Abstract: Various embodiments provide a sensor system including a first optical sub-system having a first plurality of optical elements, and a second optical sub-system having a second plurality of optical elements including a first mirror. The second optical sub-system is configured to rotate about a first axis relative to the first optical sub-system and the first mirror is configured to rotate about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The first axis and the second axis are arranged so as not to intersect each other so as to maximize a field of regard of the sensor system.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a sensor system including a first optical sub-system having a first plurality of optical elements, and a second optical sub-system having a second plurality of optical elements including a first mirror. The second optical sub-system is configured to rotate about a first axis relative to the first optical sub-system and the first mirror is configured to rotate about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The first axis and the second axis are arranged so as not to intersect each other so as to maximize a field of regard of the sensor system.

Abstract: A wide field of view imaging system (100). The novel system (100) includes a rotating mirror (18) having two reflective surfaces each surface, respectively, reflecting light from a scene to first and second sensors (10, 12) positioned to receive light from the mirror (18), wherein the first and second sensors (10, 12) each occupy a different portion of the volume surrounding the mirror (18). In the illustrative embodiment, the mirror (18) is a flat, double-sided mirror rotating at a constant velocity about an axis parallel with the surface of the mirror (18). The first and second sensors (10, 12) are all-reflective optical systems, with the first sensor (10) opposite the second sensor (12). In the preferred embodiment, the invention further includes third and fourth opposing sensors (14, 16) clocked 90° from the first and second sensors (10, 12).

Abstract: A side-viewing optical system that provides wide-field viewing of image scenes on both sides of a vehicle, particularly in blind areas between the driver's direct peripheral vision and a image scene normally viewed using the rear view mirror. A projected demagnified image from both sides of the vehicle is directed into the driver's eyes from a position straight forward and angled downward so that the forward viewing direction is not blocked while driving the vehicle or requiring driver head motion. The system has left and right side viewers having prisms and Fresnel relay lenses. A roof mirror having left and right mirror surfaces respectively reflect image scenes observed by the side viewers toward the driver. A relay is disposed between the right side viewer and the right mirror surface of the roof mirror. A projector having a Fresnel lens finally projects the image scenes toward the driver for viewing.

Abstract: A hand held drill press (20) is shown for a drill motor (30) having a clamping collar (44) and a drill bit (26). The drill motor is mounted in a movable jaw (56) which is moved along a slide bar (52) toward a fixed jaw (54) by squeezing a trigger (58) against a handle (100) of the movable jaw. A work piece (24) placed between the fixed jaw and the drill bit is drilled as the trigger is squeezed.

Abstract: An articulated optical system has a pair of actuators (42, 44) each of which pivot a head mirror (34) about respective parallel axes (E.sub.1, E.sub.2) to direct the line-of-sight of an optical beam through a window (36) of a vehicle (30) to an optical sensor (38). Of the actuators, a coarse actuator (42) pivots the mirror (34) through substantially the entire desired field of regard of the optical system, and a fine actuator (44) pivots the mirror (34) for fine adjustment, e.g., less than five degrees. The coarse actuator (42) is positioned so that the axis thereof (E.sub.1) is located as close as possible to an edge of the mirror (34), so that the radial distance therebetween is small; therefore, the size of the window (36) is minimized with respect to the diameter (d.sub.b) of the optical beam. The fine actuator (44) is attached to approximately the geometric center of the mirror (34), so that the mirror (34) is statically balanced about the elevation axis (E.sub.

Abstract: A refractive inverse telephoto optical system (10) has a first lens doublet (12), a Pechan prism assembly (14) and a second lens doublet (16). The Pechan prism assembly (14) is spaced between the front negative doublet (12) and the rear positive doublet (16). The Pechan prism assembly (14) may be rotated and, as rotation occurs, the associated linear detector array is rotated around within the optical field of view.

Abstract: Illumination, heating and/or damage to baffles (114) and other structures (112) of a telescope (110) during cleaning of its mirrors (116, 118) by a laser beam (128) is avoided by directing the= laser beam from a source (130) outside of the telescope through its entrance aperture (126) and to a reflector (146). The reflector is secured to an already existing telescope shutter (120) so that the beam can be directed on a return path back from the reflector through the entrance aperture and to the outside of the telescope. Preferably, the cleaning occurs by a Nd:GSGG (neodymium and chromium doped gallium garnet crystal) laser (130) after reflection from the reflector. Cleaning is also obtainable by a laser beam generated by a carbon dioxide laser prior to reflection from the reflector.

Abstract: A wavefront sensor (10) for use in determining a phase error of an input beam (16) is disclosed. The wavefront sensor (10) includes mechanisms for obtaining a sample of an input beam (16). A mechanism (18) for splitting the beam (16) into two component beams (46) and (48) is associated with the beam (16). A second mechanism (20) for splitting the two component beams (46) and (48) into four component beams (58), (60), (62) and (64) is associated with the first splitting mechanism (18). A mechanism (26) for detecting the intensity distribution of the four component beams (58), (60), (62) and (64) is associated with the second splitting mechanism (20). A mechanism for determining the phase error of the input beam (16) from the intensity distributions is associated with the detector mechanism (26). Also disclosed is a method for determining the phase error on an input beam (16 ) using the above described wavefront sensor (10).

Abstract: An afocal beam expansion system and method is described which achieves the compactness of prior art refractive systems and yet avoids the use of refractive elements with their accompanying beam scattering, adsorption and temperature sensitivity. A pointing reflector is positioned in the beam path between an expansion reflector and a collimating reflector. The small diameter input beam is directed onto the expansion reflector, which causes it to diverge, reflects off the pointing reflector, and reaches the collimating reflector. The latter element collimates the beam and reflects it back to the pointing reflector, which points the beam along a desired output axis. The expansion, pointing and collimating reflectors are positioned relative to each other such that the beam axis is altered upon each reflection from each element.

Abstract: A thermal imaging system having a scan generator for optically scanning a field of view in a two dimensional interlaced object space scan pattern; and for applying received thermal energy to an array of detector elements having a geometrical configuration relative to said scan pattern, such that each detector element views every point in the field of view during each scanning frame. The detector output signals are applied to a light emitting diode array so that each detector element is electrically coupled to a corresponding light emitting diode whose angular location within the diode array corresponds to the angular location of the associated detector within its array; and the resultant visible light is processed through the scan generator to provide a two dimensional interlaced scan reconstruction pattern which is synchronized with the object space scan pattern.