Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a beam control apparatus and method for correcting aberrations include an off-aperture telescope configured to receive a beam of electromagnetic energy, wherein the telescope includes a first optical element and a second optical element. The second optical element is configured to be translated in three orthogonal axes, and a wavefront error sensor is configured to detect aberrations in the beam and to provide a wavefront error signal in response thereto. A processor is configured to provide a correction signal in response to the wavefront error signal, and an actuator is coupled to the second optical element and configured, in response to the wavefront error signal, to selectively translate the second optical element in one or more of three substantially orthogonal directions corresponding to the three orthogonal axes.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a beam control apparatus and method for correcting aberrations include an off-aperture telescope configured to receive a beam of electromagnetic energy, wherein the telescope includes a first optical element and a second optical element. The second optical element is configured to be translated in three orthogonal axes, and a wavefront error sensor is configured to detect aberrations in the beam and to provide a wavefront error signal in response thereto. A processor is configured to provide a correction signal in response to the wavefront error signal, and an actuator is coupled to the second optical element and configured, in response to the wavefront error signal, to selectively translate the second optical element in one or more of three substantially orthogonal directions corresponding to the three orthogonal axes.

Abstract: A steerable-light-path optical device includes a light transceiver having an external light path associated therewith, and a path-steering device that controls the direction of the light path relative to a steering axis. The path-steering device has a first beam-deviation optical element including a first prism structure having a first diffraction grating thereon, and a second beam-deviation optical element including a second prism structure having a second diffraction grating thereon. The steering axis passes through the first and second beam-deviation optical elements. A rotational drive is operable to rotate at least one of the first beam-deviation optical element and the second beam-deviation optical element, and preferably both of the beam-deviation optical elements, about the steering axis.

Abstract: A sensor assembly including a detector; a first arrangement for enhancing the resolution of the detector; and a second arrangement for increasing the field-of-view of the detector. In a specific implementation, the detector is a focal plane array of detectors, the first arrangement is a Hadamard mask and the second arrangement is a telescope array with a field-bias element operationally coupled thereto. The field bias optical element is implemented with a prism and grating such as a grism. An arrangement is included for actuating the mask to selectively enable a desired level of resolution and another arrangement is included for actuating the field bias element to select a desired field of view. An arrangement for effecting image motion compensation is included along with an imager, an image processor and a data processor. The telescope array may include refractive elements, reflective elements, and/or catadioptric elements. Likewise, the imager may be refractive, reflective and/or catadioptric.

Abstract: A beam control system and method. The system includes an illuminator for providing a first beam of electromagnetic energy at a first wavelength; a source for providing a second beam of electromagnetic energy at a second wavelength; and an arrangement for compensating wavefront errors in the second beam using a bias representative of a comparison between the first wavelength and the second wavelength. In the illustrative embodiment, the arrangement includes a processor which corrects wavefront errors using a bias representative of a difference between said first wavelength and said second wavelength. In the disclosed application, a target wavefront sensor is included and the laser is a high-energy laser beam. The wavefront errors include a chromatic aberration and the errors are compensated using a deformable mirror and a correction algorithm executed by an adaptive optics processor. In one alternative embodiment, the errors are compensated using an optical aberration corrector.

Abstract: A common-aperture optical system includes a reflective telescope having a common boresight, an entrance pupil, an exit pupil, and a beam path extending from the entrance pupil to and beyond the exit pupil. A beam splitter intersects the beam path so that the beam path is incident upon the beam splitter. A light sensor is positioned to receive an input light beam traveling along the beam path after the beam path intersects the beam splitter and passes the exit pupil of the reflective telescope. A light source produces an output light beam incident upon the beam splitter and positioned to inject the output light beam into an inverse of the beam path and toward the entrance pupil of the reflective telescope. A diverger corrects at least one of the input light beam and the output light beam.

