Abstract: An imaging system (10) comprises an imaging data-collection station (11) having a camera (15) with a field of view (16) mounted on platform (13) rotatable about azimuthal axis (14). Collected image data is delivered on line (20) to a monitoring station (12) together with data on line (19) representative of the angular position of platform (13) which is sensed by sensor (18). The monitoring station (12) incorporates at least one channel each channel having a display device (25) having a known display field (30, .alpha..sub.1), an operator-actuable sensor (26) which selects a particular angular position (.theta..sub.1), within the wide angle field (17) traversed by fixed field of view (16), a gate device (28) for capturing the pertaining image data from line (20) and a store (29) for storing captured data.

Abstract: A radiation scan system (10) incorporates a scanning device (13) which transfers radiation between transmitting station (12) and receiving station (11) with simultaneous mapping of a point (14) in station (11) into a line (15) in station (12). Station (12) is in the form of a distant plane. Scanning device (13) has at least one mirror (16) mounted on a carrier (17) movable about an axis (18) which lies in the plane of the angular offset between the radiation beams at scan device (13) incoming from and outgoing to the stations (11,12). A refractive prism corrector (26) is located in the path of the radiation beam between scan device (13) and station (12) whereat line (15) exists, the vertex edge (27) of the prism corrector (26) being perpendicular to axis (18) and the parameter values of the prism corrector (26) are such that at least the line (15) in station ( 12) is straight.

Abstract: An optical scanning system comprises a rotor assembly (10) rotatable about axis (11) and having a first reflective zone (12) composed of planar facets (12A, 12B, 12C, etc.) and a second reflective zone (13) composed of facets (13A, 13B, 13C etc.) which may be planar or curved. An array of radiation detectors (26) is focussed by static focussing means (14) at a first reflection station through which the facets of the first zone (12) sequentially pass. Further static optical means (15) are provided to direct radiation between the first reflection station and a second reflection station through which the facets of the second zone (13) sequentially pass. The facets (12A, 12B, 12C etc.) of the first reflective zone (12) each have a normal disposed at an angle .psi. to the rotational axis (11); the incident and reflected radiation beams at the first reflection station each have a half cone angle .alpha.

Abstract: Apparatus for assessing the thermal sensitivity of optical systems comprises a test target 4 in the form of a plate in which slits 11 are cut at a predetermined spatial frequency. Radiation from a heated bar 1 is reflected from two separate portions thereof on opposite faces A,B of the bar to the test target 4 by concave mirrors 2, 3, radiation from one mirror 3 being reflected by the test target 4 and radiation from the other mirror 2 being transmitted through the slits 11 of test target 4 so that the resulting radiation passes along a common path 9 to a collimator 8 and hence to the optical system under test. The bar 1 may be heated at one end and cooled at the other end such that a temperature gradient is produced along the length of the bar.

Abstract: A radiation scanning system comprises a detector, a transfer lens forming a real image of the detector, a rotary scanning means interposed between the transfer lens and the detector image in such a way that as the rotary scanning means is rotated the detector image moves in a circular locus, a concave substantially-spherical mirror concentrically disposed with respect to the detector locus, said locus being at the focal surface of the mirror so that for different rotational positions of the rotary scanning means differently directed parallel bundles of rays emanate from the mirror all intersecting at a pupil, and a second scanning means located at said pupil. The two scanning means provide orthogonal line and frame scans.