Abstract: A dual mode missile seeker system utilizing an infrared transparent radar tenna is disclosed. The infrared transparent radar antenna is mounted in front of and on the same axis as the infrared detector within a missile dome. The radar antenna includes spaced apart patches of infrared transparent semiconductor material and a ground plane of the same material deposited on opposite sides of an infrared and microwave transparent dielectric substrate for transmitting and receiving microwave radiation and for shielding the infrared detector array mounted behind. A radome or separate lens redirects incoming infrared radiation so as to pass through the radar antenna and focus on the infrared detector array.

Abstract: A laser irradiation system according to the present invention comprises a laser light emitter for emitting a laser beam, a rotator for irradiating the laser beam emitted from said laser light emitter by rotary irradiation and for forming a laser plane, a tilt setting unit for tilting said rotator and said laser plane, a photodetection unit integrated with said tilt setting unit for receiving a reflection laser beam reflected from a target which reflects the laser beam from said rotator as a reflection laser beam, wherein said photodetection unit comprises a photodetection element being long in a scanning direction of the laser beam.

Abstract: A lidar remote sensing system wherein a laser signal is transmitted along an optical path through a telescope having a primary and secondary mirrors and a rotating prism at the telescope output. When the reflected signal from the target is received it is passed back through the system to a detector, where it is heterodyned with a signal from a local oscillator to detect Doppler frequency shifts in the returned signal. Since the prism is rotating, the prism will be at one position when the signal is transmitted and at another when the returned signal is received. This causes the reflected signal to be off the optical path, reducing the power of the returned signal. To correct this problem a de-rotator or prism is mounted for rotation, in synchronism with the rotating prism, about the optical path in a position to intersect the returned beam and refract it back onto the optical path to reduce the power loss in the returned signal.

Abstract: To calculate the distance and angle of a measuring platform with respect to reference marks, fans of light are emitted from the measuring platform by light emitters. The light emitters are therefore arranged on a circular path about the central axis to rotate in such a manner that the fans of light are emitted tangentially to the circular path. The distance and the angle can be calculated on the basis of the angle of the reflected fans of light received on the measuring platform by the trigonometric method. This arrangement according to the invention results in precise measurements of the distance and the angle in one circular passage of the light emitter, even when the measuring platform is moving.

Abstract: A night vision aid such as night vision goggles (13) is made compatable with a local full color display (17) by blocking local display light from being received by the night vision aid (13). A circular polarizer (23) of one left/right sense is positioned so as to filter the local display. A circular polarizer (25) of an opposite sense is placed before a light input of the night vision aid (13), thereby preventing the polarized light from the display (17) from entering the night vision aid (13). Advantageously, the circular polarizer (23) on the display has minimal effect on linear polarizers which may be used with eyeglasses.

Abstract: A light transmitting lens includes in a portion thereof a diffusion element constituted by a number of small prisms. The small prisms have the same height and different pitches depending on distances from an optical axis. Accordingly, the small prisms have different apical angles depending on the distances from the optical axis. The light transmitting lens has a function for collimating lights incident on the small prisms with the same apical angle. Light beams passed through the region of the diffusion element of the light transmitting lens are deflected at predetermined angles depending on the positions, however, the light beams passed through the other region of the light transmitting lens are collimated without deflection.

Abstract: An infrared radiation source is provided by directing combustion gases through a honeycomb mantle along the axis of symmetry thereof. The honeycomb mantle is formed of individual tubes disposed at an angle to the axis of symmetry of the mantle and is closed at the end away from the combustion gas input. The mantle may contain a structure to divert the combustion gases therein to aid in uniform heating.

Abstract: A distance measuring device having a housing, a transmitting and receiving unit for measuring signal arranged in the housing, an evaluated element for determining a distance to an object by a travel time measurement, at least one reference point fixed on the housing to which a measured distance is referred, the at least one reference point being a part of a reference plane, such that an abutment surface which faces an object and an abutment surface which faces away from the object are arranged in the reference plane and fixed to the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving signals from a photodetector in a photodetector array. The apparatus has a number of comparators (e.g. 5) connected to the photodetector. each photodetector in the array has a similar circuit connected. Each comparator compares the output of the photodetector with an adjustable threshold level. Each threshold level is controlled by a threshold controller. Each threshold level corresponds with a light intensity value. Outputs of the comparators are each connected to a shift register. Each shift register is triggered to sample the output of its associated comparator at a certain speed (e.g. 800 Mhz). In operation, the shift registers each store a bit sequence representative of the comparator output. The data acquired is used to adjust the threshold levels applied to the comparators. In this way, adjustable intensity resolution is provided at desired ranges of intensity.

Abstract: A method for target seeking in geodetic survey measurements comprises the steps of generating at least a first light bundle by a measurement device from a light source arranged therein, the light bundle periodically pivoting back and forth or revolving about the standing axis of the measurement device and fanning out in the vertical plane and being sent to at least one receiver arrangement arranged in at least one target station arranged at a distance from the measurement device.

