Patent US4266694A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5448395A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5448395A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Non-mechanical step scanner for electro-optical sensors
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp
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Filing: 1993-08-03
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Granted: 1995-09-05
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Expires: 2013-08-03
Abstract
Abstract A non-mechanically scanned optical sensor system includes a stationary sensor array having an image plane, a lens system characterized by a field of view corresponding to image of a scene viewed by the lens system, an image divider for dividing the image into plural contiguous sub-images and a device for directing each of the sub-images onto substantially the entirety of the image plane of the sensor array. The directing device in one embodiment is an array of small lenses coextensive with respective light beams of respective sub-images of an image viewed by the lens system. In another embodiment, both the image divider and the directing device are realized together as an X-Y addressable array of electrically deformable optical elements, such as silicon micro-mirrors, individually directing respective ones of the sub-images to the sensor array. In another embodiment, the image divider is a spatial light modulator having an array of optical shutters controlling respective sub-images.
Inventors
- 👤 Marco A. Lopez
- 👤 Lawrence Scherr
- 👤 Neil R. Nelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:49
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B3/00; G02B3/0006; G02B3/0037; G02B26/0816; G02B3/0056; G02B5/00; G02B5/005; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/50; H04N23/54; H04N25/00; H04N25/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
An electronically-scanned electro-optical sensor system, comprising: a telescopic lens system having an objective lens and an eyepiece lens, said telescopic lens system being characterized by a field of view corresponding to an image of a scene viewed by said telescopic lens system and defining an optical path of said sensor system; means positioned in said optical path for dividing said image into a plurality of contiguous sub-images, a number of said sub-images being selected in accordance with a desired resolution of said sensor system; a sensor array positioned in said optical path, said sensor array having an image plane and receiving at least one of said sub-images, a size of said sensor array being selected independently of said number of sub-images; and, means positioned in said optical path between said telescopic lens system and said sensor array for focussing each of said sub-images onto said image plane of said sensor array.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
An electronically-scanned electro-optical sensor system, comprising: a telescopic lens system having an objective lens and an eyepiece lens, said telescopic lens system being characterized by a field of view corresponding to an image of a scene viewed by said telescopic lens system and defining an optical path of said sensor system; means positioned in said optical path for dividing said image into a plurality of contiguous sub-images, a number of said sub-images being selected in accordance with a desired resolution of said sensor system; a sensor array positioned in said optical path, said sensor array having an image plane and receiving at least one of said sub-images, a size of said sensor array being selected independently of said number of sub-images; and, means positioned in said optical path between said telescopic lens system and said sensor array for focussing each of said sub-images onto said image plane of said sensor array.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The sensor system of claim 1 wherein said means for focussing each of said sub-images onto said image plane of said sensor array comprises an array of small lenses coextensive with respective light beams of respective sub-images of said image viewed by said telescopic lens system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The sensor system of claim 2 wherein said array of small lenses is positioned in said optical path between said telescopic lens system and said sensor array, and is configured in a partial spherical surface co-axial with said telescopic lens system and centered in said image plane of said sensor array, said partial spherical surface having a convex side facing said telescopic lens system and having a concave side facing said sensor array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The sensor system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said small lenses comprise at least one of simple lenses, compound lenses, and diffractive lenses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The sensor system of claim 1 wherein said means for dividing comprises an array of electrically deformable optical elements individually directing respective ones of said sub-images onto said image plane of said sensor array, and means for electrically addressing individual ones of said electrically deformable optical elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The sensor system of claim 5 wherein said electrically deformable optical elements comprise silicon micro-mirrors, and wherein further said respective sub-image are reflectable by said silicon micro-mirrors onto said image plane of said sensor array.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for dividing is positioned in said optical path at an intermediate image plane of said telescopic lens system between said objective lens and said eyepiece lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for dividing is positioned in said optical path between said telescopic lens system and said means for focussing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The sensor system of claim 1 wherein said means for focussing said sub-images onto said image plane of said sensor array comprises an array of electrically deformable optical elements individually directing respective ones of said sub-images onto said image plane of said sensor array, and means for electrically addressing individual ones of said electrically deformable optical elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The sensor system of claim 9 wherein said electrically deformable optical elements comprise silicon micro-mirrors, and wherein further said respective sub-images are reflectable by said silicon micro-mirrors onto said image plane of said sensor array.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for dividing further comprises means for selecting ones of said sub-images for focussing onto said image of said sensor array plane and for blocking others of said sub-images from being focussed onto said image plane of said sensor array.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
The sensor system of claim 11 wherein said means for dividing said image comprises a spatial light modulator having an array of optical shutters in said optical path of said telescopic lens system, each of said optical shutters corresponding to a respective one of said sub-images, and wherein further said means for selecting comprises means for opening at least one of said optical shutters while maintaining a remainder of said optical shutters closed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The sensor system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said optical shutters comprise diffusive liquid crystals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The sensor system as claim in claim 12, wherein said optical shutters comprise silicon micro-mirrors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
102 words
