Optical detection system
AssigneeBAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
InventorsNorman R. Wild, Paul M. Leavy, Jr.
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Abstract
The present invention pertains to radiant energy systems and more particularly to systems exhibiting the retroreflection principle wherein the system comprises a focusing means and a surface exhibiting some degree of reflectivity positioned near the focal plane of the device, and wherein incident radiation falling within the field-of-view of said system is reflected back in a direction which is parallel to the incident radiation. The present invention has great applicability in military optical system applications for detecting the presence of an enemy employing surveillance equipment and for neutralizing this surveillance capability.
Claims71
The method of detecting an uncooperative optical system including a focusing means and a surface exhibiting some degree of reflectivity disposed substantially in the focal plane of said focusing means, said method comprising
- the step of directing optical energy at said optical system whereby that portion of said energy incident upon said optical system is retroreflected with an optical gain to thereby form a beam of retroreflected optical energy, and
- the step of detecting said retroreflected optical energy having a radiant flux density in excess of a preselected value to thereby indicate the presence of said optical system.
Apparatus for detecting the presence of an uncooperative optical system including a focusing means and a surface exhibiting some degree of reflectivity disposed substantially in the focal plane of said focusing means, said apparatus comprising
- means for producing radiant energy,
- means for directing said energy toward said optical system whereby said energy is retroreflected with an optical gain by said optical system, and
- means for detecting said retroreflected energy having a radiant flux density in excess of a preselected value to thereby indicate the presence of said optical system.
Apparatus for measuring the retroreflective characteristics of an optical system consisting of at least a focusing means and a surface exhibiting some degree of reflectivity disposed substantially in the focal plane of said focusing means, said apparatus comprising
- a radiant energy source,
- detection means,
- measuring means connected to said detection means, and
- means for directing said radiant energy produced by said source at said optical system,
- whereby said radiant energy is retroreflected with an optical gain by said optical system and detected by said detecting means and the output thereof is coupled to said measuring means.
The method of detecting the presence of devices which exhibit the phenomenon of retroreflection, said method comprising
- the step of directing radiant energy at said devices whereby said radiant energy is retroreflected with an optical gain by said devices, and
- the step of detecting said retroreflected radiant energy which is in excess of a preselected radiant flux density level to thereby indicate the presence of said devices.
Apparatus for detecting the presence of devices which exhibit the phenomenon of retroreflection, said apparatus comprising
- means for producing radiant energy,
- means for directing said energy toward said devices whereby said energy is retroreflected with an optical gain by said devices, and
- means for detecting said retroreflected energy which is in excess of a preselected radiant flux density level to thereby indicate the presence of said devices.
apparatus for measuring the retroreflective characteristics of devices which exhibit the phenomenon of retroreflection, said apparatus comprising
- means for producing radiant energy,
- means for directing said energy toward said devices whereby said energy is retroreflected with an optical gain by said devices,
- means for detecting said retroreflected energy which is in excess of a preselected radiant flux density level to thereby indicate the presence of said devices, and
- means for analyzing said detected energy to thereby determine the characteristics of said devices.
The method of detecting an uncooperative and non-radiating microwave antenna system consisting of at least a microwave focusing means and a microwave feed horn disposed substantially at the focal point of said focusing means, said method comprising
- the step of directing swept frequency microwave energy at said antenna system whereby substantially all energy at the operating frequency of said antenna system which is impingent thereon is focused by said focusing means and absorbed by said feed horn and energy of any other frequency is retroreflected by said antenna system with an energy density gain to thereby form a beam of retroreflected microwave energy, and
- the step of detecting said retroreflected energy having an energy density in excess of a preselected value to thereby indicate the presence of said antenna system.
A method of detecting characteristics or properties of an optical system based on a retroreflected beam, comprising:
- transmitting radiant energy at an optical system having retroreflective characteristics;
- receiving reflected radiant energy after retroreflection of the radiant energy;
- detecting the reflected radiant energy after retroreflection to determine at least one characteristic or property of the optical system.
An apparatus for detecting characteristics or properties of an optical system based on a retroreflected beam, comprising:
- a source of radiant energy;
- a detector;
- and
- an optical system that directs radiant energy from the source toward a retroreflective surface and returns reflected radiant energy to the detector;
- wherein the detector determines at least one characteristic or property of the optical system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.