15 January 2013 Multifield of view see-spot optics
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Abstract
The increasing availability of sensors that can image in the 1 to 5 μm region has allowed for systems to be developed that utilize the full spectrum. Current mid-wave infrared (MWIR) systems have typically only imaged in the 3 to 5 μm region, but the new detectors allow imaging in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) and MWIR bands on the same image plane. Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) had a requirement to design and build a multiple field of view (FOV) optical system that could image the 1 to 5 μm spectral band utilizing a single, cooled infrared detector. The primary challenge of designing this particular optical system was to get the 1 to 2 (SWIR) μm band to focus at the same image plane as the 3 to 5 (MWIR) μm band in all FOVs. A three-FOV broadband optical system that can image the 1 to 5 μm band on the same image plane was designed and built. Several optical concepts were looked at, and it was decided that a combination of a reflective afocal and refractive imager was the best way to meet the system requirements. The use of a catadioptric system with a single focal plane that images in the 1 to 5 μm spectrum reduces the size of the system and provides the user with see-spot capability.
© 2013 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) 0091-3286/2013/$25.00 © 2013 SPIE
Scott J. Lilley, Jay N. Vizgaitis, Jonathan Everett, and Robert Spinazzola "Multifield of view see-spot optics," Optical Engineering 52(6), 061303 (15 January 2013). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.52.6.061303
Published: 15 January 2013
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CITATIONS
Cited by 4 scholarly publications.
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KEYWORDS
Imaging systems

Mid-IR

Modulation transfer functions

Short wave infrared radiation

Reflectivity

Optical design

Sensors

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