The sensor system of claim 11 wherein said means for dividing said image further comprises search logic means for controlling said means for selecting, said search logic means for controlling comprising: means for causing all of said sub-images to be viewed simultaneously by said sensor array; and means for causing said sub-images to be blocked from said image plane of said sensor array while sequentially admitting selected ones of said sub-images to said image plane of said sensor array in response to a presence of a feature in said selected ones of said sub-images having a feature brightness exceeding a predetermined threshold.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
The sensor system of claim 11 wherein said means for selecting has a brightness leakage threshold, said system further comprising: search logic means for searching said sub-images for a bright sub-image containing a feature having a brightness exceeding said brightness leakage threshold whenever said feature having said brightness exceeding said brightness leakage threshold is sensed while viewing any of said sub-images.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
117 words
An optical sensor system, comprising: a stationary sensor array having an image plane; a telescopic lens system, said telescopic lens system including an objective lens and an eyepiece lens and being characterized by a field of view corresponding to an image of a scene viewed by said telescopic lens system; and, means for electronically scanning said sensor array across said field of view, comprising electro-optical means for dividing said image into plural contiguous sub-images, a number of said sub-images being selected in accordance with a desired resolution of said sensor system and independently of a size of said sensor array and electro-optical means for directing each of said sub-images onto said image plane of said sensor array.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
117 words
An optical sensor system, comprising: a stationary sensor array having an image plane; a telescopic lens system, said telescopic lens system including an objective lens and an eyepiece lens and being characterized by a field of view corresponding to an image of a scene viewed by said telescopic lens system; and, means for electronically scanning said sensor array across said field of view, comprising electro-optical means for dividing said image into plural contiguous sub-images, a number of said sub-images being selected in accordance with a desired resolution of said sensor system and independently of a size of said sensor array and electro-optical means for directing each of said sub-images onto said image plane of said sensor array.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
The sensor system of claim 17 wherein said means for directing each of said sub-images onto said image plane of said sensor array comprises an array of small lenses co-extensive with respective light beams of respective sub-images of said image viewed by said telescopic lens system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
69 words
The sensor system of claim 18 wherein said array of small lenses is positioned between said telescopic lens system and said sensor array, and is configured in a partial spherical surface co-axial with said telescopic lens system and centered in said image plane of said sensor array, said partial spherical surface having a convex side facing said telescopic lens system and having a concave side facing said sensor array.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The sensor system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said small lenses comprise at least one of simple lenses, compound lenses, and diffractive lenses.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
The sensor system of claim 17 wherein said means for dividing comprises an array of electrically deformable optical elements individually directing respective ones of said sub-images onto said image plane of said sensor array, and means for electrically addressing individual ones of said electrically deformable optical elements.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The sensor system of claim 21 wherein said electrically deformable optical elements comprise silicon micro-mirrors, and wherein further said respective sub-images are reflectable by said silicon micro-mirrors onto said image plane of said sensor array.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The sensor system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said means for dividing is positioned at an intermediate image plane of said telescopic lens system between said objective lens and said eyepiece lens.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The sensor system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said means for dividing is positioned between said telescopic lens system and said means for directing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
57 words
The sensor system of claim 17 wherein said means for directing said sub-images onto said image plane of said sensor array comprises an array of electrically deformable optical elements individually directing respective ones of said sub-images onto said image plane of said sensor array, and means for electrically addressing individual ones of said electrically deformable optical elements.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
The sensor system of claim 25 wherein said electrically deformable optical elements comprise silicon micro-mirrors, and wherein further said respective sub-images are reflectable by said silicon micro-mirrors onto said image plane of said sensor array.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
50 words
The sensor system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said means for dividing further comprises means for selecting ones of said sub-images for direction onto said image plane of said sensor array and for blocking others of said sub-images from being directed onto said image plane of said sensor array.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
73 words
The sensor system of claim 27 wherein said means for dividing said image comprises a spatial light modulator having an array of optical shutters in an optical path illuminated by said telescopic lens system, each of said optical shutters corresponding to a respective one of said sub-images, and wherein said means for selecting comprises means for opening at least one of said optical shutters while maintaining a remainder of said optical shutters closed.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The sensor system as claimed in claim 28, wherein said optical shutters comprise diffusive liquid crystals.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The sensor system as claimed in claim 28, wherein said optical shutters comprise silicon micro-mirrors.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
102 words
The sensor system of claim 27 wherein said means for dividing further comprises search logic means for controlling said means for selecting, said search logic means comprising: means for causing all of said sub-images to be viewed simultaneously by said image plane of said sensor array; and means for causing said sub-images to be blocked from said image plane of said sensor array while sequentially admitting selected ones of said sub-images to said image plane of said sensor array in response to a presence of a feature in said selected ones of said sub-images having a feature brightness exceeding a predetermined threshold.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
61 words
The sensor system of claim 27 wherein said means for selecting has a brightness leakage threshold, said apparatus further comprising: search logic means for searching said sub-images for a bright sub-image containing a feature having a brightness exceeding said brightness leakage threshold whenever said feature having said brightness exceeding said brightness leakage threshold is sensed while viewing any of said sub-images.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-09-04 | 1999-03-06 | 1999-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-04 | 2003-03-06 | 2003-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-04 | 2007-03-06 | 2007-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |