Ring array imaging system

Claim 2

A ring array imaging system, comprising: an annular array of image detecting elements, said annular array being substantially axisymmetric about a longitudinal axis; and means for projecting onto the entire annualr array of image detecting elements simultaneously a complete image focused onto an imaginary focal plane positioned proximate said longitudinal axis.

Claim 3

The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said annular array of image detecting elements is disposed on a substantially flat disc.

Claim 4

The imaging system of claim 2, wherein said disc includes an image-free area radially inward of said image detecting element array and said projecting means projects said image onto said disc only radially outside said image-free area.

Claim 5

The imaging system of claim 3, further comprising at least one preamplifier mounted on said disc in said image-free area, said preamplifier being operative with said annular array.

Claim 6

The imaging system of claim 3, further comprising at least one multiplexer mounted on said disc in said image-free area, said multiplexer being operative with said annular array.

Claim 7

The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said annular array of image detecting elements is disposed on a conical surface axisymmetric with said longitudinal axis.

Claim 8

The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said image detecting elements convert incident infrared radiation into electrical signals.

Claim 9

The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said projecting means includes a primary reflector cone positioned at said longitudinal axis proximate said imaginary focal plane, said primary reflector cone having a substantially conical primary reflecting surface reflecting said focused image radially outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis.

Claim 10

The imaging system of claim 8, wherein said primary reflector cone is a right circular cone having an axis coincident with said longitudinal axis.

Claim 11

The imaging system of claim 8, wherein said primary reflecting surface of said primary relfector cone includes a plurality of circumferentially disposed primary facets.

Claim 12

The imaging system of claim 10, wherein each of said primary facets is substantially planar.

Claim 13

The imaging system of claim 10, wherein each of said primary facets is concave.

Claim 14

The imaging system of claim 11, wherein each of said primary facets is divided into a plurality of longitudinally disposed primary facet segments.

Claim 15

The imaging system of claim 8, wherein said annualr array of image detecting elements is positioned radially outwardly of said primary reflector cone with respect to said longitudinal axis and is disposed on a conical surface axisymmetric with said longitudinal axis.

Claim 16

The imaging system of claim 8, wherein: said annular array of image detecting elements is disposed on a substantially flat disc; and said projecting means further includes a secondary reflector positioned radially outwardly of said primary reflector cone with respect to said longitudinal axis and having a substantially conical secondary reflecting surface relfecting said focused image from said primary reflector cone onto said annular array of image detecting elements.

Claim 17

A ring array camera, comprising: means for focusing an image onto an imaginary focal plane; an annular array of image detecting elements disposed on a substantially flat disc, said annular array being substantially axisymmetric about a longitudinal axis passing through said imaginary focal plane, said annular array and said focusing means being on longitudinally opposite sides of said imaginary focal plane; a primary reflector cone positioned at said longitudinal axis proximate said imaginary focal plane, said primary reflector cone having a substantially conical primary reflecting surface reflecting said focused image radially outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis; and a secondary reflector positioned radially outwardly of said primary reflector cone with respect to said longitudinal axis and having a substantially conical secondary reflecting surface reflecting said focused image from said primary reflector cone onto said annular array of image detecting elements.

Claim 18

A ring array camera, comprising: means for focusing an image onto an imaginary focal plane; an annular array of image detecting elements disposed on a substantially flat disc, said annular array being substantially axisymmetric about a longitudinal axis passing through said imaginary focal plane, said annular array and said focusing means being on longitudinally opposite sides of said imaginary focal plane; a primary reflector cone positioned at said longitudinal axis proximate said imaginary focal plane, said primary reflector cone having a substantially conical primary reflecting surface reflecting said focused image radially outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis; and a secondary reflector positioned radially outwardly of said primary reflector cone with respect to said longitudinal axis and having a substantially conical secondary reflecting surface reflecting said focused image from said primary reflector cone onto said annular array of image detecting elements.

Claim 19

The camera of claim 16, wherein said focusing means includes a catoptric zoom telescope.

Claim 20

The camera of claim 16, wherein each of said primary and secondary reflecting surfaces is substantially axisymmetric with respect to said longitudinal axis and forms an angle of about 45° with respect to said longitudinal axis.