Abstract: A method and process for the determination of presence and distribution of clouds is presented. The method involves the use of a sensor, such as laser ranger, for the collection of echo location measurement data from a three dimensional volume of the sky. The process involved in this invention utilizes the measurement data to evaluate and test for the presence of cloud banks. The process also utilizes the measurement data to quantitatively and qualitatively determine the cloud coverage amount and distribution. The preferred embodiment includes a laser ranger that samples the three dimensional volume at several azimuth-elevation angles through the application of a device capable of selecting azimuth-elevation angle values.

Abstract: A system for spotting moving objects based on a plurality of artificial satellites including: a step of taking images at the same point in time by using imaging devices respectively mounted on at least two units of artificial satellites located separately from one another of which the positions can be defined at every moment in time; a step of discriminating a large number of stars at infinity and a small number of moving objects located near the earth through a synthetic processing by superimposing upon one another at least two images of spots obtained from the image taking at the respective satellites; and a step of specifying the positions of the discriminated moving objects from data of images forming positions of the moving objects on the basis of the large number of stars at infinity.

Abstract: A distance measurement apparatus for measuring distance to the target by measuring a time elapsed from the emission of pulsed light to the target until the receiving thereof. This apparatus comprising a light-emitting section, a light-receiving section, a delay circuit for delaying at least one of generation of the trigger signal with respect to a measurement start signal and the outputting of the measurement stop signal with respect to the reflected pulsed light and outputting thus delayed signal, a reference clock section, time measuring sections consisting of a start-side and stop-side fractional time signal measurement sections and a counter section, and a distance measurement section for determining, based thus measured items, the distance to the target according to the time from the emission of the pulsed light to the receiving thereof.

Abstract: An improved photocell configuration is provided to create a more accurate laser receiver that not only is very accurate and flexible in its operational capabilities, but also can greatly reduce the effect of rotational offset due to shading of the photocell. In one embodiment, a very long photocell is provided in which multiple split-cells are used to present a geometry that will tend to negate some of the effects of shading. The shading effects are minimized by having a different active photocell area along each vertical edge of the photocell. In another embodiment, a "segmented" photocell is used, in which the split-cell design of a long photocell is also divided into vertical segments. These segments can be re-configured so that alternating segments comprise a mirror image about the longitudinal of the long photocell. Such an arrangement tends to reduce the effect of rotational offset due to shading to an extremely small percentage of error.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical device for the measurement of flow rates of fluid through a pipe. The device broadly comprises a narrow frequency light source, an optical delivery system, a collector for light scattered from particles in the fluid, and a photo detector. In a preferred embodiment, the optical delivery system and the collector are contained within the pipe.

Abstract: Detailed depth information in a three dimensional scene is recorded by a camera with a single lens system (100). In one embodiment, a lens (100) is movably attached to a camera housing (302) such that a motor (304) can move the lens (100) in the direction of the central axis of the lens (100). A two dimensional array (300) of photo-sensors is mounted in the camera along the central axis of the lens (100). As the lens system (100) is traversed along the central axis, objects at various distances (106) in front of the lens system (100) pass in and out of focus on the array (300) of photo-sensors. For a lens system (100) with a known focal length, the distance (108) between the lens system (100) and the array (300) when an object (102) comes into focus on the array (300) indicates the distance (106) between the lens system (100) and the object (102).

Abstract: A non-volatile electron beam-addressed light-valve produces a flickerless, all-at-once visible light output which is then converted into a flickerless projected infrared scene suitable for testing an infrared imaging seeker.

Abstract: A far-infrared image is directed onto a transducer having a planar array of absorbing discs on one side. The discs are supported by a thin membrane ich expands and bulges as the discs heat up. The discs thus change their spacing with respect to a partially reflective mirror. The nominal spacing between the discs and mirror is about 1/4 wavelength of the infrared radiation, such that absorption is enhanced. The mirror is supported on a transparent substrate through which visible or near-infrared light is shown, and carries a perforated mask atop an insulating layer and in registration with the discs. The mirror/discs thus establish a Fabry-Perot cavity for the visible or near-infrared light, whereby a visible or near-infrared image may be observed or detected as the various discs establish various spacings in accordance with incremental variations in the infrared image. An electrostatic field is established between the mirror and the shield by a voltage source.

Abstract: A rosette or co-rotating vector scanning seeker detector array providing improved data rate and scanned field coverage. Several discrete detector elements are formed in an array on the detector surface in a coplanar arrangement, each of the detector elements providing target information when the scan sweeps across it. The array may be in the form of circular spots arranged around a central circular detector element. In an alternative embodiment, the central detector element is omitted and the peripheral detector elements are arranged sufficiently close together to preclude the likelihood of a target path passing between adjacent detector elements without being detected. Detector elements in a single array may be of different sizes and shapes.

Abstract: A object displacement measuring system and utilizing optical triangulation techniques is constructed to determine the displacement of an object between a near and far sensing limits. In constructing the system to determine the object displacement relative to these sensing points, the mathematical calculations needed to determine the controlling transfer function are simplified. In alternate embodiments, the object displacement is measured relative to a measurement window having a fixed width and a known mid-point. With the use of the transfer function resulting from the use of either coordinate systems, an output signal generated by a digital-to-analog converter can be controlled digitally to set the gain and offset values of the output signal rather than adjusting these values using analog circuitry.