J a m : 3 , 3 1 9 6 ? 5 . c .

ARGYLE 3 , 29 6 , 443
COMPACT OPTICAL TRACKING SYSTEM
Filed Feb. 24, 1 9 6 1 2 Sheets-Sheet l
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INV ENTOR.
SIDNEY C. ARGYLE
Mm ? ATTO NEY
3 , 29 6 , 443
J a n ? 3 , 1 9 6 7 s. c . ARGYLE
COMPACT OPTICAL TRACKING SYSTEM
2 Sheets-Sheet 2
Filed Feb. 24, 1 9 6 1
HQV I' IOA "IV NSIS
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INV ENTOR.
SIDNEY C. ARGYLE
ATTORNE
3 , 29 6 , 443
COMPACT OPTICAL TRACKING sYsTsM
Sidn ey , . C. Argy le, Glen do ra , Ca lif . , a ssign o r to Aero j et
. Gen era liiCo rp o ra tio n p Azusa , Ca lif . , a c o rp o ra tio n o f
Ohio t t .
i Filed Feb. 24, 1 9 6 1 , Ser. No . 9 1 , 5 44
2 Cla im s. ( Cl. 2Stl2ti3 )
This in v en tio n rela tes gen era lly to a tra c kin g dev ic e a n d
in p a rtic ula r. to a n o p tic a l in f ra red tra c kin g hea d.
, In f ra r ed : tra c kin g sy stem sha v e been used to direc t
5 v ehic les suc h a s guided m issiles o r a irc ra f t to their ta r
. "gets; , Suc h tra c kin gsy stem s ty p ic a lly c o m p rise a n o p ti
, c a lt sy stem c o m bin ed w ith so m e kin d o f in f ra red de
tec to r. . Th ey . o p era te in suc h a w a y tha t the o utp ut
1 sign a l f ro m the detec to r v a ries w hen the o bj ec t bein g
i guided grn o v es o f f ta rget.
in the v a ria tio n in the o utp ut sign a lis then f ed in to suit
, a ble serv o m ec ha n ism s w hic h steer the v ehic le ba c k to its
The in f o rm a tio n c o n ta in ed
p ro p er c o urse. .
Pf io rin f ra red tra c kin g sy stem s used to guide these v e
hic les w ere ra ther bulky a n d in sen sitiv e. This c ha ra c ter
istic w a s p a rtic ula rly o bj ec tio n a ble o n guided m issiles.
Ac c o rdin gly , a n im p o rta n t o bj ec t o f this in v en tio n is to
p ro v ide a sen sitiv e a n d c o m p a c t in f ra red o p tic a l tra c k
in g hea d, '
In t its p rin c ip a l a sp ec t, the in v en tio n c o m p rises a n o p ti~
c a l sy stem a n d a n in f ra red detec to r. The o p tic a l sy stem
in c ludes a Ca ssegra in ia n p o rtio n a n d a n im a ge n uta to r.
, A retic le is p o sitio n ed a t the f o c a l p la n e o f the o p tic a l
. sy stem . With this a rra n gem en t, the im a ge o f a dista n t
\ o bj ec tp v iew ed by the o p tic a l sy stem is sha rp ly f o c used
o n the retic le, w hile m o v in g thereo n a lo n g a gen era lly
c irc ula rp a th. If the o bj ec t v iew ed is o n the a x is o f the
o p tic a l . sy stem , the gen era lly c irc ula r im a ge p a th w ill
be; c o n c en tric w ith the o p tic a l a x is. If the o bj ec t v iew ed
, is o f f the o p tic a l a x is, the gen era lly c irc ula r im a ge p a th
w ill n o t be c o n c en tric . w ith the o p tic a l a x is.
. Theq retic le is p ro v ided w ith light tra n sm ittin g p o r
f tio n s a n d o p a q ue p o rtio n s disp o sed in the p a th o f the
, m o v in g im a ge. These light tra n sm ittin g a n d o p a q ue p o r- _
tio n s a re so a rra n ged tha t w hen the im a ge p a th is c o n
c en tric w ith the o p tic a l a x is, the p ulses o f light p a ssin g
thro ugh the retic lei w ill ha v e a p redeterm in ed p a ttern .
When the o bj ec t v iew ed is o f f the o p tic a l a x is, the im a ge
"w illi p a ssr o v er dif f eren t p a rts o f the light tra n sm ittin g
a n d o p a q uep o rtio n s o f the retic le, p ro duc in g thereby a
dif f eren t p a ttern o f light p ulses p a ssin g thro ugh the retic le.
