公开(公告)号：US11835705B2

公开(公告)日：2023-12-05

申请号：US17065177

申请日：2020-10-07

Applicant: Raytheon Company

Inventor： Gerald P. Uyeno ,  Eric Rogala ,  Mark K. Lange ,  Sean D. Keller ,  Vanessa Reyna ,  Benn H. Gleason ,  Craig O. Shott ,  Garret A. Odom ,  Jon E. Leigh

IPC: F16M11/12 ,  G02B23/16

CPC classification number: G02B23/16 ,  F16M11/123

Abstract: Optical sensors and particularly gimbaled optical sensors transmit an active signal at a given wavelength and receive passive signals over a range of wavelengths while controlling pointing without benefit of measuring and locating the active signal return. The sensor includes a Tx/Rx Aperture Sharing Element (ASE) is configured to block the received active signal (e.g. reflections off a target in a scene) and process only the passive emissions. These optical sensors may, for example, be used with guided munitions or autonomous vehicles.

公开(公告)号：US20230022548A1

公开(公告)日：2023-01-26

申请号：US17231898

申请日：2021-04-15

Applicant: Raytheon Company

Inventor： David J. Knapp ,  Gerald P. Uyeno ,  Sean D. Keller ,  Benn H. Gleason ,  Eric Rogala ,  Mark K. Lange ,  Garret A. Odom ,  Craig O. Shott ,  Zachary D. Barker

IPC: G02B26/10 ,  G02B26/08 ,  B81B3/00

Abstract: An optical scanning system includes one or more Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) Micro-Mirror Arrays (MMAs) used to scan a field-of-view (FOV) over a field-of-regard (FOR). The MEMS MMA is configured such that optical radiation from each point in the FOV does not land on or originate from out-of-phase mirror segments and a diffraction limited resolution of the optical system is limited by the size of the entrance pupil and not by the size of individual mirrors.

公开(公告)号：US11550146B2

公开(公告)日：2023-01-10

申请号：US17152023

申请日：2021-01-19

Applicant: Raytheon Company

Inventor： Gerald P. Uyeno ,  Mark K. Lange ,  Sean D. Keller ,  Benn H. Gleason ,  Zachary D. Barker ,  Craig O. Shott ,  Eric Rogala

IPC: G02B26/08

Abstract: Small angle optical beam steering is performed using a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) Micro-Mirror Array (MMA) that minimizes diffraction for a specified steering angle, Generally speaking, this is accomplished with a MEMS MMA that exhibits a “piston” capability to translate individual mirrors in addition to the tip and tilt capabilities. Adjacent mirrors can be tipped/tilted to the specified steering angle and then translated by a requisite amount to approximate a continuous surface. For a specified steering angle, the MEMS MMA is partitioned into one or more sections with each section including the maximum number of mirrors that can be grouped together and actuated to approximate a continuous surface given a maximum translation z. As a result, the only edge discontinuities exist between adjacent sections thereby minimizing distortion for a given steering angle.

公开(公告)号：US11835709B2

公开(公告)日：2023-12-05

申请号：US17171577

申请日：2021-02-09

Applicant: Raytheon Company

Inventor： Gerald P. Uyeno ,  Benn H. Gleason ,  Sean D. Keller ,  Mark K. Lange ,  Eric Rogala ,  Vanessa Reyna ,  Craig O. Shott ,  Jon E. Leigh ,  Garret A. Odom

IPC: G02B26/08 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/931 ,  G01S17/933

CPC classification number: G02B26/0833 ,  G01S7/4811 ,  G01S7/4817 ,  G01S17/931 ,  G01S17/933

Abstract: A beam steering architecture for an optical sensor is based upon a pair of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) Micro-Mirror Arrays (MMAs) and a fold mirror. The MEMS MMAs scan both primary and secondary FOR providing considerable flexibility to scan a scene to provide not only active imaging (to supplement passive imaging) but also simultaneously allowing for other optical functions such as establishing a communications link, providing an optical transmit beam for another detection platform or determining a range to target. A special class of MEMS MMAs that provides a “piston” capability in which the individual mirrors may translate enables a suite of optical functions to “shape” the optical transmit beam.

公开(公告)号：US20230087666A1

公开(公告)日：2023-03-23

申请号：US17479896

申请日：2021-09-20

Applicant: Raytheon Company

Inventor： Craig O. Shott ,  Gerald P. Uyeno ,  Benn H. Gleason ,  Sean D. Keller ,  Mark K. Lange ,  Eric Rogala ,  Vanessa Reyna ,  Garret A. Odom ,  Jon E. Leigh

IPC: G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/66 ,  F41G7/22

Abstract: An optical sensor uses a MEMS MMA to scan a narrow laser beam over a transmit FOR to provide active illumination and to correct the beam profile (e.g., collimate the beam, reduce chromatic aberrations, correct the beam profile or wavefront). A staring detector senses light within a receive FOR that at least partially overlaps the transmit FOR. By completely eliminating the dual-axis gimbal, this sensor architecture greatly reduces the volume and weight of the optical sensor while avoiding the deficiencies of known systems associated with either fiber or free-space coupling of the laser beam into an existing receiver.

