Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cross-pivot flexure system. In one embodiment the system may incorporate a center post element having a first head at a first end thereof, and a second head at a second end thereof. The first head may be arranged along a first longitudinal axis and the second head may be arranged along a second longitudinal axis. The first head may be attached to an immovable ground element through at least one first cross-pivot element for enabling rotational movement about the first longitudinal axis, while the second head may be attached to a motion stage flexure via at least one second cross-pivot element. This construction permits rotational movement of the second head about the second rotational axis. The first and second longitudinal axes are further arranged so that they intersect one another.

Abstract: A coherent aperture array system is used for steering an optical source beam. The system has spaced apart, steerable emitters each able to be mechanically aimed at a remote target location to steer portions of the source beam toward the target location. Each steerable emitter has a subaperture controllable independently of a remaining reflective surface of its associated steerable emitter, to receive and reflect a subportion of the source beam portion. The subportion forms a sense beam which is reflected toward a phase imaging system. A separate reference beam is created from the portion of the source beam travelling toward each steerable emitter. Each sense beam and each reference beam are thus associated uniquely with one of the steerable emitters. A phase imaging system uses the reference beams and the sense beams to determine phase differences between the portions of the source beam being transmitted from each steerable emitter.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling thermal radiation from a component. The method involves arranging a thermally conductive base layer in contact with the component, the base layer including a thermally emissive surface. A plurality of independently controlled shutter elements are movable about at least two orthogonal axes, and between closed and open positions, to change a dimension of a gap separating edges of adjacent ones of the shutter elements. The movements of the shutter elements are controlled about the two orthogonal axes to control the dimensions of the gaps to control thermal radiation emitted through the gaps.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling thermal radiation from a component. The method involves arranging a thermally conductive base layer in contact with the component, the base layer including a thermally emissive surface. A plurality of independently controlled shutter elements are movable about at least two orthogonal axes, and between closed and open positions, to change a dimension of a gap separating edges of adjacent ones of the shutter elements. The movements of the shutter elements are controlled about the two orthogonal axes to control the dimensions of the gaps to control thermal radiation emitted through the gaps.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a thermal emissivity control system. The system may have a segmented array that makes use of a thermally conductive base layer configured to be connectable to an external heat generating subsystem, with the base layer including a thermally emissive surface. The array may also have a plurality of actuation elements at least one of positioned on or adjacent to the thermally emissive surface. A plurality of movable shutter elements is disposed adjacent one another in a grid pattern, and controlled in movement by the actuation elements to create gaps of controllably varying dimension therebetween. The shutter elements control at least one of a magnitude of, or direction of, thermal radiation through the gaps.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for modifying temporal dispersion in an optical signal. The system makes use of a segmented array including a plurality of independently controllable, reflective optical elements. The optical elements are configured to segment a received input optical signal into a plurality of beamlets, and to reflect and steer selected ones of the plurality of beamlets in predetermined angular orientations therefrom. A variable optical dispersion subsystem is used which has a plurality of optical components configured to receive and impart different predetermined time delays to different ones of the received beamlets, and to output the plurality of beamlets therefrom.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a coherent aperture array system for steering an optical source beam. The system may have a plurality of spaced apart, steerable emitters each being able to be mechanically aimed at a remote target location to steer portions of the source beam toward the target location. Each steerable emitter has a subaperture controllable independently of a remaining reflective surface of its associated steerable emitter, to receive and reflect a subportion of the source beam portion. The subportion forms a sense beam which is reflected toward a phase imaging system. A separate reference beam is created from the portion of the source beam travelling toward each steerable emitter. Each sense beam and each reference beam are thus associated uniquely with one of the steerable emitters. A phase imaging system is responsive to each of the reference beams and the sense beams, and determines phase differences between the portions of the source beam being transmitted from each steerable emitter.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a thermal emissivity control system. The system may have a segmented array that makes use of a thermally conductive base layer configured to be connectable to an external heat generating subsystem, with the base layer including a thermally emissive surface. The array may also have a plurality of actuation elements at least one of positioned on or adjacent to the thermally emissive surface. A plurality of movable shutter elements is disposed adjacent one another in a grid pattern, and controlled in movement by the actuation elements to create gaps of controllably varying dimension therebetween. The shutter elements control at least one of a magnitude of, or direction of, thermal radiation through the gaps.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for modifying temporal dispersion in an optical signal. The system makes use of a segmented array including a plurality of independently controllable, reflective optical elements. The optical elements are configured to segment a received input optical signal into a plurality of beamlets, and to reflect and steer selected ones of the plurality of beamlets in predetermined angular orientations therefrom. A variable optical dispersion subsystem is used which has a plurality of optical components configured to receive and impart different predetermined time delays to different ones of the received beamlets, and to output the plurality of beamlets therefrom.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cross-pivot flexure system. In one embodiment the system may incorporate a center post element having a first head at a first end thereof, and a second head at a second end thereof. The first head may be arranged along a first longitudinal axis and the second head may be arranged along a second longitudinal axis. The first head may be attached to an immovable ground element through at least one first cross-pivot element for enabling rotational movement about the first longitudinal axis, while the second head may be attached to a motion stage flexure via at least one second cross-pivot element. This construction permits rotational movement of the second head about the second rotational axis. The first and second longitudinal axes are further arranged so that they intersect one another.