Ea c h p o sitio n o f a n o bj ec t o f f the o p tic a l a x is p ro duc es
a p a ttern o f light p ulses c ha ra c teristic , o f tha t p o sitio n .
i The o p tic a l sy stem a lso in c ludes a ? eld len s to f o c us
the im a ge o f the en tra n c e a p erture o f the o p tic a l sy stem
o n tthe detec to r. With this a rra n gem en t, ea c h light p ulse
p a ssin g thro ugh the retic le illum in a tes the im a ge o f the
en tra n c e a p erture o n the detec to r, c a usin g it to p ro duc e a
c o rresp o n din g o utp ut sign a l.
Suita ble a n a ly zers a n d serv o m ec ha n ism s a re c o n n ec ted
to gthev ehic le bein g guided to a lter its c o urse in resp o n se
. 1 to the in f o rm a tio n c o n ta in ed in the detec to r o utp ut sig
1 n a l. In this w a y , the c o urse o f the v ehic le m a y be a l
tered to brin g it ba c k o n ta rget.
Other, o bj ec ts o f this in v en tio n w ill bec o m e m o re a p
f p a ren t w hen . rea d in the light o f the a c c o m p a n y in g dra w
. in gs, a n d sp ec i? c a tio n , w herein :
FIG. 1 is a side v iew , p a rtly in c uta w a y c ro ss sec tio n , o f
the o p tic a l in f ra red tra c kin g hea d.
FIG. 2 is a sec tio n a l v iew ta ken o n the lin e 2-2 o f
FIG. 1 , a n d sho w in g in do tted lin es the im a ge p o in t lo c us
o f o n -ta rgeto bj ec ts a n d the im a ge p o in t lo c us o f o f f -ta r
get o bj ec ts;
U n ited Sta tes Pa ten t 0
1 0
1 5
20
25
3 0
45
5 5
6 0
6 5
7 0
3 , 29 6 , 443
Pa ten ted J a n . 3 , 1 9 6 7
lC
2
FIG. 3 sho w s the p a ttern o f the in ten sity o f light p a ss
in g thro ugh the retic le a n d the sign a l o utp ut f ro m the
detec to r w hen the in f ra red tra c kin g hea d is o n ta rget.
FIG. 4 sho w s o n e p a ttern o f the in ten sity o f light p a ss
in g thro ugh the retic le a n d the sign a l o utp ut f ro m the de
tec to r w hen the in f ra red tra c kin g hea d is o f f ta rget.
FIG. 5 is a sec tio n a l v iew ta ken o n the lin e 5 -5 o f
FIG. 1 .
Ref errin g n o w to FIG. 1 o f the dra w in g, the in f ra red
tra c kin g hea d in dic a ted gen era lly by the ref eren c e n u
m era l 1 0 c o m p rises a n o p tic a l sy stem in dic a ted gen era lly
by the ref eren c e n um era l 1 2, a n d a n in f ra red detec to r 1 4
m o un ted in o p tic a l c o n ta c t in a ' m edium ha v in g a ref ra c ~ '
tiv e in dex grea ter tha n tha t o f a ir. It is un dersto o d tha t
in o p tic s it is c o m m o n to ref er to item s in o p tic a l c o n ta c t
w ith o n e a n o ther a s bein g im m ersed o n e w ith re
sp ec t to a n o ther.
The elem en ts o f the o p tic a l sy stem a re m o un ted in a
sup p o rt 1 3 by a n y suita ble m ea n s ( n o t sho w n ) . As sho w n
in the dra w in g, the o p tic a l sy stem in c ludes a Ca ssegra in
ia n ty p e telesc o p e p o rtio n f o r v iew in g dista n t o bj ec ts, a n
a sso c ia ted im a ge n uta to r, a n d a ? eld len s. The Ca sse
gra in ia n p o rtio n c o m p rises a sp heric a l p o sitiv e c o llec to r
m irro r 1 6 ha v in g a f ro n t surf a c e R3 a n d a thic k sp heric a l
n ega tiv e m irro r 1 8 ha v in g f ro n t surf a c e R4 a n d a re? ec
tic e rea r surf a c e R5 . Mirro r 1 8 is p o sitio n ed in f ro n t
o f the p rim a ry m irro r 1 6 a s sho w n in FIG. 1 . In a ddi
tio n , a c o llim a to r len s 20 ha v in g f ro n t a n d rea r surf a c es
R5 a n d R7 is m o un ted o n the a x is 24 o f the o p tic a l sy stem
betw een m irro rs 1 6 a n d 1 8 . Len s 2f t c o o p era tes w ith
o ther o p tic a l elem en ts to ho ld the im a ge o f the en tra n c e
a p erture ( in this c a se the c o llec to r m irro r 1 6 ) a t in
? n ity , f o r rea so n s to bec o m e a p p a ren t belo w . The thic k
m irro r 1 3 ha s the a dded f un c tio n o f c o n tro llin g the m a j o r
p o rtio n o f the sp heric a l a bbera tio n s in tro duc ed in to the
o p tic a l sy stem , but this c o rrec tio n in tro duc es a c o n sider
a ble a m o un t o f c hro m a tic a bbera tio n . The c o llim a tin g
len s 20 is theref o re giv en the a dded f un c tio n o f c o n
tro llin g this c hro m a tic a bbera tio n , but in do in g so , this
len s re-in tro duc es a sm a ll a m o un t o f sp heric a l a berra tio n
in to the o p tic a l sy stem . This sp heric a l a berra tio n , ho w
ev er, c a n be m in im ized by a j udic io us selec tio n o f the
o ther o p tic a l c o m p o n en ts. If f urther c o n tro l o f the v a ri
o us a bbera tio n s is desired, m irro r 1 6 c a n be thic k in o rder
to in tro duc e o ther c o rrec tio n s.
