Abstract: A laser beam dump is provided. The laser beam dump may include a housing that has a plurality of connected walls defining an atypical or asymmetrical polygonal prism. When viewed in longitudinal cross-section, the asymmetrical polygonal prism housing defines a general hexagon shape. A chamber is defined by the housing and a highly reflective cone is positioned therein. The inner surfaces of the housing are formed from a highly absorptive material with respect to electromagnetic energy in the form of a laser beam. When an laser beam enters the chamber of the beam dump, it contacts the highly reflective cone outer surface and it nearly fully reflected to the absorptive walls of the housing. This reduces the reflection scatter of light from the first contact with the cone.

Abstract: A laser beam dump is provided. The laser beam dump may include a housing that has a plurality of connected walls defining an atypical or asymmetrical polygonal prism. When viewed in longitudinal cross-section, the asymmetrical polygonal prism housing defines a general hexagon shape. A chamber is defined by the housing and a highly reflective cone is positioned therein. The inner surfaces of the housing are formed from a highly absorptive material with respect to electromagnetic energy in the form of a laser beam. When an laser beam enters the chamber of the beam dump, it contacts the highly reflective cone outer surface and it nearly fully reflected to the absorptive walls of the housing. This reduces the reflection scatter of light from the first contact with the cone.

Abstract: A method for finding the launch of a ManPADS missile comprising the steps of installing a network of electro optical (EO) and infrared (IR) cameras with a triggering receiver and pointing the EO and IR cameras in the direction of a suspicious emission, wherein the EO camera provides high resolution video and the IR camera finds the ManPADS and tracks its user.

Abstract: A compact instrument enables placement of the instrument such that the image of the laser beam, as retro reflected and diffracted, forms outside the tracking field of view. The target source and beam camera can be located at the focus of a Cassegrain objective. Embodiments include shared objective and twin objective design. With a shared objective design, both the beam projector and profiling camera can see the same focal length. A two objective design can use two different focal lengths.

Abstract: A method for finding the launch of a ManPADS missile comprising the steps of installing a network of electro optical (EO) and infrared (IR) cameras with a triggering receiver and pointing the EO and IR cameras in the direction of a suspicious emission, wherein the EO camera provides high resolution video and the IR camera finds the ManPADS and tracks its user.

Abstract: A threat launch detection system includes at least one temporal threat detector, each temporal threat detector including a single sensing element operable to sense radiation from various types of short-burn threats that occur within a field of view of the detector. The single sensing element generates a detection signal in response to the sensed radiation. A processing circuit is coupled to each temporal threat detector and is operable to analyze the detection signal from each detector as a function of time to detect the occurrence of a short-burn threat within the field of view of any of the temporal threat detectors. Each temporal threat detector may be a prism-coupled compound parabolic concentrator (PCCP).

Abstract: A compact instrument enables placement of the instrument such that the image of the laser beam, as retro reflected and diffracted, forms outside the tracking field of view. The target source and beam camera can be located at the focus of a Cassegrain objective. Embodiments include shared objective and twin objective design. With a shared objective design, both the beam projector and profiling camera can see the same focal length. A two objective design can use two different focal lengths.

Abstract: A threat launch detection system includes at least one temporal threat detector, each temporal threat detector including a single sensing element operable to sense radiation from various types of short-burn threats that occur within a field of view of the detector. The single sensing element generates a detection signal in response to the sensed radiation. A processing circuit is coupled to each temporal threat detector and is operable to analyze the detection signal from each detector as a function of time to detect the occurrence of a short-burn threat within the field of view of any of the temporal threat detectors. Each temporal threat detector may be a prism-coupled compound parabolic concentrator (PCCP).

Abstract: It has been found that target optics produce non-specular, augmented optical returns when interrogated by a laser pulse. This non-specular radiation is detected by an active laser search system employing a direct-reading, thresholded focal plane detector that is able to detect non-cooperating targets with optics that employ a detector or optical element at the focal plane of their receiving optics. The pulses returned from such target optics have a width commensurate with the original transmitted pulse width, whereas passive background noise and the spread out active returns from the ground exhibit temporally long returns. By setting the sensor threshold sufficiently high, the system discriminates against noise and clutter while at the same time reducing the number of sweeps required to detect a target within the search area.

Abstract: A sensor is provided for analyzing an object at a focal point of a lens. The sensor includes a focused radiant energy source directed at the lens. The focused radiant energy source transmits a first beam of energy to the lens, vaporizing a portion of the object at the focal point of the lens. A second beam of energy is emitted from the vaporization of the object. A spectrometer is positioned to receive the second beam of energy emitted from the object. The second beam of energy is at least partially transmitted anti-parallel to the first beam of energy.

Abstract: A focal plane architecture is provided which includes direct reading of an array of infrared detectors, each coupled to its own threshold circuit, the output of which is coupled to one input of a NAND gate, with the other input to the NAND gate being provided with a delayed threshold circuit output, thus to permit discrimination against ground clutter. This architecture results in an ultra fast frame read out, inherent discrimination of compact targets, photon counting at infrared wavelengths, and programmable range gating by exterior selection of array events within an expected return time for a transmitted pulse.

Abstract: An infrared detection system is disclosed in which a re-imaging optical system produces a non-axisymmetric aperture stop image at an exit pupil point in or near the cold shield entrance aperture. To achieve high cold shield efficiency notwithstanding the asymmetry of the aperture stop image and the resulting astigmatism in such image, two exit pupil stop members disposed in non-coplanar relation are provided adjacent the exit pupil point. The stop aperture in one such member has its radially extending edges congruent with the corresponding edges of the aperture stop image and is disposed in the plane of best exit pupil formation for those edges; the aperture in the other exit pupil stop member is correspondingly configured and oriented with respect to the circumferential edges of the aperture stop image.