Scanning lens system

Claim 2

An optical system for scanning a field of view onto a focal plane, wherein a relatively narrow portion of the field of view is imaged along an optical axis onto the focal plane comprising means for deflecting the portion of the field of view in a substantially straignt line across the focal plane, whereby the imaged portion of the field of view has a tendency to rotate as it is deflected in the straight line across the focal plane, means synchronized with the deflection for removing the tendency for the field of view to rotate, said last named means including: a Rantsch derotator having an optical axis coincident with the optical axis of the means for imaging, and a lens system having an optical axis coincident with the optical axis of the derotator for focusing the image projected from the derotator onto the focal plane.

Claim 3

The system of claim 5 wherein the imaged portion is relatively short and the means for deflecting includes means for sequentially projecting a series of parallel straight lines onto the focal plane, said lines being displaced from each other in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction of line scan.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1 wherein the lens system includes a Petzval lens device having spaced lenses with a common optical axis coincident with the optical axis of the Rantsch derotator.

Claim 5

The system of claim 3 wherein the derotator is positioned between the spaced lenses.

Claim 6

The system of claim 1 wherein a line detector is located in the focal plane.

Claim 7

The system of claim 1 wherein the lens system includes a first, converging lens positioned in front of the Rantsch derotator for defining the angular extent of point sources coupled to the optical system, a second lens positioned behind the Rantsch derotator for focusing images projected from the derotator onto the focal plane, said first and second lens having optical axes coincident with the optical axis of the derotator.

Claim 8

The system of claim 1 wherein the lens system includes a lens for directing a converging beam from the field of view onto the derotator.

Claim 9

The system of claim 1 wherein the imaged portion is relatively short and the means for deflecting includes means for sequentially projecting a series of parallel straight lines onto the focal plane, said lines being displaced from each other in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction of line scan.

Claim 10

An optical system for scanning a field of view onto a focal plane wherein a relatively narrow portion of the field of view is imaged along an optical axis onto the focal plane comprising means for deflecting the portion of the field of view in a substantially straight line across the focal plane, whereby the imaged portion of the field of view has a tendency to rotate as it is deflected in the straight line across the focal plane, means synchronized with the deflection for removing the tendency of the field of view to rotate, said last named means including: a pair of beam reflectors having axes coincident with each other and the optical axes of the means for imaging, a first of said reflectors having: a first internal reflecting surface sloping at a predetermined angle in a first direction with respect to the axis of the reflectors, a second internal reflecting surface parallel to the axis of the reflectors, said first surface being transparent to the image reflected from the second surface; the second reflector having: a third internal reflecting surface sloping at the predetermined angle in a second direction with respect to the axis of the reflectors, the first and second directions being opposite from each other, whereby an image projected through the first surface is reflected by the third surface and is projected from it parallel to the axis of the reflection; and a lens system having an optical axis coincident with the optical axis of the reflectors for focusing the image projected from the reflectors onto the focal plane.

Claim 11

An optical system for scanning a field of view onto a focal plane wherein a relatively narrow portion of the field of view is imaged along an optical axis onto the focal plane comprising means for deflecting the portion of the field of view in a substantially straight line across the focal plane, whereby the imaged portion of the field of view has a tendency to rotate as it is deflected in the straight line across the focal plane, means synchronized with the deflection for removing the tendency of the field of view to rotate, said last named means including: a pair of beam reflectors having axes coincident with each other and the optical axes of the means for imaging, a first of said reflectors having: a first internal reflecting surface sloping at a predetermined angle in a first direction with respect to the axis of the reflectors, a second internal reflecting surface parallel to the axis of the reflectors, said first surface being transparent to the image reflected from the second surface; the second reflector having: a third internal reflecting surface sloping at the predetermined angle in a second direction with respect to the axis of the reflectors, the first and second directions being opposite from each other, whereby an image projected through the first surface is reflected by the third surface and is projected from it parallel to the axis of the reflection; and a lens system having an optical axis coincident with the optical axis of the reflectors for focusing the image projected from the reflectors onto the focal plane.

Claim 12

The system of claim 9 wherein the lens system includes a first, converging lens positioned in front of the beam reflectors for defining the angular extent of point sources coupled to the optical system, a second lens positioned behind the beam reflectors for focusing images projected from the derotator onto the focal plane, said first and second lens having optical axes coincident with the optical axis of the reflector.

Claim 13

The system of claim 9 wherein the imaged portion is relatively short and the means for deflecting includes means for sequentially projecting a series of parallel straight lines onto the focal plane, said lines being displaced from each other in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction of line scan.

Claim 14

The system of claim 9 wherein the lens system includes Petzval lens device having spaced lenses with a common optical axis coincident with the optical axis of the beam reflectors.

Claim 15

The system of claim 12 wherein the pair of reflectors is positioned between the spaced lenses.

Claim 16

The system of claim 9 wherein a line detector is located in the focal plane.