The im a ge n uta to r 22 is m o un ted o n the o p tic a l a x is
24 o f the o p tic a l sy stem 1 2, a n d in this em bo dim en t, the
im a ge n uta to r is c o a x ia l w ith the Ca ssegra in ia n p o rtio n
a n d gen era lly c o n c en tric w ith m irro r 1 6 . This a rra n ge
m en t is highly desira ble bec a use it p erm its the o p tic a l sy s
tem to be un usua lly light a n d c o m p a c t w itho ut sa c ri? c in g
its a bility to v iew dista n t o bj ec ts.
The im a ge n uta to r c o m p rises a n in c lin ed p la te 26
m o un ted o n the o p tic a l a x is 24 a dj a c en t rea r surf a c e R,
o n the c o llim a tin g len s 20 . Pla te 26 ha s f ro n t a n d rea r
m a j o r p la n a r surf a c es R1 0 a n d R1 1 w hic h a re in c lin ed to
the o p tic a l a x is 24 a s sho w n in FIG. 1 . The ef f ec t o f the
in c lin ed p la te 26 is to c a use a gen era lly ra dia l shif t o f the
im a ge o f a n o bj ec t v iew ed by the o p tic a l sy stem . Thus,
if the im a ge o f the o bj ec t v iew ed by the o p tic a l sy stem
w o uld f a ll o n the o p tic a l a x is 24 w itho ut the in c lin ed
p la te, the a dditio n o f the in c lin ed p la te 26 w o uld disp la c e
the im a ge so tha t it f a lls o f f the o p tic a l a x is. This dis
p la c em en t, ho w ev er, in tro duc es c erta in a berra tio n s ( c o m a
a n d a stigm a tism ) a n d to c o m p en sa te f o r them , a sp heric a l
len s 3 2 ha v in g f ro n t a n d rea r surf a c es R8 a n d R9 is
c em en ted to the f ro n t m a j o r p la n a r surf a c e R1 0 o f the in
c lin ed p la te 26 . With this a rra n gem en t, the im a ge o f a n
o bj ec t v iew ed by the o p tic a l sy stem a n d o n the o p tic a l
a x is w o uld be sha rp ly f o c used o f f the o p tic a l a x is. Len s
3 2 ha s a n a dded f un c tio n in tha t it c o o p era tes w ith the
3 , 29 6 , 443
3
c o llim a tin g len s 20 in ho ldin g the im a ge o f the en tra n c e
a p erture o r m irro r 1 6 a t in ? n ity .
It is n o ted tha t there m a y be c irc um sta n c es w here sev ere
c o n tro l o f c hro m a tic a berra tio n is n o t req uired. In suc h
4
sin uso ida lly . This c ha ra c teristic is desira ble f ro m the
sta n dp o in t o f f req uen c y v a ria tio n detec tio n .
