Abstract: A boresight alignment system facilitates aligning a plurality of cameras and/or images of the cameras with respect to one another. The system may have a mount configured to facilitate attachment of a bezel containing a plurality of cameras to the mount. The system may have a plurality of targets and each target may be configured to provide light of at least two different wavelengths and/or ranges of wavelengths. One or more baffles may be disposed optically between the mount and the target assembly to inhibit stray light from being incident upon the cameras.

Abstract: Systems and methods directed to calibration techniques for infrared cameras are disclosed for some embodiments. For example, a method of determining infrared sensor calibration information, in accordance with an embodiment, includes performing a calibration operation on an infrared sensor to obtain calibration information, wherein the infrared sensor is not within an infrared camera core, and storing the calibration information.

Abstract: A boresight alignment system facilitates aligning a plurality of cameras and/or images of the cameras with respect to one another. The system may have a mount configured to facilitate attachment of a bezel containing a plurality of cameras to the mount. The system may have a plurality of targets and each target may be configured to provide light of at least two different wavelengths and/or ranges of wavelengths. One or more baffles may be disposed optically between the mount and the target assembly to inhibit stray light from being incident upon the cameras.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide filtering techniques for image processing applications. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a Median-X filtering algorithm is disclosed that may be used for various infrared image processing applications.

Abstract: Systems and methods directed to calibration techniques for infrared cameras are disclosed. For example, a method of obtaining calibration information for an infrared device includes providing a calibration target adapted to provide a low-emissivity scene; performing a calibration operation on the infrared device to obtain the calibration information; and storing the calibration information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide automated testing on infrared image data to detect image quality defects. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, image processing algorithms are disclosed to generate an image quality metric that may be compared to one or more thresholds to perform an automated test for image quality defects. For example, the image quality metric may be compared to two thresholds to determine if the corresponding infrared sensor or infrared camera is defective or not due to image quality or requires further manual inspection by test personnel.

Abstract: Two components are bonded together in a bonding apparatus using a bonding medium of malleable metallic spheres and a curable adhesive. The two components are bonded by positioning the components in a facing-but-spaced-apart relation in the bonding apparatus with the spheres and the adhesive between the first component and the second component. The bonding apparatus forces the first component toward the second component with sufficient force to bond the spheres to the first component and to the second component, while monitoring at least one measured bonding reaction of the first component and the second component, and controlling the bonding apparatus responsive to the step of monitoring. The adhesive is thereafter cured, optionally with the bonding pressure released and the assembly removed from the bonding apparatus.

Abstract: An electrical feedthrough (34) is prepared by furnishing an aluminum oxide feedthrough plate (70) and at least one feedthrough pin (80) having a length greater than the thickness of the feedthrough plate (70). A pin bore (78) is formed through the feedthrough plate (70) for each feedthrough pin (80). Each pin bore (78) has a pin bore (78) size greater than the feedthrough pin (80) size, preferably by an amount no greater than that required to permit the penetration of a brazing metal (88) between the pin bore (78) and the feedthrough pin (80). Each feedthrough pin (80) is inserted into its respective pin bore (78) and brazed into place utilizing a metallic active braze alloy (88) and no glassy seal. The feedthrough plate (70) may be simultaneously brazed to a package structure (22) using active or nonactive brazing.

Abstract: A gold-coated molybdenum article (30) is made by furnishing a substrate (32) made of pure molybdenum or an alloy of molybdenum, and preparing a slurry of gold powder, acrylic binder, and acetone liquid carrier. The slurry is applied to a portion of a surface of the substrate. The substrate with applied slurry is heated in vacuum or inert atmosphere to an elevated temperature, preferably about 2040.degree. F., and thereafter cooled to ambient temperature. The result is an article (30) having at least a portion of the substrate (32) covered with an adherent gold coating (34).

Abstract: A vacuum system (20) includes an enclosure (22) having a vacuum-tight wall (26) and an internally threaded aperture (66) through the wall (26). A tip-off fitting (24) has a base (50) with a bore (52) therethrough, a hollow tube (62) fixed to the base (50) with a vacuum-tight seal, such that an interior (64) of the tube (62) is in communication with the bore (52) in the base (50), and an external thread (58) on the exterior of the base (50). The external thread (58) on the exterior of the base (50) is dimensioned to threadably engage the internal thread (68) on the aperture (66). There is a disengageable vacuum sealant (70) such as a layer of indium metal between the external thread (58) of the base (50) and the internal thread (68) of the aperture (66). The vacuum system (20) is evacuated through the tip-off fitting (24) and sealed by closing off the hollow tube (62).

Abstract: A lower vacuum housing (34) of a sensor dewar (26) is fabricated in a single brazing operation from ceramic and metallic components. The components are assembled with ceramic-to-metal interfaces and metal-to-metal interfaces. Brazing is accomplished by active brazing of the ceramic-to-metal interfaces and non-active brazing of the metal-to-metal interfaces. Specific combinations of active braze alloys and non-active braze alloys are provided for various combinations of dewar materials.

Abstract: A feedthrough (34) is formed of a feedthrough plate (44) having at least one bore (46) therethrough and a feedthrough pin (48) hermetically sealed into the bore (46). The feedthrough pin (48) includes an elongated pin (50) having an axis of elongation (52), a recess (54) in at least one end of the pin (50), the recess (54) extending parallel to the axis of elongation (52), and a gold coating (56) within the recess (54). There are preferably a plurality of bores (46) in the feedthrough plate (48) and a corresponding plurality of the feedthrough pins (48). The gold coatings (56) at the ends of the feedthrough pins (48) are desirably lapped to ensure coplanarity and a smooth surface finish especially suited for wire bonding or tab bonding.