Abstract: An imaging optical system includes a subtelescope array, with at least two subtelescopes, each having a single entrance pupil and an exit light beam. Each subtelescope has an optical pointing axis, and the pointing axes for the subtelescopes are parallel. An imager forms an image from the exit light beams at an image surface, where there is a sensor such as a focal plane array. Preferably, a phase shifter array includes a phase shifter for each of the subtelescopes. The phase shifter array receives the exit light beam of each of the subtelescopes and has a capability to adjust the phase of at least one of the exit light beams. The imager receives the phase-shifted exit light beams.

Abstract: A phased-array light telescope includes at least two non-obscured light subtelescopes. Each of the light subtelescopes is aimed along a common boresight. The phased-array light telescope further includes a non-obscured combining imager that receives and combines the output beams of the light subtelescopes.

Abstract: A sensor assembly including a detector; a first arrangement for enhancing the resolution of the detector; and a second arrangement for increasing the field-of-view of the detector. In a specific implementation, the detector is a focal plane array of detectors, the first arrangement is a Hadamard mask and the second arrangement is a telescope array with a field-bias element operationally coupled thereto. The field bias optical element is implemented with a prism and grating such as a grism. An arrangement is included for actuating the mask to selectively enable a desired level of resolution and another arrangement is included for actuating the field bias element to select a desired field of view. An arrangement for effecting image motion compensation is included along with an imager, an image processor and a data processor. The telescope array may include refractive elements, reflective elements, and/or catadioptric elements. Likewise, the imager may be refractive, reflective and/or catadioptric.

Abstract: A phased-array light telescope includes at least two non-obscured light subtelescopes. Each of the light subtelescopes is aimed along a common boresight. The phased-array light telescope further includes a non-obscured combining imager that receives and combines the output beams of the light subtelescopes.

Abstract: A common-aperture optical system includes a reflective telescope having a common boresight, an entrance pupil, an exit pupil, and a beam path extending from the entrance pupil to and beyond the exit pupil. A beam splitter intersects the beam path so that the beam path is incident upon the beam splitter. A light sensor is positioned to receive an input light beam traveling along the beam path after the beam path intersects the beam splitter and passes the exit pupil of the reflective telescope. A light source produces an output light beam incident upon the beam splitter and positioned to inject the output light beam into an inverse of the beam path and toward the entrance pupil of the reflective telescope. A diverger corrects at least one of the input light beam and the output light beam.

Abstract: A beam control system and method. The system includes an illuminator for providing a first beam of electromagnetic energy at a first wavelength; a source for providing a second beam of electromagnetic energy at a second wavelength; and an arrangement for compensating wavefront errors in the second beam using a bias representative of a comparison between the first wavelength and the second wavelength. In the illustrative embodiment, the arrangement includes a processor which corrects wavefront errors using a bias representative of a difference between said first wavelength and said second wavelength. In the disclosed application, a target wavefront sensor is included and the laser is a high-energy laser beam. The wavefront errors include a chromatic aberration and the errors are compensated using a deformable mirror and a correction algorithm executed by an adaptive optics processor. In one alternative embodiment, the errors are compensated using an optical aberration corrector.

Abstract: An interrogator identifies an interrogated object using a light transceiver and a dynamic optical tag associated with the interrogated object. The dynamic optical tag receives an output light beam from the light transceiver and controllably reflects the light beam back to the light transceiver as an input light beam. The dynamic optical tag includes a controllable light reflector that is controllable between a reflective state and a non-reflective state and having a modulation signal input, and a controller that provides the modulation signal input to the controllable light reflector. In operation, the interrogator transmits an interrogation light beam from the light transceiver to the dynamic optical tag, the dynamic optical tag reflects a modulated interrogation light beam back to the light transceiver as the input light beam, and the light transceiver receives and analyzes the input light beam to determine an identity of the dynamic optical tag and the interrogated object.

Abstract: A sensor system senses a scene and includes a dual-band imaging infrared detector lying on a beam path, wherein the infrared detector detects infrared images in a first infrared wavelength band and in a second infrared wavelength band; and a two-color cold-shield filter lying on the beam path between the infrared detector and the scene. The cold-shield filter defines a first aperture size for infrared light of the first infrared wavelength band, and a second aperture size larger than the first aperture size for infrared light of the second infrared wavelength band. The first infrared wavelength band has wavelengths less than wavelengths of the second infrared wavelength band.

