Fixed-source array test station for calibration of a semi-active laser (SAL) seeker
US8392143B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 16, 2010 |
| Grant date | Mar 5, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 14, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S3/7803
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A fixed-source array test station provides a cost-effective high-throughput test bed for testing optical sensors that require stimulus at fixed angular positions. A SAL seeker requires stimulus at fixed angular position across its FOV to calibrate its spatial transfer function (STF). An array of fixed collimated sources at different angular positions is aligned so that their beams overlap the entrance pupil of the sensor under test. Each source may comprise an inexpensive light emitting diode (LED) or vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) and collimator. To simplify alignment the sources may be positioned on and perpendicular to the surface of a sphere with the seeker's entrance pupil located at the center of the sphere. The sources are activated in accordance with an activation profile in order to calibrate or otherwise test the sensor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.