US5444236A
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US
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Multicolor radiation detector method and apparatus
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1994-03-09
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Granted: 1995-08-22
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Expires: 2014-03-09
Abstract
Abstract A two color radiation detector. A dispersive lens with a spectrally selective central obscuration focuses a first radiation band on a central location on focal plane array. The dispersive lens also focuses an annulus of out of focus radiation of a second radiation band concentric with the central location on the focal plane array. For point target detection the dispersive lens transmits plume band and guard band radiation to the staring focal plane array sensor. The staring focal plane array is located at the focal point of the plume band radiation. A spatial filter detects target signatures using information from the plume band and guard band radiation.
Inventors
- 👤 David Ludington
- 👤 John Merchant
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/28; G01J3/42; G01J3/427; G01J3/2823; G01J3/30; G01J3/36; G01J5/00; G01J5/02; G01J5/08; G01J5/0801; G01J5/0802; G01J5/0806; G01J5/60; G01J5/602; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/42; G02B27/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A multicolor radiation detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a base having a lens mount and a radiation sensor mount; (b) a dispersive lens means for focusing radiation of a first selected band at a first focus and focusing radiation of a second selected band at a second focus, wherein the dispersive lens means is attached to the lens mount, wherein the dispersive lens means further has a central obscuration of a predetermined size, and wherein the central obscuration passes radiation of the first selected band; (c) a radiation sensor means for detecting an image attached to the radiation sensor mount at a predetermined distance from the dispersive lens means disposed to receive radiation of the first selected band and the second selected band, wherein the radiation sensor means further has an image output; and (d) spatial filter processing means for spatially filtering the image connected to the image output.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A multicolor radiation detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a base having a lens mount and a radiation sensor mount; (b) a dispersive lens means for focusing radiation of a first selected band at a first focus and focusing radiation of a second selected band at a second focus, wherein the dispersive lens means is attached to the lens mount, wherein the dispersive lens means further has a central obscuration of a predetermined size, and wherein the central obscuration passes radiation of the first selected band; (c) a radiation sensor means for detecting an image attached to the radiation sensor mount at a predetermined distance from the dispersive lens means disposed to receive radiation of the first selected band and the second selected band, wherein the radiation sensor means further has an image output; and (d) spatial filter processing means for spatially filtering the image connected to the image output.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The multicolor radiation detecting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a spectral filter means for filtering selected bands of radiation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The multicolor radiation detecting apparatus of claim 1 where the dispersive lens means focuses the first selected band in a central location and the dispersive lens means focuses the second selected band in an annulus ring substantially concentric with the central location.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The multicolor radiation detecting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first selected band is focused on the radiation sensor means at substantially a point.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The multicolor radiation detecting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first selected band and the second selected band further comprise a plume band and a guard band.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The multicolor radiation detecting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the radiation sensor means further comprises at least one focal plane array.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The multicolor radiation detecting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the spatial filter processing means further includes a two channel spatial filter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The multicolor radiation detecting apparatus of claim 7 wherein the two channel spatial filter is matched to a two color point spread function.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
The multicolor radiation detecting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the spatial filter processing means further passes radiation of the first selected band at unity gain and the spatial filter processing means further passes radiation of the second selected band at zero gain to generate a first color signal, and wherein the spatial filter processing means further passes radiation of the first selected band at zero gain and the spatial filter processing means further passes radiation of the second selected band at unity gain to generate a second color signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
The multicolor radiation detecting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the radiation sensor means provides a two dimensional array of sensed image data, and wherein the spatial filter processing means further provides at least two, two dimensional arrays of filter coefficients, and wherein the spatial filter processing means further convolves the two dimensional array of sensed image data with each of the at least two, two dimensional arrays of filter coefficients.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The multicolor radiation detecting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two, two dimensional arrays of filter coefficients are orthogonal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
159 words
