Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement includes two sensors arranged one behind the other. The operational spectral ranges of the sensors match, and the first sensor forms an attenuation filter for the second sensor, which is arranged behind the first sensor.

Abstract: A device for the radiometric calibration of infra-red measuring devices is provided. The device is in the form of a heated metal surface that is used as a radiant surface and is coated with a high-emission material. The device includes a spherical segment, the interior of which is coated with the high-emission material and the opening of the spherical segment is used as an aperture for an infra-red device that can be arranged in the center of the aperture.

Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement includes two sensors arranged one behind the other. The operational spectral ranges of the sensors match, and the first sensor forms an attenuation filter for the second sensor, which is arranged behind the first sensor.

Abstract: An optical system for testing IR or UV sensors, comprises input optics, output optics having a reticule disposed on the associated optical axis, a radiation source which emits radiation in the visual spectral region and in the infrared or ultraviolet spectral regions, and a beam splitter for simultaneously visualizing an object scene illuminated by the radiation source with the reticule through the output optics into the eye of an observer. The input optics comprise a lens, the imaging properties of which in the visual spectral region are equal to the imaging properties in the infrared or ultraviolet spectral region, and the beam splitter is a dichroic beam splitter.

Abstract: In a method for determining the distance of an object flying through the atmosphere and emitting radiation energy, the spectral intensity distribution of the radiation emitted by the object in a predefined wavelength range is detected. An intensity distribution spectrum of the object is measured in the region of an absorption structure of the atmosphere, and a point having an extremal gradient on a flank of an intensity rise or fall, caused by the atmospheric absorption structure, in the measured intensity distribution spectrum is determined. The path length traveled by the radiation through the atmosphere, and therefore also the distance between the detector and the object, are determined by comparison with known transmission data for the atmosphere.

Abstract: A device for the radiometric calibration of infra-red measuring devices is provided. The device is in the form of a heated metal surface that is used as a radiant surface and is coated with a high-emission material. The device includes a spherical segment, the interior of which is coated with the high-emission material and the opening of the spherical segment is used as an aperture for an infra-red device that can be arranged in the center of the aperture.

Abstract: In a method for determining the distance of an object flying through the atmosphere and emitting radiation energy, the spectral intensity distribution of the radiation emitted by the object in a predefined wavelength range is detected. An intensity distribution spectrum of the object is measured in the region of an absorption structure of the atmosphere, and a point having an extremal gradient on a flank of an intensity rise or fall, caused by the atmospheric absorption structure, in the measured intensity distribution spectrum is determined. The path length traveled by the radiation through the atmosphere, and therefore also the distance between the detector and the object, are determined by comparison with known transmission data for the atmosphere.

Abstract: An optical system for testing IR or UV sensors, comprises input optics, output optics having a reticule disposed on the associated optical axis, a radiation source which emits radiation in the visual spectral region and in the infrared or ultraviolet spectral regions, and a beam splitter for simultaneously visualizing an object scene illuminated by the radiation source with the reticule through the output optics into the eye of an observer. The input optics comprise a lens, the imaging properties of which in the visual spectral region are equal to the imaging properties in the infrared or ultraviolet spectral region, and the beam splitter is a dichroic beam splitter.

Abstract: A method of enlarging an image field of a camera by combining partial images. This method includes continuously rotating at least two refractive prisms such that an optical axis of the at least two prisms scans in a cycloidal pattern. Furthermore the method includes capturing and combining a plurality of partial images. Finally, the cycloidal pattern is formed as an astroid pattern with a plurality of vertexes. The partial images are generated at the time of the reversal movement during the scanning in the astroid pattern, which limits unsharpness in the images kept to less than the size of a pixel.

Abstract: In a process for automatically determining the modulation transfer function (MTF) of a focal plane array (FPA) cameras, a test grid is used to generate a beat whose amplitude corresponds to that of the grid image to be measured, without the sampling MTF. (The image of the test grid has a spatial frequency in the detector plane that is detuned with respect to the Nyquist frequency of the detector array. The test grid covers a range of at least half a beat period, and then, regardless of the actual phase position, the modulation amplitude is determined therefrom. Comparative MTF measurements are thereby permitted without the influence of the sampling effect of an FPA, and particularly the MTF measurement in real time suitable for the application to moving images.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of enlarging an image field of a camera by combining partial images. This method includes continuously rotating at least two refractive prisms such that an optical axis of the at least two prisms scans in a cycloidal pattern. Furthermore the method includes capturing a plurality of partial images. Finally, the cycloidal pattern is formed as an astroid pattern with a plurality of vertexes. The present invention further relates to an apparatus having a first refractive prism that is configured to rotate about an axis and a second refractive prism that is configured to rotate about the axis. The apparatus further includes a camera that captures a plurality of partial images. Finally, the first refractive prism and the second refractive prism form an optical axis that follows a cycloidal pattern. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: In a process for automatically determining the modulation transfer function (MTF) of a focal plane array (FPA) cameras, a test grid is used to generate a beat whose amplitude corresponds to that of the grid image to be measured, without the sampling MTF. (The image of the test grid has a spatial frequency in the detector plane that is detuned with respect to the Nyquist frequency of the detector array. The test grid covers a range of at least half a beat period, and then, regardless of the actual phase position, the modulation amplitude is determined therefrom. Comparative MTF measurements are thereby permitted without the influence of the sampling effect of an FPA, and particularly the MTF measurement in real time suitable for the application to moving images.