Sensor system and support structure
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsEric Fest, Rex Kremer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosed system and apparatus for a sensor support structure generally includes a substantially reflective support strut having discontinuous protrusions on the support surface presented to the field of view of the sensor. These discontinuous protrusions may be suitably configured such that ambient thermal radiation is generally reflected away from the support strut and divergent from acceptance in the sensor's optical train.
Claims20
A support structure for reducing thermal noise in a sensor system, said support structure comprising a strut having at least one surface presented to the field of view of a sensor, wherein the strut surface comprises a plurality of discontinuous protrusions suitably adapted for diverting thermal radiation away from the sensor.
A sensor system, comprising:
- a sensor suitably adapted to receive electromagnetic radiation along an optical path;
- and
- a support strut having at least one surface presented to the field of view of a sensor, wherein the strut surface comprises a plurality of discontinuous protrusions suitably configured to divert electromagnetic radiation away from the optical path of the sensor.
A sensor system, comprising:
- a first mirror defining a sensor opening;
- a sensor substantially surrounded by the first mirror and adapted to receive electromagnetic radiation via an optical path through the sensor opening;
- a second mirror adapted to reflect the electromagnetic radiation from the first mirror to the sensor;
- and
- a strut coupling the first mirror to the second mirror, wherein the strut comprises a plurality of discontinuous protrusions at least partially exposed to the sensor via the optical path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.