System and method for viewing an area using an optical system positioned inside of a dewar
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsRobert C. Gibbons, Stephen H. Black, Richard N. Mullins
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Abstract
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for viewing an area includes a dewar and an optical system positioned within the dewar. The dewar permits operation of the flux detector at cryogenic temperatures, in some embodiments. The optical system includes an infrared radiation system capable of focusing one or more light beams. The inclusion of the optical system within the cryogenic space of the dewar allows reduction of the overall system length and weight, if desired.
Claims17
A system for viewing an area, comprising:
- a dewar operable to lower the temperature of a flux detector;
- an optical system positioned within the dewar, the optical system comprising an infrared radiation imaging system operable to focus one or more light beams, the infrared radiation imaging system comprising:
- one or more lenses stacked on one or more mounted surfaces, and
- the one or more mounted surfaces coupled to the dewar, wherein the one or more lenses and the one or more mounted surfaces are each made of the same material type;
- and
- a collimator for determining a thickness of a shim needed to adjust the focus of the optical system, wherein the optical system is operable to receive the shim in order for the focus of the optical system to be adjusted.
A method for adjusting the focus of an optical system positioned within a dewar, comprising:
- positioning an optical system within a dewar, the optical system comprising an infrared radiation imaging system operable to focus one or more light beams, the infrared radiation imaging system comprising:
- one or more lenses stacked on one or more mounted surfaces;
- and
- the one or more mounted surfaces coupled to the dewar, wherein the one or more lenses and the one or more mounted surfaces are each made of the same material type;
- and
- focusing, by the optical system, one or more light beams received from an area;
- and
- adjusting the focus of the optical system by:
- using a collimator to determine a thickness of a shim needed to adjust the focus of the optical system;
- and
- inserting the shim into the optical system.
A system for viewing an area, comprising:
- a dewar operable to lower the temperature of a flux detector, the dewar comprising a dewar window operable to allow one or more light beams to enter the dewar, wherein the flux detector comprises an infrared detector, wherein the dewar is operable to lower the temperature of the infrared detector to a temperature range between −320 degrees Fahrenheit and −346 degrees Fahrenheit;
- liquid nitrogen disposed within the dewar;
- an optical system positioned within the dewar, the optical system comprising a non-reimaging optical system and further comprising an infrared radiation imaging system operable to focus the one or more light beams, and further operable to provide a field of view of at least 90 degrees, wherein the one or more light beams comprise one or more infrared light waves, the infrared radiation imaging system comprising:
- an aperture stop coupled to the dewar, the aperture stop positioned such as to control the intensity of the light beams received by the infrared detector;
- one or more lenses stacked on one or more mounted surfaces;
- the one or more mounted surfaces coupled to the dewar, wherein the one or more lenses and the one or more mounted surfaces are each made of the same material type, wherein the material type comprises silicon;
- and
- the infrared detector;
- and
- a collimator for determining a thickness of a shim needed to adjust the focus of the optical system, wherein the optical system is operable to receive the shim in order for the focus of the optical system to be adjusted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.