecting said first infrared wave to infrared detector means, said first infrared wave being received from a first direction, said second reflecting surface being transmissive to said first infrared wave and being reflective to a second infrared wave having a second wavelength, said second reflecting surface for receiving said second infrared wave from a secondary reflector and reflecting said second infrared wave along said first direction; secondary reflector means for reflecting said second infrared wave to said primary reflector; infrared detector means for receiving said first infrared wave; and laser means for emitting said second infrared wave.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
212 words
An optical tracking system for tracking a target by a first wave having a first wavelength and directing thereto a second wave having a second wavelength comprising: primary reflector means having a first reflecting surface with a first focal length for reflecting a first infrared wave, said primary reflector means having a second reflecting surface with a second focal length for reflecting a second infrared wave, said first and second reflecting surfaces having a common optical axis, said primary reflector means having a lens with a selected index of refraction for providing a predetermined refraction of said first infrared wave passing therethrough, said first reflecting surface for reflecting said first infrared wave to infrared detector means, said first infrared wave being received along said common optical axis, said second reflecting surface being transmissive to said first infrared wave and being reflective to said second infrared wave, said second reflecting surface for receiving said second infrared wave from secondary reflector means and reflecting said second infrared wave along said common axis; secondary reflector means for receiving said second infrared wave from laser means and for reflecting said second infrared wave to said primary reflector means; infrared detector means for detecting said first infrared wave; and laser means for emitting said second infrared wave.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
212 words
An optical tracking system for tracking a target by a first wave having a first wavelength and directing thereto a second wave having a second wavelength comprising: primary reflector means having a first reflecting surface with a first focal length for reflecting a first infrared wave, said primary reflector means having a second reflecting surface with a second focal length for reflecting a second infrared wave, said first and second reflecting surfaces having a common optical axis, said primary reflector means having a lens with a selected index of refraction for providing a predetermined refraction of said first infrared wave passing therethrough, said first reflecting surface for reflecting said first infrared wave to infrared detector means, said first infrared wave being received along said common optical axis, said second reflecting surface being transmissive to said first infrared wave and being reflective to said second infrared wave, said second reflecting surface for receiving said second infrared wave from secondary reflector means and reflecting said second infrared wave along said common axis; secondary reflector means for receiving said second infrared wave from laser means and for reflecting said second infrared wave to said primary reflector means; infrared detector means for detecting said first infrared wave; and laser means for emitting said second infrared wave.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
204 words
An optical tracking system for tracking a target by a first wave having a first wavelength and directing thereto a second wave having a second wavelength comprising: primary reflector means having a first reflecting surface with a first focal length for reflecting a first infrared wave, said primary reflector means having a second reflecting surface with a second focal length for reflecting a second infrared wave, said first and second reflecting surfaces having a common optical axis, said primary reflector means having a lens with a selected index of refraction for providing a predetermined refraction of said second infrared wave passing therethrough, said first reflecting surface for receiving said first infrared wave being received along said common axis and reflecting said first infrared wave to infrared detector means, said first reflecting surface being transmissive to said second infrared wave, said second reflecting surface for receiving said second infrared wave from secondary reflector means and reflecting said second infrared wave along said common axis; secondary reflector means for receiving said second infrared wave from laser means and reflecting said second infrared wave to said primary reflector means; infrared detector means for detecting said first infrared wave; and laser means for emitting said second infrared wave.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
204 words
An optical tracking system for tracking a target by a first wave having a first wavelength and directing thereto a second wave having a second wavelength comprising: primary reflector means having a first reflecting surface with a first focal length for reflecting a first infrared wave, said primary reflector means having a second reflecting surface with a second focal length for reflecting a second infrared wave, said first and second reflecting surfaces having a common optical axis, said primary reflector means having a lens with a selected index of refraction for providing a predetermined refraction of said second infrared wave passing therethrough, said first reflecting surface for receiving said first infrared wave being received along said common axis and reflecting said first infrared wave to infrared detector means, said first reflecting surface being transmissive to said second infrared wave, said second reflecting surface for receiving said second infrared wave from secondary reflector means and reflecting said second infrared wave along said common axis; secondary reflector means for receiving said second infrared wave from laser means and reflecting said second infrared wave to said primary reflector means; infrared detector means for detecting said first infrared wave; and laser means for emitting said second infrared wave.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
192 words
An optical tracking system for tracking a target by a first wave having a first wavelength and directing thereto a second wave having a second wavelength comprising: primary reflector means for receiving a first infrared wave from said target and reflecting said first infrared wave to secondary reflector means, said primary reflector for receiving a second infrared wave from said secondary reflector means and reflecting said second infrared wave to said target; secondary reflector means having a first reflecting surface with a first focal length for receiving said first infrared wave from said primary reflector and reflecting said first infrared wave to infrared detector means, said secondary reflector means having a second reflecting surface with a second focal length for receiving said second infrared wave from laser means and reflecting said second infrared wave to said primary reflector means, said first reflecting surface being transmissive to said second infrared wave, said secondary reflector having a lens with a selected index of refraction for providing a predetermined refraction of said second infrared wave passing therethrough; infrared detector means for detecting said first infrared wave; and laser means for emitting said second infrared wave.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
192 words
An optical tracking system for tracking a target by a first wave having a first wavelength and directing thereto a second wave having a second wavelength comprising: primary reflector means for receiving a first infrared wave from said target and reflecting said first infrared wave to secondary reflector means, said primary reflector for receiving a second infrared wave from said secondary reflector means and reflecting said second infrared wave to said target; secondary reflector means having a first reflecting surface with a first focal length for receiving said first infrared wave from said primary reflector and reflecting said first infrared wave to infrared detector means, said secondary reflector means having a second reflecting surface with a second focal length for receiving said second infrared wave from laser means and reflecting said second infrared wave to said primary reflector means, said first reflecting surface being transmissive to said second infrared wave, said secondary reflector having a lens with a selected index of refraction for providing a predetermined refraction of said second infrared wave passing therethrough; infrared detector means for detecting said first infrared wave; and laser means for emitting said second infrared wave.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |