Focus adjustment technique for thermal lenses to minimize image shift

US11927749B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc. · US

Inventors

• Will R. Grigsby · Austin, US
• Glen L. Francisco · Orlando, US
• Matthew Flint Kepler · Austin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 14, 2020
• Grant date: Mar 12, 2024
• Expiry date: Jun 15, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G03B29/00
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A lens assembly for a weapon sight includes a first lens having an optical axis and a focal plane array (FPA) coaxial with the optical axis of the first lens. A first parameter of the first lens is selected that minimizes an error in image shift when the weapon sight lens assembly is adjusted for focus. The first parameter of the first lens can be at least one of a lateral position, axial displacement, thickness, effective focal length, material, effective focal length, radius of curvature, conic constants, and higher order aspheric coefficients of the first lens. A sensor can detect a position of the lens and a processor can compare the measured position to an ideal position and use a lookup table to display a corrected reticle position or corrected scene. An actuator may move the lens to the ideal position from the measured position.