Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for testing the boresight of a gimbaled camera and laser system, such as an infrared countermeasures (IRCM) system, in extreme environments. Light simulating a target is reflected through an optics system to the camera, with a portion of the light reflected back from a corner cube reflector through the optics system as a reference. A laser beam from the laser is received through the same optics system, and a position of the corner cube reflected reference and laser beam are compared in order to determine whether the camera and laser are properly aligned. A spherical shell adapted to position the camera at its geometric center keeps misaligned laser pulses from reflecting back into the camera.

Abstract: A laser resonator and method for forming the laser resonator are provided. The method comprises placing a housing for the laser resonator in an alignment fixture, attaching a bond plate to an optical component of the laser resonator, attaching a first end of an alignment arm to the bond plate attached to the optical component, attaching a second end of the alignment arm to the alignment fixture such that the optical component is disposed over the housing, aligning, via the alignment fixture and the alignment arm, the optical component relative to the housing, and bonding the aligned optical component to the housing. The first end of the alignment arm may removed once the aligned optical component is bonded to the housing.

Abstract: An objective lens assembly suitable for use in helmet-mounted applications. The objective lens assembly comprises two prisms that collectively are configured, oriented and bonded relative to each other to separate and allow simultaneous imaging of two separate spectral bands (such as VNIR and LWIR bands) received from the same object scene via a common window such that the object scene may be viewed from the same perspective without the effects of parallax.

Abstract: A servo system is provided for controlling movement of a flexible structure having multiple masses and elements. Each element couples a respective two of the masses and functions as a spring when the flexible structure is subject to a linear or rotational input at or above a frequency at which the respective element exhibits flexure. The servo system includes multiple sensors, where each sensor is disposed relative to a respective one of the masses to sense a respective acceleration. A motor having a torque input may operatively be configured to output one of a linear or rotational force on the first mass based on a torque signal present on the torque input. A servo controller that receives each sensed acceleration from each sensor may generate a compensation feedback signal based on a sum of sensed accelerations. The torque signal may be output to the motor based on the compensation feedback signal.

Abstract: A laser resonator and method for forming the laser resonator are provided. The method comprises placing a housing for the laser resonator in an alignment fixture, attaching a bond plate to an optical component of the laser resonator, attaching a first end of an alignment arm to the bond plate attached to the optical component, attaching a second end of the alignment arm to the alignment fixture such that the optical component is disposed over the housing, aligning, via the alignment fixture and the alignment arm, the optical component relative to the housing, and bonding the aligned optical component to the housing. The first end of the alignment arm may removed once the aligned optical component is bonded to the housing.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying a pulsed radiation source may include an imaging sensor having a frame rate that is less than a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of the pulsed radiation source. A processing unit may be in communication with the imaging sensor, and be configured to (i) process a sequence of image data of a scene captured by the imaging sensor to determine whether radiation of the pulsed radiation source is detected, (ii) determine a PRF code of the pulsed radiation source from possible multiple different PRF codes based on the processed sequence of image data, and (iii) notify a user of the PRF code or information associated with the PRF code.

Abstract: A vibration isolator system for attaching a payload to a supporting base is provided, the payload having a center of mass and the system consisting of at least three vibration isolating pods. Each pod has two associated, non-parallel, elastic struts. A first end of each strut is attached to the supporting base and a second end of each strut is attached to the payload at a respective mounting point, and the a projected elastic center of the system is substantially co-located with said center of mass. The vibration isolator system is operable to substantially prevent translational vibration of the supporting base from inducing angular rotation of the payload.

Abstract: A high resolution image of a scene or object is generated by collecting a plurality of images, enhancing the plurality of images to produce a sequence of enhanced images, registering the sequence of enhanced images, accumulating the intensities of the registered sequence of enhanced images to produce a composite image, and enhancing the composite image.

Abstract: A method for enhancing an image is provided. The method generates a plurality of Gaussian images from the image, and generates a first plurality of Laplacian images from the generated Gaussian images, the plurality of Laplacian images constituting a Laplacian pyramid of images. The method generates a histogram for each of the plurality of Laplacian images, and shapes each of the generated histograms using a predetermined probability density function to produce a second plurality of Laplacian images. The method further combines iteratively each of the second Laplacian images with each of the plurality of Gaussian images expanded at each iteration to generate an enhanced image.

