US5149970A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual-band optoelectronic imaging apparatus including "venetian blind" dichroic plate arrangement
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1991-09-26
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Granted: 1992-09-22
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Expires: 2011-09-26
Abstract
Abstract A "Venetian-blind" assembly of dichroic plates (36) is disposed in front of the entrance aperture (26a) of a Cassegrain-type telescope (26) which constitutes the optical focussing assembly in a tracking system for a guided missile (10) or the like. The plates (36) transmit electromagnetic radiation in a first optical wavelength band such as visible light, and reflect radiation in a second wavelength band such as infrared radiation. The plates (36) are inclined at progressively larger angles relative to the optical axis (22) of the telescope (26) such that the infrared radiation is reflected from a front surface (36a) of one plate (36) and subsequently from a rear surface (36a) of an adjacent plate (36) into the telescope (26) at a predetermined angle to the transmitted visible radiation. The predetermined angle is selected such that the telescope (26) forms separate, laterally displaced optical images (46,50) corresponding to the visible and infrared radiation respectively on separate sections (34a,34b) of a focal plane photodetector array (34). Optical filters (54,52) which pass only the visible and infrared radiation therethrough respectively are disposed in front of the respective sections (34a,34b) of the photodetector array (34) to eleiminate optical crosstalk between the two images (46,50).
Inventors
- 👤 Colin G. Whitney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/28; G01J3/30; G01J3/36; F; F41; F41G; F41G7/00; F41G7/20; F41G7/22; F41G7/2253; F41G7/2273; F41G7/2293; G01J3/02; G01J3/0205; G01J3/0208; G01J3/021; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/12; G02B5/00; G02B5/005; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/20; H04N25/00; H04N25/10; H04N25/11; H04N25/13; H04N25/131
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A dual-band optical imaging apparatus for producing first and second optical images of a scene including first and second electromagnetic radiation in first and second optical wavelength bands respectively received from the scene, comprising: an assembly of inclined dichroic plates which transmit the first radiation therethrough in a first direction and reflect the second radiation therefrom in a second direction which is deviated from the first direction by a predetermined angle; and optical means for focussing the transmitted first radiation and reflected second radiation at a focal plane to produce the first and second optical images respectively; said predetermined angle being selected such that the first and second optical images are laterally displaced from each other by a predetermined distance in the focal plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A dual-band optical imaging apparatus for producing first and second optical images of a scene including first and second electromagnetic radiation in first and second optical wavelength bands respectively received from the scene, comprising: an assembly of inclined dichroic plates which transmit the first radiation therethrough in a first direction and reflect the second radiation therefrom in a second direction which is deviated from the first direction by a predetermined angle; and optical means for focussing the transmitted first radiation and reflected second radiation at a focal plane to produce the first and second optical images respectively; said predetermined angle being selected such that the first and second optical images are laterally displaced from each other by a predetermined distance in the focal plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
142 words
An imaging apparatus as in claim 1, in which: the first and second radiation is incident on the plates along a first axis; the plates are spaced from each other along a second axis which perpendicularly intersects the first axis, and extend perpendicular to a plane defined by the first and second axes; each plate is inclined relative to the first axis such as to have a first surface which faces the scene and a second surface which faces the focal plane; each two adjacent plates constitute a pair of first and second plates such that the first surface of the first plate faces the second surface of the second plate; and each pair of plates reflects the second radiation from the first surface of the first plate and subsequently from the second surface of the second plate in the second direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
102 words
An imaging apparatus as in claim 2, in which: the first and second surfaces of each plate are parallel to each other; the plates include an end plate having a second surface which does not face any of the other plates; the end plate is inclined relative to the first axis by a second predetermined angle; and each respective plate other than the end plate is inclined relative to the first axis by an angle which is one-half said predetermined angle greater than the angle of inclination of the plate adjacent to said respective plate in the direction of the end plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An imaging apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising optoelectronic sensor means disposed in the focal plane for producing electrical signals corresponding to the first and second optical images.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An imaging apparatus as in claim 4, in which the sensor means comprises an optoelectronic focal plane photodetector array.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
99 words
An imaging apparatus as in claim 4, in which: the sensor means has a first section on which the first optical image is incident and a second section on which the second optical image is incident; and the imaging apparatus further comprises: first optical filter means disposed between the optical means and the first section of the sensor means for transmitting the first radiation therethrough and blocking the second radiation; and second optical filter means disposed between the optical means and the second section of the sensor means for transmitting the second radiation therethrough and blocking the first radiation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An imaging apparatus as in claim 1, in which the optical means is disposed between the plates and the focal plane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
An imaging apparatus as in claim 7, in which: the optical means has an entrance aperture; and the plates are disposed in a collimated image area of the optical means located adjacent to the entrance aperture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
An imaging apparatus as in claim 7, in which the optical means comprises a Cassegrain-type telescope.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An imaging apparatus as in claim 1, in which the plates are disposed in a collimated image area of the optical means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