Claim 21

A ring array imaging system, comprising: annular array of image detecting elements, said annular array being substantially axisymmetric about a longitudinal axis; means for projecting onto said annular array of image detecting elements an image focused onto an imaginary focal plane positioned proximate said longitudinal axis; and means for scanning said focused image radially inwardly and outwardly across said annular array of detecting elements.

Claim 22

A ring array imaging system, comprising: annular array of image detecting elements, said annular array being substantially axisymmetric about a longitudinal axis; means for projecting onto said annular array of image detecting elements an image focused onto an imaginary focal plane positioned proximate said longitudinal axis; and means for scanning said focused image radially inwardly and outwardly across said annular array of detecting elements.

Claim 23

The imaging system of claim 19, wherein said annular array of image detecting elements is disposed on a substantially flat disc.

Claim 24

The imaging system of claim 20, wherein said disc includes an image-free area radially inward of said image detecting element array and said projecting means projects said image onto said disc only radially outside said image-free area.

Claim 25

The imaging system of claim 21, further comprising at least one preamplifier mounted on said disc in said image-free area, said preamplifier being operative with said annular array.

Claim 26

The imaging system of claim 21, further comprising at least one multiplexer mounted on said disc in said image-free area, said multiplexer being operative with said annular array.

Claim 27

The imaging system of claim 19, wherein said annular array of image detecting elements are disposed on a conical surface axisymmetric with said longitudinal axis.

Claim 28

The imaging system of claim 19, wherein said annaular array of image-detecting elements includes a single linear array of image-detecting elements arranged in a circle.

Claim 29

The imaging system of claim 25, wherein said linear array converts incident infrared radiation into electrical signals.

Claim 30

The imaging system of claim 19, wherein said annular array of image detecting elements includes a plurality of concentric circuilar arrays of image detecting elements, each of said circular arrays converting radiation of a selected wavelength range into electrical signals.

Claim 31

The imaging system of claim 19, wherein said projecting means includes a primary reflector cone positioned at said longitudinal axis proximate said imaginary focal plane, said primary reflector cone having a substantially conical primary reflecting surface reflecting said focused image radially outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis.

Claim 32

The imaging system of claim 28, wherein said scanning means includes a linear actuator connected to said primary reflector cone.

Claim 33

A ring array camera, comprising: means for focusing an image onto an imaginary focal plane; an annular array of image detecting elements disposed on a substantially flat disc, said annular array being substantially axisymmetric about a longitudinal axis passing through said imaginary focal plane, said annular array and said focusing means being on longitudinally opposite sides of said imaginary focal plane; a primary reflector cone positioned at said longitudinal axis proximate said imaginary focal plane, said primary reflector cone having a substantially conical primary reflecting surface reflecting said focused image radially outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis; a secondary reflector positioned radially outwardly of said primary reflector cone with respect to said longitudinal axis and having a substantially conical secondary reflecting surface reflecting said focused image from said primary reflector cone onto said annular array of image detecting elements; and a linear actuator connected to said primary reflector cone for reciprocating said primary reflector cone along said longitudinal axis to scan said focused image radially inwardly and outwardly across said annular array of image detecting elements.

Claim 34

A ring array camera, comprising: means for focusing an image onto an imaginary focal plane; an annular array of image detecting elements disposed on a substantially flat disc, said annular array being substantially axisymmetric about a longitudinal axis passing through said imaginary focal plane, said annular array and said focusing means being on longitudinally opposite sides of said imaginary focal plane; a primary reflector cone positioned at said longitudinal axis proximate said imaginary focal plane, said primary reflector cone having a substantially conical primary reflecting surface reflecting said focused image radially outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis; a secondary reflector positioned radially outwardly of said primary reflector cone with respect to said longitudinal axis and having a substantially conical secondary reflecting surface reflecting said focused image from said primary reflector cone onto said annular array of image detecting elements; and a linear actuator connected to said primary reflector cone for reciprocating said primary reflector cone along said longitudinal axis to scan said focused image radially inwardly and outwardly across said annular array of image detecting elements.