公开(公告)号：US20220317260A1

公开(公告)日：2022-10-06

申请号：US17217929

申请日：2021-03-30

Applicant: Raytheon Company

Inventor： Andrew W. Dutton ,  Gerald P. Uyeno ,  Sean D. Keller ,  Eric Rogala

IPC: G01S7/481 ,  G02B26/08 ,  G01S17/89

Abstract: A multiple FOV optical sensor includes a primary mirror having first and second rings of differing curvature to collect light from an object within different FOV. A secondary mirror includes a MEMS MMA in which the mirrors tip and tilt in 2 DOF or add piston in 3 DOF to (I) reflect light from the first ring within the first FOV that is focused at an imaging plane coincident with an imaging detector to form a focused image of the object at the imaging detector or (II) reflect light from the second ring within the second FOV onto the imaging detector (either focused to form a focused image or defocused to form a blurred spot). The MEMS MMA may be configured to alternate between (I) and (II) or to perform both (I) and (II) at the same time with the different FOV either overlapped or spatially separated on the detector. The sensor may be configured as an all-passive sensor, a dual-mode sensor or a hybrid of the two.

公开(公告)号：US20220299756A1

公开(公告)日：2022-09-22

申请号：US17207177

申请日：2021-03-19

Applicant: Raytheon Company

Inventor： Eric Rogala ,  Gerald P. Uyeno ,  Sean D. Keller

IPC: G02B26/08 ,  G02B17/00 ,  G02B7/182 ,  G02B3/08

Abstract: A zoom system includes a collection optic L1 and a reflective Fresnel Lens L2 having a variable focal length. The reflective Fresnel Lens L2 is implemented with a MEMS MMA in which the mirrors tip, tilt and piston form and alter the reflective Fresnel Lens to focus light at a common focal point to set the variable focal length f2, hence the magnification M. In different embodiments, the zoom system may be configured to be “focal” or “afocal”. In the focal system, both L1 and L2 are fixed such that the system affects the net convergence or divergence of the magnified beam. In an afocal system, a mechanism is used to translate L2 to maintain a separation between L1 and L2 of d=f1+f2 as f2 is varied to change the magnification M.

公开(公告)号：US20220252865A1

公开(公告)日：2022-08-11

申请号：US17171577

申请日：2021-02-09

Applicant: Raytheon Company

Inventor： Gerald P. Uyeno ,  Benn H. Gleason ,  Sean D. Keller ,  Mark K. Lange ,  Eric Rogala ,  Vanessa Reyna ,  Craig O. Shott ,  Jon E. Leigh ,  Garret A. Odom

IPC: G02B26/08 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/933 ,  G01S17/931

Abstract: A beam steering architecture for an optical sensor is based upon a pair of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) Micro-Mirror Arrays (MMAs) and a fold mirror. The MEMS MMAs scan both primary and secondary FOR providing considerable flexibility to scan a scene to provide not only active imaging (to supplement passive imaging) but also simultaneously allowing for other optical functions such as establishing a communications link, providing an optical transmit beam for another detection platform or determining a range to target. A special class of MEMS MMAs that provides a “piston” capability in which the individual mirrors may translate enables a suite of optical functions to “shape” the optical transmit beam.

公开(公告)号：US20220229285A1

公开(公告)日：2022-07-21

申请号：US17152023

申请日：2021-01-19

Applicant: Raytheon Company

Inventor： Gerald P. Uyeno ,  Mark K. Lange ,  Sean D. Keller ,  Benn H. Gleason ,  Zachary D. Barker ,  Craig O. Shott ,  Eric Rogala

IPC: G02B26/08

Abstract: Small angle optical beam steering is performed using a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) Micro-Mirror Array (MMA) that minimizes diffraction for a specified steering angle, Generally speaking, this is accomplished with a MEMS MMA that exhibits a “piston” capability to translate individual mirrors in addition to the tip and tilt capabilities. Adjacent mirrors can be tipped/tilted to the specified steering angle and then translated by a requisite amount to approximate a continuous surface. For a specified steering angle, the MEMS MMA is partitioned into one or more sections with each section including the maximum number of mirrors that can be grouped together and actuated to approximate a continuous surface given a maximum translation z. As a result, the only edge discontinuities exist between adjacent sections thereby minimizing distortion for a given steering angle.

公开(公告)号：US20220107490A1

公开(公告)日：2022-04-07

申请号：US17065177

申请日：2020-10-07

Applicant: Raytheon Company

Inventor： Gerald P. Uyeno ,  Eric Rogala ,  Mark K. Lange ,  Sean D. Keller ,  Vanessa Reyna ,  Benn H. Gleason ,  Craig O. Shott ,  Garret A. Odom ,  Jon E. Leigh

IPC: G02B23/16 ,  F16M11/12

Abstract: Optical sensors and particularly gimbaled optical sensors transmit an active signal at a given wavelength and receive passive signals over a range of wavelengths while controlling pointing without benefit of measuring and locating the active signal return. The sensor includes a Tx/Rx Aperture Sharing Element (ASE) is configured to block the received active signal (e.g. reflections off a target in a scene) and process only the passive emissions. These optical sensors may, for example, be used with guided munitions or autonomous vehicles.