Abstract: A weapon sight assembly, comprising: a platform for mounting the weapon sight assembly on a weapon; a weapon sight carried by said platform to facilitate orienting the weapon in alignment with a target in a field of view; a video camera carried by the platform for generating and outputting video signals corresponding to the viewed field; a video transmitter for transmitting the video signals; and a controller for controlling the video camera and the video transmitter.

Abstract: The invention presents a wide-angle imaging assembly which comprises a main lens produced from an aspheric optical block. The aspheric optical block comprises a vertical axis of symmetry; a transparent upper surface, at least part of which is capable of reflecting rays that impinge upon it from the interior of the optical block; a transparent perimeter surface; and a transparent lower surface. The optical block is fabricated from material selected to enable optical transmittance of a specific spectral range. Light rays in the specific spectral range originating in a first scene, having a 360 degrees panoramic perimeter, are refracted by the transparent perimeter surface, enter the optical block, are then reflected by the upper surface towards the transparent lower surface, where they are then refracted by the transparent lower surface, and exit through it.

Abstract: The present invention is a self contained portable and compact omni-directional monitoring and automatic alarm video device. The device enables automatic omni-directional detection, directional imaging inspection, tracking, real-time alarm transmission, and remote monitoring. The device comprises an omni-directional detection sensor, processor, and directional video imaging camera located inside a rotatable housing. The omni-directional detection sensor enables detection of moving objects near the device's surroundings; the processing assembly enables extraction of information such as the relative direction to the moving object and automatic pointing of the directional video imaging camera in that direction by rotation of the housing. The information acquired by the video camera is then transmitted to a remote control and observation unit.

Abstract: A modular hyperspectral thermal camera that combines a wide field-of-view with a low erroneous recognition rate is described. The modular hyperspectral thermal camera provides such low erroneous recognition rates without any requirement for cryogenically cooling the associated optical components. The modular nature of the hyperspectral thermal camera permits easy exchange of the optical components and so provides a device that is easily calibrated and varied in resolution. In addition the modular nature allows the hyperspectral thermal camera to be readily converted to a broad band thermal camera, a full field spectrograph or a thermal bandpass filter camera, as required.

Abstract: Devices and methods for measurement of energy from a defined source having increased accuracy in measuring low energies. The device comprises a housing containing sensors. A first sensor receives energy from the source and produces a first output. A second sensor receives ambient energy only and produces a second output. Subtraction of the second output from the first output produces a more accurate corrected output. The method includes providing a housing containing a first sensor and a second sensor and directing energy from the defined source to a surface of the first sensor thereby causing the first sensor to produce a first output while only ambient energy from sources other than the defined source is applied to a surface of the second sensor which produce a second output that is subtracted from the first output producing a corrected output.

Abstract: A laser system for treating features on the skin of a patient with laser light comprising: an imaging subsystem that locates features on the skin to be treated; a laser; laser optics that focuses light from the laser onto a feature located by the imaging subsystem; and a controller that when a feature is located, controls the laser to radiate a pulse of laser light that is focused by the laser optics to a spot localized about the feature.

Abstract: A precision optical element is described, such as is used in thermal imaging systems in the infrared, manufactured by means of single point machining, with both of its surfaces having an aspheric form, with or without the addition of a diffractive optics pattern. The element is produced while held in a novel vacuum chuck, whose support surface has a width in the radial direction significantly less than the size of the element, and which is aspherically machined to match the aspheric first surface of the element. A method whereby such an element can be produced by means of single point machining, such as diamond turning or fly cutting, is also described. Also described are new optical system designs and applications using such double-sided aspheric elements, thereby providing significant improvement over currently available optical systems.

Abstract: A warning light (10) for external use on an aircraft comprises a high-intensity light output light source (14,20). The light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (40) which are arranged to be pulsed with an overdriving signal (32) to produce a higher than normal intensity flashing light output. The overdriving signal (32) is generated by a pulsed drive circuit (30) in response to timing signals received from a flash pattern box at a rate of between 0.67 Hz to 1.67 Hz.

Abstract: A precision optical element is described, such as is used in thermal imaging systems in the infra-red, manufactured by means of single point machining, with both of its surfaces having an aspheric form, with or without the addition of a diffractive optics pattern. The element is produced while held in a novel vacuum chuck, whose support surface has a width in the radial direction significantly less than the size of the element, and which is aspherically machined to match the aspheric first surface of the element. A method whereby such an element can be produced-by-means of single point machining, such as diamond turning or fly cutting, is also described. Also described are new optical system designs and applications using such double-sided aspheric elements, thereby providing significant improvement over currently available optical systems.