An imaging apparatus as in claim 1, in which: the optical means has a predetermined angular field-of-view; and said predetermined angle is approximately one-half said field-of-view.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a guided missile, a tracking system including a dual-band optical imaging apparatus for producing first and second optical images of a target including first and second electromagnetic radiation in first and second optical wavelength bands respectively received from the target, comprising: an assembly of inclined dichroic plates which transmit the first radiation therethrough in a first direction and reflect the second radiation therefrom in a second direction which is deviated from the first direction by a predetermined angle; and optical means for focussing the transmitted first radiation and reflected second radiation at a focal plane to produce the first and second optical images respectively; said predetermined angle being selected such that the first and second optical images are laterally displaced from each other by a predetermined distance in the focal plane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a guided missile, a tracking system including a dual-band optical imaging apparatus for producing first and second optical images of a target including first and second electromagnetic radiation in first and second optical wavelength bands respectively received from the target, comprising: an assembly of inclined dichroic plates which transmit the first radiation therethrough in a first direction and reflect the second radiation therefrom in a second direction which is deviated from the first direction by a predetermined angle; and optical means for focussing the transmitted first radiation and reflected second radiation at a focal plane to produce the first and second optical images respectively; said predetermined angle being selected such that the first and second optical images are laterally displaced from each other by a predetermined distance in the focal plane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
142 words
A guided missile as in claim 12, in which: the first and second radiation is incident on the plates along a first axis; the plates are spaced from each other along a second axis which perpendicularly intersects the first axis, and extend perpendicular to a plane defined by the first and second axes; each plate is inclined relative to the first axis such as to have a first surface which faces the target and a second surface which faces the focal plane; each two adjacent plates constitute a pair of first and second plates such that the first surface of the first plate faces the second surface of the second plate; and each pair of plates reflects the second radiation from the first surface of the first plate and subsequently from the second surface of the second plate in the second direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
102 words
A guided missile as in claim 13, in which: the first and second surfaces of each plate are parallel to each other; the plates include an end plate having a second surface which does not face any of the other plates; the end plate is inclined relative to the first axis by a second predetermined angle; and each respective plate other than the end plate is inclined relative to the first axis by an angle which is one-half said predetermined angle greater than the angle of inclination of the plate adjacent to said respective plate in the direction of the end plate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A guided missile as in claim 12, further comprising optoelectronic sensor means disposed in the focal plane for producing electrical signals corresponding to the first and second optical images.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A guided missile as in claim 15, in which the sensor means comprises an optoelectronic focal plane photodetector array.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
99 words
A guided missile as in claim 15, in which: the sensor means has a first section on which the first optical image is incident and a second section on which the second optical image is incident; and the imaging apparatus further comprises: first optical filter means disposed between the optical means and the first section of the sensor means for transmitting the first radiation therethrough and blocking the second radiation; and second optical filter means disposed between the optical means and the second section of the sensor means for transmitting the second radiation therethrough and blocking the first radiation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A guided missile as in claim 12, in which the optical means is disposed between the plates and the focal plane.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A guided missile as in claim 18, in which: the optical means has an entrance aperture; and the plates are disposed in a collimated image area of the optical means located adjacent to the entrance aperture.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
A guided missile as in claim 18, in which the optical means comprises a Cassegrain-type telescope.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A guided missile as in claim 12, in which the plates are disposed in a collimated image area of the optical means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A guided missile as in claim 12, in which: the optical means has a predetermined angular field-of-view; and said predetermined angle is approximately one-half said field-of-view.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
137 words
A dual-band optical apparatus, comprising an assembly of inclined dichroic plates which transmit first radiation in a first optical wavelength band incident thereon from a scene therethrough in a first direction and reflect second radiation in a second optical wavelength band incident thereon from the scene therefrom in a second direction which is deviated from the first direction by a predetermined angle; the first and second radiation is incident on the plates along a first axis; the plates are spaced from each other along a second axis which perpendicularly intersects the first axis, and extend perpendicular to a plane defined by the first and second axes; and each plate is inclined relative to the first axis such as to have a first surface which faces the scene and a second surface which faces away from the scene.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
137 words
A dual-band optical apparatus, comprising an assembly of inclined dichroic plates which transmit first radiation in a first optical wavelength band incident thereon from a scene therethrough in a first direction and reflect second radiation in a second optical wavelength band incident thereon from the scene therefrom in a second direction which is deviated from the first direction by a predetermined angle; the first and second radiation is incident on the plates along a first axis; the plates are spaced from each other along a second axis which perpendicularly intersects the first axis, and extend perpendicular to a plane defined by the first and second axes; and each plate is inclined relative to the first axis such as to have a first surface which faces the scene and a second surface which faces away from the scene.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus as in claim 23, in which: each two adjacent plates constitute a pair of first and second plates such that the first surface of the first plate faces the second surface of the second plate; and each pair of plates reflects the second radiation from the first surface of the first plate and subsequently from the second surface of the second plate in the second direction.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
102 words
An imaging apparatus as in claim 24, in which: the first and second surfaces of each plate are parallel to each other; the plates include an end plate having a second surface which does not face any of the other plates; the end plate is inclined relative to the first axis by a second predetermined angle; and each respective plate other than the end plate is inclined relative to the first axis by an angle which is one-half said predetermined angle greater than the angle of inclination of the plate adjacent to said respective plate in the direction of the end plate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4776702A
Cited
US4996427A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-09-22 | 1996-03-23 | 1996-09-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-22 | 2000-03-23 | 2000-09-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-22 | 2004-03-23 | 2004-09-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |