Optical element switching systems for an electro optical system
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsJake B. Range, Chris Shreve
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various exemplary systems for transporting and switching optical components are disclosed. The system includes carriers disposed about a housing and configured to follow a carrier guide system to switch optical components at the optical prescription center of the optical path. In one example, a device is disclosed that reduces the packaging form factor through the use of carriers rotated about an inverted radius along a track adjacent to a limiting peripheral boundary. The system and device are configured to switch optical components while minimizing the form factor of the optical device. Methods of accomplishing these tasks are also disclosed.
Claims14
An optical device, comprising:
- a housing operable to support one or more optical sensors, the housing defining an optical path through an optical prescription center of the housing;
- and
- an optical element switching system associated with the housing, the optical element switching system comprising:
- a plurality of carriers movable about non-parallel sides of the housing, and each comprising a frame and an optical component supported by the frame;
- a carrier guide system comprising a housing interface that engages a carrier interface, wherein the carrier guide system is operable to movably support the plurality of carriers relative to the housing;
- and
- a carrier drive system operable to selectively move and position the plurality of carriers along the carrier guide system in and out of the optical path.
An optical system, comprising:
- a first optical device comprising:
- a housing comprising a peripheral boundary, and defining an optical path through an optical prescription center;
- a sensor disposed within the housing, the sensor defining, at least in part, the peripheral boundary of the housing;
- and
- an optical element switching system comprising:
- at least one carrier movable about the housing, the carrier comprising a frame and an optical component supported by the frame;
- a carrier guide system comprising a housing interface that interfaces with a carrier interface that tracks, at least in part, the peripheral boundary of the housing, the carrier interface further comprising a cam section that deviates from the peripheral boundary and that effectuates rotation of the carrier as the carrier transitions from a first surface of the housing out of the optical path to a second surface of the housing containing the optical prescription center;
- and
- a carrier drive system operable to selectively move and position the carrier along the carrier guide system in and out of the optical path.
A method for switching optical components in an optical system in and out of an optical path, the method comprising:
- movably supporting a plurality of carriers about non-parallel sides of a housing, each of the carriers comprising an optical component;
- locating a first carrier at an optical prescription center of the housing, such that the optical component of the first carrier is within an optical path, wherein a second carrier with its associated optical component is positioned out of the optical path;
- rotating the second carrier about a cam section to orient the second carrier with the optical path;
- and
- operating a carrier drive system of a carrier guide system to move the first carrier out of the optical path and to locate the second carrier at the optical prescription center, such that the optical component of the second carrier is within the optical path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.