Bypass optical switch and methods

A method for facilitating switching between a first field-of-view and a second field-of-view, both through a single window, with a field-of-view switch assembly, the method comprising:

• facilitating translation of light rays with a plurality of mirrors to a detector of an optical system to translate a first field-of-view, wherein a first optical path is defined by the light rays through the single window;
• facilitating switching between the first field-of-view and a second field-of-view, both through the single window, with a field-of-view switch assembly of the optical system to redirect the first optical path, thereby redirecting the light rays via first and second diverter mirrors of the field-of-view switch assembly through a second optical path to the detector, such that the light rays through the second optical path are translated through the single window directly to the second diverter mirror, then directly to the first diverter mirror, and then directly from the first diverter mirror to the detector, wherein facilitating switching comprises facilitating movement of a mount of the field-of-view switch assembly, wherein the mount positions the first diverter mirror and the second diverter mirror within the first optical path when the mount is moved from a non-bypass position to a bypass position to redirect the first optical path to the second optical path;
• and
• facilitating shielding a reflective surface of the second diverter mirror from stray light rays with a dynamic shutter when the mount is moved to the non-bypass position, and facilitating exposing the reflective surface with the dynamic shutter when the mount is moved to the bypass position.

An optical system comprising:

• a detector;
• an optical assembly comprising a plurality of mirrors that reflect light rays through a first optical path to the detector to translate a first field-of-view;
• and
• a field-of-view switch assembly, comprising:
• a mount movably coupled to the optical assembly, the mount being selectively movable between a non-bypass position and a bypass position;
• a first diverter mirror attached to the mount;
• a second diverter mirror attached to the mount and having a reflective surface, wherein the first and second diverter mirrors are configured to bypass the first field-of-view and translate a second field-of-view when moved from the non-bypass position to the bypass position, thereby redirecting the light rays via the first and second diverter mirrors through a second optical path to the detector;
• and
• a dynamic shutter movably coupled to the mount, wherein the dynamic shutter is operable to automatically rotate away from the reflective surface of the second diverter mirror to expose the reflective surface of the second diverter mirror when the mount is moved to the bypass position, and operable to automatically rotate toward the reflective surface of the second diverter mirror to cover the reflective surface of the second diverter mirror when the mount is moved to the non-bypass position.

An optical system comprising:

• a single window;
• a detector;
• an optical assembly comprising a plurality of mirrors that reflect light rays through a first optical path to the detector to translate a first field-of-view;
• a field-of-view switch assembly, comprising:
• a mount movably coupled to the optical assembly, the mount being selectively movable between a non-bypass position and a bypass position;
• a first diverter mirror attached to the mount;
• and
• a second diverter mirror attached to the mount, wherein the first and second diverter mirrors are configured to bypass the first field-of-view and translate a second field-of-view when moved from the non-bypass position to the bypass position, thereby redirecting the light rays via the first and second diverter mirrors through a second optical path to the detector, such that the light rays through the second optical path are translatable through the single window directly to the second diverter mirror, then directly to the first diverter mirror, and then directly from the first diverter mirror to the detector,
• wherein both the first field-of-view and the second field-of-view are through the single window, and wherein, when in the bypass position, the first diverter mirror is positionable within the first optical path, such that the first diverter mirror operates to block light rays associated with the first field-of-view from being reflected to the detector, and
• wherein reflective surfaces of the first and second diverter mirrors, when in the bypass position, are positioned to vertically translate the second optical path approximately 180 degrees to the detector, such that reflective surfaces of the first and second diverter mirrors are each positioned to translate the second optical path approximately 90 degrees.