Abstract: A light or laser beam analyzer, using an imaging formation device such as a CCD video camera is equipped with an attenuating controllable filter or electronic shutter. The incoming beam is imaged several consecutive images each with a different attenuation and the spatial power level distribution on the detector's surface is digitized and transmitted to a host computer for further processing. The host computer will present the power distribution and calculate the beam's profile and the beam's shape.

Abstract: A dispersive spectrometer whose dispersive element is aligned such that the direction of dispersion is essentially perpendicular to the collimating plane, which is the plane of the input beam path between the centers of the input slit, the collimating mirror and the dispersive element. As a result of this construction, the lateral spread over which the beam path traverses is reduced, since use is also made of the direction perpendicular to the input beam path plane for the dispersive spread of the beam, and the spectrometer is thus of compact construction.

Abstract: An optical aiming device including two optical elements, each characterized by a refractive index and a critical angle defining a total internal reflection plane, positioned one in front of the other substantially along an aiming axis, each optical element causing a portion of light impinging thereon at an angle greater than the critical angle, to be reflected, thereby defining a demarcation between a region of reflected light and non-reflected light, the optical elements being oriented such that the demarcations of each optical element intersect at a point lying substantially along the aiming axis.

Abstract: A light or laser beam analyzer uses a rotating drum with circumferential knife-edges or slits that interrupt the beam. Inside the drum is a light intensity detector, connected to a processor which reconstructs the beam waist parameters based upon the cut profiles. The knife-edges or slits are disposed at three or more different angles to the drum rotation axis. An attenuation filter is removably mounted inside the drum, where it introduces no distortion into the light measurement. The beam is diverted from the beam line and brought to the drum by a retro-reflector which is slidably mounted along a track parallel to the beam line. The folded path allows the use of a long-focal length lens such as a simple plano-convex type. The lens is demountable for making direct measurements, and an opening is provided in the drum for passing the unfocused beam through onto the detector.

Abstract: A technique for performing background suppression in photodiode detectors is disclosed. A first detector measures the light emitted by the source to be measured and the background light, while a second detector simultaneously measures the background light only. The value measured by the second detector is subtracted from the value measured by the first detector, and the difference represents the portion of the first detector's measured value which is attributable to the source to be measured.

Abstract: Pyroelectric detection apparatus including a pyroelectric detector operative to produce an electric output in response to pulsed incident radiation and a discharge circuit for discharging the electric output. The discharge is operative to impose an effective high impedance on the pyroelectric detector during at least a portion of the duration of each radiation pulse and to impose a low effective resistance during the intervals between the radiation pulses.

Abstract: A brush mat for simulating a grass rough and on which golf balls are placed for practice hitting by a golfer. The mat includes numerous upstanding fibers, simulating grass, in which the upper surface defined by the upper ends of the fibers is generally planar, except for one or more hollows formed in the upper surface. The hollow or hollows have selected depths to receive and hold golf balls, from which location or locations the ball would be hit. Providing different depths for the hollows in which the balls are placed, allows for simulating different rough conditions since the golf ball will protrude above the upper generally planar surface different distances for the different depth hollows.

Abstract: An alignment system for aiding in the alignment of a golf club with a golf ball prior to hitting the golf ball includes a pad of material having a bottom surface for placement on a support surface, and a resilient top surface on which the golf ball is to be placed for hitting. Also included are first and second stripes defined in the top surface of the pad in a side-by-side, generally parallel relationship at or near the location at which the golf ball is to be placed, for enabling the visual alignment of the golf club head relative to the stripes and the golf ball.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the energy of single pulses of rapidly pulsing laser radiation including first radiation sensing apparatus for providing a first signal output in response to single pulses of a plurality of pulses of rapidly pulsing radiation; second radiation sensing apparatus for providing a second signal output in response to a plurality of pulses of rapidly pulsing radiation, the second signal output being an indication of the overall average incident optical power of the plurality of pulses; and signal processing apparatus, associated with the first and second radiation sensing apparatus, for receiving and processing the first and second signal outputs so as to determine an average pulse rate of the plurality of pulses and thereby also to provide an output indication of the energy of single pulses of the plurality of pulses of rapidly pulsing radiation.

Abstract: An automatic visual inspection system for small arms ammunition which sorts visual surface flaws at high speed according to established standards which can be tailored to fit specific needs. The system employs advanced techniques for performing inspection independently of human inspectors and allows for quick changeovers in the type of ammunition to which it is applied.