Optical detection of radiometric events
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsDavid Keith Mefford, Robert Alan Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coherent fiber array is used to optically detect a radiometric event. The coherent fiber array has a dome-shaped detection surface and a planar output surface. Optical energy from the radiometric event is detected at the dome-shaped detection surface and transferred to the output surface. The coherent fiber array retains directionality of the radiometric event while transferring the optical energy from the dome-shaped detection surface to the planar output surface.
Claims20
A method of detecting a radiometric event, the method comprising using a coherent fiber array having a dome-shaped detection surface and planar output surface to optically detect optical energy from the radiometric event, the electromagnetic radiation detected at the dome-shaped detection surface and transferred to the planar output surface;
- wherein the coherent fiber array retains directionality of the radiometric event while transferring the optical energy from the dome-shaped detection surface to the planar output surface.
An optical detection system comprising
- a coherent fiber array (CFA) having a dome-shaped detection surface and a flat output surface, the CFA including a plurality of optical fibers for collecting optical energy at the detection surface and transferring the collected optical energy to the output surface;
- a focal plane array for creating an image of the output surface of the CFA;
- and
- a processor for processing the image, including identifying a centroid of a radiometric event.
A system comprising:
- a platform including one of a helmet, tripod, and a gun mount;
- and
- an optical detector package mounted to the platform, the detector including a coherent fiber array (CFA) having a dome-shaped detection surface and a flat output surface, the CFA including a plurality of optical fibers for collecting optical energy at the detection surface and transferring the collected optical energy to the output surface;
- and a focal plane array for creating an image of the output surface of the CFA.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.