Abstract: An imaging sensor system images in two different spectral bands a light beam traveling on a light path from a target. The sensor system includes an imaging sensor operable to image light of the two different spectral bands, a common optics having at least one reflective or refractive optical element, and a wavelength-selective beamsplitter on the light path between the target and the imaging sensor. The wavelength-selective beamsplitter splits the light beam into two subbeams, one subbeam for each of the two different spectral bands, that are respectively incident upon two different locations of the imaging sensor. The imaging sensor may be used to detect buried explosive mines.

Abstract: A system and method for combining a predetermined number of laser beams. The system (30) includes a collimating lens (34) for receiving and collimating the laser beams and a holographic device (36) positioned to receive beams from the collimating lens (34) and output beams which are co-aligned. The holographic device (36) includes a predetermined number of holographic optical elements (46, 48, 50), wherein each holographic optical element (46, 48, 50) is designed for a particular wavelength of the laser beams. In the preferred embodiment, the holographic optical elements are volume holograms, and the system further includes a blazed grating (38) positioned between the collimating lens (34) and the holographic device (36) to account for variations in the wavelengths of the laser beams due to environmental conditions.

Abstract: An imaging optical system has an optical axis and a refractive optical group including a lens lying on the optical axis. At least one lens of the refractive optical group lying on the optical axis has an aspheric front surface and an aspheric back surface. An image surface lies on the optical axis, and the refractive optical group forms an image at the image surface. The image surface is preferably substantially planar. A detector, such as a focal plane array detector, lies on the optical axis such that a ray of light passing through the lens is incident upon the detector. It is preferred that there are two lenses lying on the optical axis, with each lens having an aspheric front surface and an aspheric back surface. The imaging optical system is suitable for use as a large-aperture, wide-field-of-view, compact system having an F number of less than about F/1.5, a field of view of more than about 45 degrees, and a telephoto ratio of less than about 2.0.

Abstract: An imaging optical system includes a first imaging structure having a first optical axis and a first field of view, wherein the first imaging structure forms an image on a common focal plane, and a second imaging structure having a second optical axis parallel to the first optical axis and a second field of view different from the first field of view, wherein the second imaging structure forms an image on the common focal plane. The imaging structures preferably contain identical lens modules, most preferably identical Petzval lenses, and achromatic or apochromatic prisms of different spatial orientations. A planar sensor structure lies in the common focal plane, wherein the first optical axis and the second optical axis pass through the planar sensor structure.

Abstract: An imaging polarimeter sensor includes an achromatic beam-splitting polarizer that receives a polychromatic image beam of a scene and simultaneously produces a first polarized polychromatic image beam and a second polarized polychromatic image beam. The second polarized polychromatic image beam is of a different polarization than the first polarized polychromatic image beam and is angularly separated from the first polarized polychromatic image beam. The achromatic beam-splitting polarizer preferably includes a Wollaston prism through which the polychromatic image beam passes, and at least one grating through which the polychromatic image beam passes either before or after it passes through the Wollaston prism. An imaging detector receives the first polarized polychromatic image beam and the second polarized polychromatic image beam and produces an output image signal responsive to the first polarized polychromatic image beam and the second polarized polychromatic image beam.

Abstract: An imaging optical system has an optical axis and a refractive optical group including a lens lying on the optical axis. At least one lens of the refractive optical group lying on the optical axis has an aspheric front surface and an aspheric back surface. An image surface lies on the optical axis, and the refractive optical group forms an image at the image surface. The image surface is preferably substantially planar. A detector, such as a focal plane array detector, lies on the optical axis such that a ray of light passing through the lens is incident upon the detector. It is preferred that there are two lenses lying on the optical axis, with each lens having an aspheric front surface and an aspheric back surface. The imaging optical system is suitable for use as a large-aperture, wide-field-of-view, compact system having an F number of less than about F/1.5, a field of view of more than about 45 degrees, and a telephoto ratio of less than about 2.0.