Optical sensor with MEMS MMA steered transmitter and staring detector

US11644542B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Raytheon Company · US

Inventors

• Craig O. Shott · Benson, US
• Gerald P. Uyeno · Tucson, US
• Benn H. Gleason · Tucson, US
• Sean D. Keller · Tucson, US
• Mark K. Lange · Tucson, US
• Eric Rogala · Tucson, US
• Vanessa Reyna · Tucson, US
• Garret A. Odom · Tucson, US
• Jon E. Leigh · Tucson, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 20, 2021
• Grant date: May 9, 2023
• Expiry date: Sep 20, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S17/88
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical sensor uses a MEMS MMA to scan a narrow laser beam over a transmit FOR to provide active illumination and to correct the beam profile (e.g., collimate the beam, reduce chromatic aberrations, correct the beam profile or wavefront). A staring detector senses light within a receive FOR that at least partially overlaps the transmit FOR. By completely eliminating the dual-axis gimbal, this sensor architecture greatly reduces the volume and weight of the optical sensor while avoiding the deficiencies of known systems associated with either fiber or free-space coupling of the laser beam into an existing receiver.