Abstract The invention disclosed here is a sensor comprised of a laser designator, aand block filter and a two-dimensional sensor that can "see" the target in one band and the designator in another band, thereby giving a single sensor dual band system--something not offered by any sensor/designator operating in the wavelength band intrinsically inherent to this sensor technology. The sensor is a two-dimensional starring array constructed from Schottky Barrier Diodes utilizing a platinum silicide sensing layer. This construct normally exhibits a spectral response from around 1 micron to around 6 microns. The sensor has been proposed as a passive thermal imager in the 3-5 micron band because of its responsivity (Quantum Efficiency) is maximum in the 3-5 micron band. Typically, transmission windows for these sensors are designed to block off the solar radiation from the visible out to the 3 micron region to prevent saturation of the sensor in the daytime. This invention proposes to remove the filter and replace it with a band block filter that cuts out the 2-3 micron solar radiation and leaves the 1-2 micron region transmissive, as well as the 3-5 micron atmospheric window.
A method of positioning a laser spot on a target comprising the steps of illuminating a laser spot on said target, using a detector to detect radiation returns of both said laser spot and a thermal image of said target, positioning said spot onto the thermal image of the target to a predetermined aim point, producing and maintaining the detection of a visual image of the thermal image of the target upon a video imaging device, and steering a laser designator so that said laser spot will be directed towards said aim point on said target, while using a band block "solar" filter between said target and said detector so as to block out radiation in the 2 to 3 micron band, using a Schottky Barrier Diode array as said detector to sense both the frequency of the radiation of said laser designator and the frequency of the thermal radiation of said target, and using said Schottky Diode for simultaneous dual band operation in the near- and mid- infrared range thereby providing simultaneous derivation of passive and active infrared signatures on said imaging device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
184 words
A method of positioning a laser spot on a target comprising the steps of illuminating a laser spot on said target, using a detector to detect radiation returns of both said laser spot and a thermal image of said target, positioning said spot onto the thermal image of the target to a predetermined aim point, producing and maintaining the detection of a visual image of the thermal image of the target upon a video imaging device, and steering a laser designator so that said laser spot will be directed towards said aim point on said target, while using a band block "solar" filter between said target and said detector so as to block out radiation in the 2 to 3 micron band, using a Schottky Barrier Diode array as said detector to sense both the frequency of the radiation of said laser designator and the frequency of the thermal radiation of said target, and using said Schottky Diode for simultaneous dual band operation in the near- and mid- infrared range thereby providing simultaneous derivation of passive and active infrared signatures on said imaging device.