An imaging apparatus comprising: (a) a base having a filter mount, a lens mount and a radiation sensor mount; (b) a spectral filter means for passing two selected bands of radiation, wherein the spectral filter means is attached to the filter mount; (c) a dispersive lens attached to the base for receiving the two selected bands of radiation wherein the dispersive lens further comprises a central obscuration and focuses a first selected band at a first focal distance and focuses a second selected band at a second focal distance; (d) a focal plane array attached to the base at the radiation sensor mount at the first focal distance from the dispersive lens, wherein the focal plane array receives radiation from the dispersive lens of the first selected band and the second selected band, wherein the focal plane array further includes an image output; and (e) spatial filter processing means for spatially filtering an image connected to the image output.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
159 words
An imaging apparatus comprising: (a) a base having a filter mount, a lens mount and a radiation sensor mount; (b) a spectral filter means for passing two selected bands of radiation, wherein the spectral filter means is attached to the filter mount; (c) a dispersive lens attached to the base for receiving the two selected bands of radiation wherein the dispersive lens further comprises a central obscuration and focuses a first selected band at a first focal distance and focuses a second selected band at a second focal distance; (d) a focal plane array attached to the base at the radiation sensor mount at the first focal distance from the dispersive lens, wherein the focal plane array receives radiation from the dispersive lens of the first selected band and the second selected band, wherein the focal plane array further includes an image output; and (e) spatial filter processing means for spatially filtering an image connected to the image output.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The imaging apparatus of claim 12 where the dispersive lens focuses the first selected band in a central location and the dispersive lens focuses the second selected band in an annulus ring substantially concentric with the central location.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The imaging apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first selected band and the second selected band further comprise a plume band and a guard band.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The imaging apparatus of claim 12 wherein the spatial filter processing means further includes a two channel spatial filter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The imaging apparatus of claim 15 wherein the two channel spatial filter is matched to a two color point spread function.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The imaging apparatus of claim 12 wherein the spatial filter processing means further passes radiation of the first selected band at unity gain and the spatial filter processing means further passes radiation of the second selected band at zero gain.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The imaging apparatus of claim 12 wherein the spatial filter processing means further passes radiation of the first selected band at zero gain and the spatial filter processing means further passes radiation of the second selected band at unity gain.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
99 words
The imaging apparatus of claim 12 wherein the focal plane array provides a two dimensional array of sensed image data, and wherein the spatial filter processing means further provides a first two dimensional filter array of first color filter coefficients and a second two dimensional filter array of second color filter coefficients, and wherein the spatial filter processing means further convolves the two dimensional array of sensed image data with the first two dimensional filter array and the spatial filter processing means further convolves the two dimensional array of sensed image data with the second two dimensional filter array.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The imaging apparatus of claim 19 wherein the first two dimensional filter array and second two dimensional filter array are orthogonal to each other.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
159 words
A dispersive multicolor filter apparatus for deriving two color information for point target detection, the apparatus comprising: (a) a base; (b) a spectral filter means attached to the base for passing two selected bands of radiation; (c) a dispersive lens attached to the base for receiving the selected bands of radiation wherein the dispersive lens further comprises a central obscuration and focuses a first selected band at a first focal distance and focuses a second selected band at a second focal distance; (d) a focal plane array attached to the base at the first focal distance from the dispersive lens disposed to receive the first selected band at a central location and the second selected band at an annulus ring concentric with the central location from the dispersive lens; and (e) spatial filter processing means connected to receive a photo signal from the focal plane array for recovering a first selected band image and a second selected band image.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
159 words
A dispersive multicolor filter apparatus for deriving two color information for point target detection, the apparatus comprising: (a) a base; (b) a spectral filter means attached to the base for passing two selected bands of radiation; (c) a dispersive lens attached to the base for receiving the selected bands of radiation wherein the dispersive lens further comprises a central obscuration and focuses a first selected band at a first focal distance and focuses a second selected band at a second focal distance; (d) a focal plane array attached to the base at the first focal distance from the dispersive lens disposed to receive the first selected band at a central location and the second selected band at an annulus ring concentric with the central location from the dispersive lens; and (e) spatial filter processing means connected to receive a photo signal from the focal plane array for recovering a first selected band image and a second selected band image.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The dispersive multicolor filter apparatus of claim 21 wherein the spatial filter processing means further comprises a digital computer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-08-21 | 1999-02-20 | 1999-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-08-21 | 2003-02-20 | 2003-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-08-21 | 2007-02-20 | 2007-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |