Optical monitoring system apparatus

A system for monitoring changes in a scene that has a first aspect ratio comprising:

• a mirror array of more than two mirrors, and
• means for imaging the scene having a field of view with a second aspect ratio, the scene being a long, narrow region, longer than it is wide, such that tho first aspect ratio of the scene is more than twice the second aspect ratio of the field of view of the imaging means,
• wherein the mirror array is disposed between the imaging means and the scene and is aligned along an optical axis of the imaging means such that the scene is viewed by the imaging means in segments, said segments of the scene being directed by the mirrors of the mirror array to appear in distinct regions of the field of view of the imaging means, and
• wherein each of the mirrors of the mirror array are distributed along an array centerline extending along the optical axis of the imaging means, each of the mirrors having a respective centerline,
• wherein the centerline of a first mirror of the mirror array is located a distance mgd units from the imaging means, and
• wherein the centerlines of the remaining mirrors of the mirror array are located a distance greater than mgd from the imaging means such that all segments of the scene are in focus with respect to the imaging means, and
• wherein mgd is given by ##EQU8## where R2 is number of units from the centerline of the first mirror to the a plane containing the scene,
• A.sub.e is an effective aperture given by ##EQU9## wherein fl is a focal length of the imaging system, and f# is a focal ratio of the imaging system,
• and where H.sub.s is given by ##EQU10## wherein nf is the number of mirrors in the mirror array, and H.sub.o is a term dependent on a minimum resolution.