Optical configurations for optical field mappings for back-scanned and line-scanned imagers
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorDavid N. Sitter, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Examples are directed to optimal field mappings that provide the highest contrast images for time delay integration (TDI) imaging systems and methods. The mapping can be implemented for line-scanned imaging with optical systems including an anamorphic field correcting assembly configured to implement a non-rotationally symmetric field mapping between object space and image space to adjust distortion characteristics of the optics to control image wander on a focal plane array. The anamorphic field correcting assembly can include one or more mirrors or lenses having non-rotationally symmetric aspherical departures.
Claims11
An optical imaging system comprising:
- an imaging sensor configured to perform time delay integration imaging;
- and
- an optical sub-system configured to receive electromagnetic radiation from a viewed scene and to focus the electromagnetic radiation onto the imaging sensor, the imaging sensor being configured to form an image from the electromagnetic radiation, the optical sub-system including at least one anamorphic field correcting optical element configured to implement a non-rotationally symmetric field mapping to set distortion characteristics of the optical sub-system to control image wander on the imaging sensor for off-axis image points during an integration period of the imaging sensor.
An imaging method comprising:
- receiving electromagnetic radiation from a viewed scene with an optical sub-system and directing the electromagnetic with the optical sub-system to an imaging sensor;
- performing time delay integration imaging with the imaging sensor;
- and
- adjusting distortion characteristics of the optical sub-system with a field correcting assembly to control image wander for off-axis image points during an integration period of the imaging sensor, the field correcting assembly including at least one anamorphic field correction optical element configured to implement a non-rotationally symmetric field mapping to set the distortion characteristics of the optical sub-system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.