High resolution wide field scan system

Claim 2

An optical system comprising: a. a spherical primary mirror having an aperture therein, b. an aspheric secondary mirror disposed to intercept rays from said primary mirror, and c. means for rotating said aspheric secondary mirror about the optical axis of said primary mirror, d. an entrance pupil located at the center of curvature of said primary mirror, whereby rays entering the system through said pupil are reflected by said primary mirror to said aspheric secondary mirror and thence through said aperture to focus at a point behind said primary mirror.

Claim 3

An optical system comprising: a. a spherical primary mirror having an aperture therein, b. an aspheric secondary mirror disposed to intercept rays from said primary mirror, and c. means for rotating said aspheric secondary mirror about the optical axis of said primary mirror, d. an entrance pupil located at the center of curvature of said primary mirror, whereby rays entering the system through said pupil are reflected by said primary mirror to said aspheric secondary mirror and thence through said aperture to focus at a point behind said primary mirror.

Claim 4

An optical system comprising: a. a spherical primary mirror having an aperture therein, b. an aspheric secondary mirror disposed to intercept rays from said primary mirror, and c. means for rotating said aspheric secondary mirror about the optical axis of said primary mirror, d. an entrance pupil located at the center of curvature of said primary mirror, whereby rays entering the system through said pupil are reflected by said primary mirror to said aspheric secondary mirror and thence through said aperture to focus at a point behind said primary mirror.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1 wherein said aperture is placed at the center of said primary mirror.

Claim 6

An optical system comprising: a. a spherical primary mirror having an aperture therein, b. an entrance pupil located at the center of curvature of said primary mirror, c. a rotatable shaft located within the system between said primary mirror and said entrance pupil, the axis of which extends through the center of said aperture in said primary mirror and the center of said entrance pupil, d. at least one arm extending radially from Said shaft, e. at least one aspheric secondary mirror attached to said at least one arm and disposed so as to intercept rays from said primary mirror, and f. means for directing rays, intercepted by said aspheric mirror and reflected thereby, through said aperture in said primary mirror, whereby rays entering the system through said pupil are reflected by said primary mirror to said at least one aspheric mirror and thence via said means for directing through said aperture to focus at a point behind said primary mirror and whereby upon rotating said shaft, said system effects a wide field of view.

Claim 7

An optical system comprising: a. a spherical primary mirror having an aperture therein, b. an entrance pupil located at the center of curvature of said primary mirror, c. a rotatable shaft located within the system between said primary mirror and said entrance pupil, the axis of which extends through the center of said aperture in said primary mirror and the center of said entrance pupil, d. at least one arm extending radially from Said shaft, e. at least one aspheric secondary mirror attached to said at least one arm and disposed so as to intercept rays from said primary mirror, and f. means for directing rays, intercepted by said aspheric mirror and reflected thereby, through said aperture in said primary mirror, whereby rays entering the system through said pupil are reflected by said primary mirror to said at least one aspheric mirror and thence via said means for directing through said aperture to focus at a point behind said primary mirror and whereby upon rotating said shaft, said system effects a wide field of view.

Claim 8

The system of claim 3 wherein said aperture is placed at the center of said primary mirror.

Claim 9

The system of claim 3 wherein said means for directing rays comprises: a. an arm extending radially from said shaft, b. a first plane mirror affixed to the outer end of said arm and so disposed relative to said aspheric mirror to receive rays reflected therefrom, c. a second plane mirror attached to said shaft and disposed relative to said first plane mirror so as to receive rays reflected from said first plane mirror and redirect said rays through said aperture.

Claim 10

The system of claim 3 including a shutter mounted within said system to limit the 360* scan of the system to a scanned arc of less than 360*.

Claim 11

The system of claim 6 wherein said shutter limits said scanned arc to 120*.

Claim 12

The system of claim 6 wherein said shutter is mounted between the back of said primary mirror and the position of an information sensor located external to said system.

Claim 13

An optical system comprising: a. a spherical primary mirror having an aperture therein, b. an entrance pupil located at the center of curvature of said primary mirror, c. a rotatable shaft located within the system between said primary mirror and said entrance pupil, the axis of which extends through the center of said aperture in said primary mirror and the center of said entrance pupil, d. a plurality of arms extending radially from said shaft, e. a plurality of aspheric secondary mirrors, each attached to one of said plurality of arms and disposed so as to intercept rays from said primary mirror, and f. means for directing rays, intercepted by said aspheric mirrors and reflected thereby, through said aperture in said primary mirror; whereby rays entering the system through said pupil are reflected by said primary mirror to one of said aspheric mirrors and thence via said means for directing through said aperture to a focus at a point behind said primary mirror whereby upon rotation of said shaft, a wide field of view is effected.

Claim 14

An optical system comprising: a. a spherical primary mirror having an aperture therein, b. an entrance pupil located at the center of curvature of said primary mirror, c. a rotatable shaft located within the system between said primary mirror and said entrance pupil, the axis of which extends through the center of said aperture in said primary mirror and the center of said entrance pupil, d. a plurality of arms extending radially from said shaft, e. a plurality of aspheric secondary mirrors, each attached to one of said plurality of arms and disposed so as to intercept rays from said primary mirror, and f. means for directing rays, intercepted by said aspheric mirrors and reflected thereby, through said aperture in said primary mirror; whereby rays entering the system through said pupil are reflected by said primary mirror to one of said aspheric mirrors and thence via said means for directing through said aperture to a focus at a point behind said primary mirror whereby upon rotation of said shaft, a wide field of view is effected.

Claim 15

The system of claim 9 wherein said aperture is placed at the center of said primary mirror.

Claim 16

The system of claim 9 wherein said means for directing rays comprises: a. a plurality of arms extending radially from said shaft, said plurality being equal in number to said plurality of aspheric mirrors, b. a plurality of plane mirrors, each connected to the outer end of said plurality of arms and so disposed relative to said aspheric mirrors to receive rays reflected therefrom, c. a multi-faceted mirror aligned with and attached to said shaft, said multiple faces being equal in number to said plurality of plane mirrors and disposed relative to said plane mirrors so as to receive rays reflected therefrom and to redirect and focus the light behind said aperture.

Claim 17

The system of claim 9 including a shutter mounted within said system to limit the 360* scan of the system to a scanned arc of less than 360*.

Claim 18

The system of claim 12 wherein said scanned arc is limited to 120* by said shutter and said aspheric mirrors are on 120* centers around said shaft.

Claim 19

The system of claim 12 wherein said shutter is located between the back of said primary mirror and the position of an information sensor located external to said system.

Claim 20

The systEm of claim 9 wherein said plurality of arms and said plurality of aspheric mirrors attached thereto are equally spaced around said shaft.