Abstract: A vibration isolator system for attaching a payload to a supporting base is provided, the payload having a center of mass and the system consisting of at least three vibration isolating pods. Each pod has two associated, non-parallel, elastic struts. A first end of each strut is attached to the supporting base and a second end of each strut is attached to the payload at a respective mounting point, and the a projected elastic center of the system is substantially co-located with said center of mass. The vibration isolator system is operable to substantially prevent translational vibration of the supporting base from inducing angular rotation of the payload.

Abstract: A scintillation removal in an image of a scene is provided by collecting a plurality of images, dividing the plurality of images into subsets of images, averaging each of the subsets of images to produce corresponding averaged images, differencing the averaged images, masking the difference images, and combining the masked images to produce a composite image.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking a cooperative, non-incandescent source may include collecting scene images of a scene that includes the cooperative, non-incandescent source and background clutter. First and second scene images of the scene may be generated over distinct spectral bands. The first and second scene images may be imaged onto respective first and second focal plane arrays. In one embodiment, the imaging may be substantially simultaneous. The first and second scene image frame data respectively generated by the first and second focal plane arrays may be processed to produce resultant scene image frame data. The scene image frame data may result in reducing magnitude of scene image frame data representative of the background clutter more than magnitude of scene image frame data representative of the cooperative, non-incandescent source.

Abstract: A vibration isolator system for attaching a payload to a supporting base is provided, the payload having a center of mass and the system consisting of at least three vibration isolating pods. Each pod has two associated, non-parallel, elastic struts. A first end of each strut is attached to the supporting base and a second end of each strut is attached to the payload at a respective mounting point, and the a projected elastic center of the system is substantially co-located with said center of mass. The vibration isolator system is operable to substantially prevent translational vibration of the supporting base from inducing angular rotation of the payload.

Abstract: A servo system is provided for controlling movement of a flexible structure having multiple masses and elements. Each element couples a respective two of the masses and functions as a spring when the flexible structure is subject to a linear or rotational input at or above a frequency at which the respective element exhibits flexure. The servo system includes multiple sensors, where each sensor is disposed relative to a respective one of the masses to sense a respective acceleration. A motor having a torque input may operatively be configured to output one of a linear or rotational force on the first mass based on a torque signal present on the torque input. A servo controller that receives each sensed acceleration from each sensor may generate a compensation feedback signal based on a sum of sensed accelerations. The torque signal may be output to the motor based on the compensation feedback signal.

Abstract: A radiation detector is provided that includes a photodiode having a radiation absorber with a graded multilayer structure. Each layer of the absorber is formed from a semiconductor material, such as HgCdTe. A first of the layers is formed to have a first predetermined wavelength cutoff. A second of the layers is disposed over the first layer and beneath the first surface of the absorber through which radiation is received. The second layer has a graded composition structure of the semiconductor material such that the wavelength cutoff of the second layer varies from a second predetermined wavelength cutoff to the first predetermined wavelength cutoff such that the second layer has a progressively smaller bandgap than the first bandgap of the first layer. The graded multilayer radiation absorber structure enables carriers to flow toward a conductor that is used for measuring the radiation being sensed by the radiation absorber.

Abstract: A tunable infrared detector is provided that includes a substrate, a bottom wavelength detector formed over the substrate, a top wavelength detector formed over the first wavelength detector layer, and an interferometer filter formed over the top wavelength detector layer and the bottom wavelength detector layer. The interferometer filter is operatively configured to pass a first wavelength associated with a first portion of a predetermined band and a second wavelength associated with a second portion of the predetermined band to the top wavelength detector. The top wavelength detector is operatively configured to detect each wavelength associated with the first portion of the predetermined band and to transmit each wavelength associated with the second portion of the predetermined band to the bottom wavelength detector. The bottom wavelength detector is operatively configured to detect each wavelength associated with the second portion of the predetermined band.

Abstract: Variable aperture and actuator assemblies are provided for a radiation detector housing in an imaging system. The variable aperture assembly includes a ring mounted over the housing's window, a plate having a first aperture disposed over the window, an aperture blade operatively coupled to the ring so the blade moves laterally relative to the first aperture, and an aperture drive mechanism having a body and an actuator coupling member extending at an angle from the body. The drive mechanism is adapted to drive the blade laterally away from the first aperture when the member is moved in a first lateral direction, and over the first aperture to define a second aperture disposed over the window when the member is moved in a second lateral direction. The actuator assembly has an actuator and an actuator arm adapted to engage the actuator coupling member to control the lateral movement of the member.