Abstract: An athermalized window assembly intended for mounting in or on the exterior of a vehicle and associated method, the assembly comprising a window arranged with one or more mounting members in an opening in a plate. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the mounting members is between a coefficient of thermal expansion associated with the window and a coefficient of thermal expansion associated with the plate. The mounting members may comprise a plurality of skirts that form a coefficient of thermal expansion gradient between the window and the plate.

Abstract: A surveillance device includes an electronic component and a protective surface outwardly of the electronic component. A generally transparent substrate is formed from a first material. Spaced portions of an electrically conductive coating are formed within channels in the substrate. The electrically conductive material is a semiconductor material. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An athermalized window assembly intended for mounting in or on the exterior of a vehicle and associated method, the assembly comprising a window arranged with one or more mounting members in an opening in a plate. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the mounting members is between a coefficient of thermal expansion associated with the window and a coefficient of thermal expansion associated with the plate. The mounting members may comprise a plurality of skirts that form a coefficient of thermal expansion gradient between the window and the plate.

Abstract: A flexure ring for a window assembly includes a continuous annular portion and a segmented portion. The continuous annular portion defines a ring axis. The segmented portion defines a plurality of circumferential segments. The continuous annular portion is connected to each circumferential segment by a respective neck. Each neck extends from the continuous annular portion to a respective one of the circumferential segments. The continuous annular portion, the segmented portion and the necks are configured to circumscribe a window pane.

Abstract: A flexure ring for a window assembly includes a continuous annular portion and a segmented portion. The continuous annular portion defines a ring axis. The segmented portion defines a plurality of circumferential segments. The continuous annular portion is connected to each circumferential segment by a respective neck. Each neck extends from the continuous annular portion to a respective one of the circumferential segments. The continuous annular portion, the segmented portion and the necks are configured to circumscribe a window pane.

Abstract: A surveillance device includes an electronic component and a protective surface outwardly of the electronic component. A generally transparent substrate is formed from a first material. Spaced portions of an electrically conductive coating are formed within channels in the substrate. The electrically conductive material is a semiconductor material. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of correction of load-induced optical distortion in an optical device includes subjecting an optical device having a first morphology to a predetermined loading condition, determining a deformation to a second morphology of the optical device under said predetermined loading condition, and removing material from at least one surface of said optical device to compensate for said deformation. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method can include the steps of subjecting the optical device to a predetermined loading condition, determining a deformation of the optical device under a predetermined loading condition, defining a surface contour across a surface of the optical device to substantially reduce wavefront error due to said deformation across a field of regard when the optical device is subject to said predetermined loading condition, and removing material from a surface of said optical device to create the defined surface contour.

Abstract: A method and system of alignment of two mechanical members of a mechanical structure, particularly the primary and secondary mirrors (22, 24) of a telescope (20), is provided by a set of auxiliary optical elements (40) disposed on the primary mirror and a corresponding set of detectors (42) disposed on the secondary mirror. The array of detectors corresponds in configuration to the array of auxiliary optical elements so that there is correspondence between positions of auxiliary optical elements with positions of detectors about a common central axis (38) of the two mirrors. A source (44) of light disposed on the axis between the two mirrors illuminates the auxiliary optical elements to develop a set of eight beams, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, which are directed to the optical elements.

Abstract: A procedure for supplying a mirror (22), such as the mirror of an astronomical telescope (60), with holographic optical elements (38), suitable for use with an active mirror alignment system such as a Hartman optical mirror alignment system, is accomplished by constructing each holographic optical element as a separate unitary structure of a transparent substrate (56) with zone plate features. The zone plate features include the channels (64) and ridges (66) of a fragmentary portion of a zone plate etched into a face (58) of the substrate. The substrate is mounted to the mirror by placing the etched face of the holographic optical element in contact with the reflecting surface (68) of the mirror. An adhesive (70) may be applied around the perimeter of the substrate to secure the substrate in its position upon the mirror.

Abstract: A wavefront sensor (10) includes a radiation sensor (2) and an array (12) of lenslets (12A) that are optically coupled to the radiation sensor. The array of lenslets has a radiation receiving surface for receiving an incident wavefront and for focussing the wavefront at a plurality of focal positions upon the radiation sensor. Each of the lenslets comprises a diffractive optical element having an optical center that is located at a predetermined point for inducing an equal and opposite tilt to a portion of the wavefront incident on the lenslet. As a result, an aberration within that portion of the wavefront is cancelled. The predetermined point is determined to be equal to and opposite a focal spot shift of the lenslet.