Abstract: A sonar transmitter includes digital logic that controls switches coupled to a primary coil of a transformer. The switches are driven to produce at least one voltage pulse across a secondary coil for the transformer to produce a series of voltage pulses approximating the desired signal. The transformer may comprise: a secondary coil having a plurality of windings arranged into a first section, a middle section, and a final section; and a primary coil winding wound only with the secondary coil windings forming the middle section.

Abstract: Infrared imaging systems and methods disclosed herein, in accordance with one or more embodiments, provide for an infrared camera system comprising a protective enclosure and an infrared image sensor adapted to capture and provide infrared images of areas of a structure. The infrared camera system includes a processing component adapted to receive the infrared images of the areas of the structure from the infrared image sensor, process the infrared images of the areas of the structure by generating thermal information, and store the thermal information in a memory component for analysis.

Abstract: An infrared camera architecture includes, for an embodiment, an infrared detector, a substrate, a plurality of electrical components coupled to the substrate, and a pedestal made of a thermally conductive material and having a leg coupled to the substrate. The infrared detector is supported by and thermally coupled to the pedestal, with the pedestal thermally isolating the infrared detector from the plurality of electrical components.

Abstract: A laser illuminator/pointer can have an array of diode lasers for providing laser beams. A beam shaping optic can shape each of the laser beams. A movable, substantially transparent window can be in a path of the laser beams. A plurality of diffusers can be disposed on the window and can be positioned to vary a divergence of at least one of the laser beams when the window is moved.

Abstract: Imaging systems in which an undedicated optical component—i.e., a component that would be present in the system even in the absence of image stabilization—is configured to undergo corrective motion and/or other correction of image data, and thus to function as a stabilization component. The stabilization component may be a mirror and/or a lens, and a positioner may be provided to tilt, rotate, and/or otherwise precisely adjust the position and orientation of the stabilization component to improve image resolution, compensate for platform motions such as platform vibration, and/or improve image tracking. Because an undedicated optical component functions as the stabilization component, the stabilization occurs upstream, rather than downstream, from separation (if any) of the incoming image data into two or more beams.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods using small form factor infrared imaging devices to image scenes in proximity to a vehicle. An imaging system may include one or more infrared imaging devices, a processor, a memory, a display, a communication module, and modules to interface with a user, sensors, and/or a vehicle. Infrared imaging devices may be positioned in proximity to, mounted on, installed in, or otherwise fixed relative to a vehicle. Infrared imaging devices may be configured to capture infrared images of scenes in proximity to a vehicle. Various infrared image analytics and processing may be performed on captured infrared images to correct and/or calibrate the infrared images. Monitoring information, notifications, and/or control signals may be generated based on the corrected infrared images and then presented to a user and/or a monitoring and notification system, and/or used to control aspects of the vehicle.

Abstract: An infrared camera system is provided to detect absorption of infrared radiation in a selected spectral bandwidth. In one example, an infrared camera system includes a lens adapted to receive infrared radiation from a survey scene comprising one or more gasses. The infrared camera system also includes a focal plane array comprising a plurality of quantum well infrared photo detectors (QWIPs). The QWIPs are tuned to detect a limited spectral bandwidth of the infrared radiation corresponding to at least a portion of an infrared absorption band of the one or more gasses. The infrared camera system also includes an optical band pass filter positioned substantially between the lens and the focal plane array. The optical band pass filter is adapted to filter the infrared radiation to a wavelength range substantially corresponding to the limited spectral bandwidth of the QWIPs before the infrared radiation is received by the focal plane array.

Abstract: An infrared detector useful in, e.g., infrared cameras, includes a substrate having an array of infrared detectors and a readout integrated circuit interconnected with the array disposed on an upper surface thereof, for one or more embodiments. A generally planar window is spaced above the array, the window being substantially transparent to infrared light. A mesa is bonded to the window. The mesa has closed marginal side walls disposed between an outer periphery of a lower surface of the window and an outer periphery of the upper surface of the substrate and defines a closed cavity between the window and the array that encloses the array. A solder seal bonds the mesa to the substrate so as to seal the cavity.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for providing systems for providing alignment guide information to selectively direct a visible light source to substantially align the visible light source with a desired subject and to project a visible light beam substantially on the desired subject. For example, a system may include a small form factor infrared imaging module to capture thermal images of a scene, which may be received by a processor to generate alignment guide information such as a user-viewable image of the scene, a user-viewable cue, and a framing reticle. In another example, such a system may be implemented as a camera. In yet another example, such a system may be implemented as a spotlight.

Abstract: Infrared imaging systems and methods disclosed herein, in accordance with one or more embodiments, provide for detecting petroleum in an infrared image. The detection involves the evaluation of local background model likelihoods in light of extracted pixel features as well as the evaluation of a global outlier model in light of extracted pixel features. Those pixels having a low likelihood for both their local background model as well as the outlier model are identified as corresponding to oil-contaminated water within the infrared image.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for providing systems and methods for orienting one or more lenses or other optical elements in a lens sleeve. For example, a system may include a lens sleeve defining an interior lens cavity. A plurality of lens positioning features extend from the lens sleeve adjacent the interior lens cavity. A first lens is secured in the lens cavity at a first position relative to the lens sleeve. A first set of the lens positioning features are located at a second position relative to the lens sleeve, and a second set of the lens positioning features are located at a third position relative to the lens sleeve. A second lens engages either the first set or the second set of the plurality of lens positioning features depending on a desired distance between the first lens and the second lens.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided to process infrared images. In one implementation, a method of processing infrared image data includes receiving infrared image data associated with a scene. The infrared image data comprises a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and columns. The method also includes selecting one of the columns. The method also includes, for each pixel of the selected column, comparing the pixel to a corresponding plurality of neighborhood pixels. The method also includes, for each comparison, adjusting a first counter if the pixel of the selected column has a value greater than the compared neighborhood pixel. The method also includes, for each comparison, adjusting a second counter if the pixel of the selected column has a value less than the compared neighborhood pixel. The method also includes selectively updating a column correction term associated with the selected column based on the first and second counters.