Refined optical system

US8624177B2 · kind B2 · utility

Inventors

• David Campion · Craydon Court, US
• David M. Kane · Tucson, US
• Nicholas Dwork · Santa Clarita, US
• Matthew M. Pohlman · Shaker Heights, US
• Randall Edward Potter · San Fernando, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 16, 2009
• Grant date: Jan 7, 2014
• Expiry date: Mar 25, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01D15/00
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Selected scene regions are imaged. IMAGING CHANNEL: mirrors (preferably MEMS) address an imaging sensor to regions. CALIBRATION CHANNEL: the mirrors direct radiation from a source to a calibration sensor, along an imaging-channel segment. Beam splitter(s) let the channels share optical path at the mirrors. To minimize imaging-channel diffractive blur, the calibration channel modifies wavefront angle and smoothness at the mirrors—measuring (and setting mirrors to optimize) PSF sharpness, then applying these measurements (and settings) to optimize imaging-channel settings by iterative multidimensional gradient search. An afocal lens receives scene radiation, magnifying deflection at the scene. An FOR is imaged on the imaging sensor; the mirrors address the sensor to a narrow FOV within the FOR; the lens enlarges deflections to cover the FOR. Plural diffraction-grating orders communicate between calibration source and sensor when the selected region is in plural scene portions, regardless which FOV is addressed.