Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-based imager blade includes a number of PIC imager units stacked on top of one another. Each PIC imager unit includes a PIC coupled, at a first end and a second end, to a first set of lenslets and a second set of lenslets, respectively. An electronic integrated circuit (EIC) is coupled to the PIC. Pairs of lenslets of the first and second set of lenslets are optically coupled to respective waveguides embedded in the PIC. The PIC imager units have different lengths, and longer PIC imager units include larger lenslets.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) imager includes a substrate, and a number of PIC imager units disposed in an arbitrary configuration on the substrate. Each PIC imager unit includes a PIC coupled to an optical connector, and a number of lenslets configured as a linear lenslet array and optically coupled to an edge of the PIC. Pairs of lenslets of the linear lenslet array are optically coupled to respective waveguides embedded in the PIC.

Abstract: A device for combined-zoom interferometric imaging includes a number of first blades and second blades. Each of the first blades includes multiple first optical elements arranged in a first linear configuration for high-resolution interferometric imaging. Each of the second blades includes multiple second optical elements arranged in a second linear configuration for low-resolution interferometric imaging. Pairs of the first optical elements with different baseline lengths are coupled through a first array of optical waveguides to an optical processor. Pairs of the second optical elements with different baseline lengths are coupled through a second array of optical waveguides to the optical processor.

Abstract: An imaging system can include of a plurality of pairs of lenslets and a respective plurality of two-dimensional arrays of photonic waveguides arranged in a respective plurality of photonic integrated circuits. Each waveguide can collect light in an airy-disk-size bin to cover a full field of view of the lenslet. Light from each pair of respective waveguides from each pair of lenslets can be demultiplexed into wavelength bins and combined with appropriate phase shifts to enable a measurement of the complex visibility. The complex visibilities from all of the measurements then can be processed to form an image.

Abstract: A device for interferometric imaging may comprise multiple optical elements arranged in a linear configuration. The device may also comprise multiple waveguide arrays (WGAs) each WGA of the multiple WGAs may include one or more WGs. Some of the WGs of each WGA of the multiple WGAs may be optically coupled to an optical element of the multiple optical elements. Each WG of a first WGA of the multiple WGAs is coupled to a first optical element of the multiple optical elements and is paired with a WG of a second WGA of the multiple WGAs that is coupled to second optical element of the multiple optical elements. The lengths of the paired WGs of the first and second WGAs of the multiple WGAs are not equal.

Abstract: A scanning wide-field telescope includes a primary reflecting mirror and a corrector assembly. The corrector assembly corrects light beams for spherical aberration imposed on the light beams by the primary reflecting mirror. The corrector assembly is located between the primary reflecting mirror and a viewing end of the telescope, and is configured to move to multiple optical focal points of the primary reflecting mirror.

Abstract: A multiple instrument distributed aperture sensor (“MIDAS”) science payload system mounted on a spacecraft, including a spacecraft interface ring affixing the MIDAS science payload system to the spacecraft, and a multiple telescope array (“MTA”) further including a mechanical subsystem further including an optical bench, an optical subsystem mounted upon the mechanical subsystem collecting light and merging the light into a passive, actively-sensed or hyperspectral image, and a laser subsystem providing laser illumination for collecting active remote sensing data. The MIDAS science payload system also includes a hexapod in physical communication with and between the spacecraft interface ring and the mechanical subsystem.

Abstract: A scanning wide-field telescope includes a primary reflecting mirror and a corrector assembly. The corrector assembly corrects light beams for spherical aberration imposed on the light beams by the primary reflecting mirror. The corrector assembly is located between the primary reflecting mirror and a viewing end of the telescope, and is configured to move to multiple optical focal points of the primary reflecting mirror.

Abstract: A multi-aperture imaging system for continuous dwell imaging of complex extended scenes which are not required to contain localized point sources. The multi-aperture imaging system includes a plurality of subaperture telescopes, each of which collect image data of an instantaneous field of view of an extended object scene within a field of regard of the imaging system. The image data collected by each subaperture telescope is transferred by respective optical delay paths to a beam combiner which combines all the image data in coherent fashion to form a single high resolution image of said object scene at a focal plane of the beam combiner. The subaperture telescopes are optically phased using phase diversity techniques which include using a phase diversity sensor located at the focal plane of the beam combiner to detect wavefront errors in the collected images.

Abstract: A wavefront sensor for use in a staring imaging system for generating focused and defocused images of an object scene that is being imaged by the imaging system from a single input optical beam impinged thereon. The wavefront sensor includes a beamsplitter for splitting an optical input beam into identical first and second half beam portions and for focusing the first and second half beam portions onto respective first and second focal planes. A phase plate is interposed between the beamsplitter and the second focal plane for inducing a known focus error in the second half beam portion. A photodetector is also provided and is effective to form a best focused image and a slightly out of focus image at the first and second focal planes, respectively. The focused and defocused images are combinable using phase diversity techniques to estimate wavefront aberrations present in the imaging system.

Abstract: A wavefront sensor for use in a scanning imaging system for generating focused and defocused images of an object scene that is being imaged by the imaging system from a single input optical beam impinged thereon. The two images are combinable using phase diversity techniques for calculating the wavefront aberrations that are present in the imaging system. The wavefront sensor includes a first linear photodetector array for forming a best focused image of an object scene as an incoming optical beam scans across the first linear photodetector array. The wavefront sensor further includes a second photodetector array disposed parallel to the first photodetector array. The second photodetector array is provided with a compensator plate for inducing a known focus error in the image that is formed on the second photodetector array as the input optical scans across the second photodetector array. In one embodiment, the two photodetector arrays are configured as CCD arrays on a single substrate.