On the o ther ha n d, a s seen in FIG. 2, w hen the o bj ec t
v iew ed by the o p tic a l sy stem is o f f the o p tic a l a x is, so
a n ev en t, the c o llim ia tin g len s 20 m a y be o m itted a n d sur- 5 tha t its im a ge f o llo w s a c irc ula r p a th 5 0 w hic h is n o t c o n
f a c e R1 1 o f the in c lin ed p la te 26 m a y be gro un d so sur~ c en tric w ith the o p tic a l a x is, the len gth o f the o p a q ue a n d
f a c es R1 0 a n d R1 1 a re n o lo n ger p a ra llel to p ro v ide the light tra n sm ittin g p o rtio n s o f a ty p ic a l p a th 5 0 w ill n o
sa m e en d result a s im a gin g the en tra n c e a p erture a t in - lo n ger be eq ua l. Co n seq uen tly , the in ten sity o f light
? n ity . p a ssin g thro ugh the retic le w ill n o lo n ger v a ry sin uso ida lly
As seen in FIGS. 1 a n d 5 , the in c lin ed p la te 26 a n d 1 0 a t a c o n sta n t f req uen c y ( see FIG. 4) . It is a lso a p p a ren t
sp heric a l len s 3 2 a re m o un ted in a tube 3 4 w hic h is ro ta ta - tha t the p a ttern o f the light in ten sity p a ssin g thro ugh the
bly sup p o rted by bea rin gs 3 6 . The tube is ro ta ted by a retic le f ro m o bj ec ts n o t ly in g o n the o p tic a l a x is w ill v a ry
m o to r 40 thro ugh a suita ble driv e. Thus, the im a ge n uta - f ro m p o in t to p o in t. .
to r c a uses the ra dia lly shif ted im a ge o f a n o bj ec t v iew ed The beha v io r o f the o p tic a l sy stem so f a r desc ribed c a n
by the o p tic a l sy stem to m o v e a lo n g a gen era lly c irc ula r 1 5 be illustra ted by f o llo w in g a bun dle o f ra y s rep resen ted by
Pa th. lin e 5 2 c o m in g f ro m a p o in t o bj ec t o f f the o p tic a l a x is 24.
A retic le 42 is m o un ted o n the o p tic a l a x is 24 a dj a c en t These ra y s p a ss thro ugh the hy p er-hem isp heric a l irdo m e
the m a j o r p la n a r surf a c e R1 1 a n d in the f o c a l p la n e o f the 5 3 ( in the c a se o f a n in f ra red tra c kin g hea d) . The irdo m e
o p tic a l sy stem . Co n seq uen tly , the sha rp ly f o c used im a ge is rigidly m o un ted o n the v ehic le a n d serv es a s a p ro tec tiv e
o f a n o bj ec t v iew ed by the o p tic a l sy stem \m o v es a lo n g a 20 c o v er f o r the o p tic a l c o m p o n en ts. Af ter p a ssin g thro ugh
gen era lly c irc ula r p a th o n the retic le. With this a rra n ge- irdo m e 5 3 , the ra y s f a ll o n surf a c e R3 o f the sp heric a l p o si
m en t, the im a ge o f a n o bj ec t v iew ed by the o p tic a l sy stem tiv e c o llec to r m irro r 1 6 a n d a re then re? ec ted to the
a n d o n the o p tic a l a x is w ill m o v e o n the retic le a lo n g a ' sp heric a l n ega tiv e m irro r 1 8 w here they a re ref ra c ted by
gen era lly c irc ula r p a th 48 ( see FIG. 2) , a n d this p a th is surf a c e R4, re? ec ted by surf a c e R5 , a n d a ga in ref ra c ted by
c o n c en tric w ith the a x is o f the o p tic a l sy stem . On the 25 surf a c e R4. The ra y s then p a ss thro ugh the c o llim a tin g
o ther ha n d, if the o bj ec t v iew ed by the o p tic a l sy stem is len s 20 Where they a re ref ra c ted by surf a c es R6 a n d R7 .
o f f the o p tic a l a x is, its im a ge w ill a lso m o v e a lo n g so m e Af ter ref ra c tio n , the ra y s p a ss thro ugh the c o rrec tin g len s
gen era lly c irc ula r p a th 5 0 ( see FIG. 2) . Ho w ev er, in 3 2 a n d in c lin ed p la te 26 w here they a re a ga in ref ra c ted.
this c a se, p a th 5 0 is n o lo n ger c o n c en tric w ith the o p tic a l o n em ergin g hem Pla te 25 , the ra y s a re f o c used o n the
a x is. 3 0 retic le 42. As sta ted a bo v e, p ulses o f light p a ss thro ugh
The retic le 42, in this p a rtic ula r em bo dim en t, is div ided the retic le, a n d this light then Im sseS thro ugh the ? eld
in to a p lura lity o f eq ua l c irc ula r segm en ts. This a rra n ge- len s a ssem bly 5 5 t0 the detec to r 1 4- AS ShOWn in the
m en t is desira ble f o r rea so n s to bec o m e a p p a ren t belo w , dra w in gs, the ? eld len s a ssem bly Co m p rises len ses 5 4, 5 6 ,
but it is n o t essen tia l, a n d segm en ts ha v in g o ther sha p es 3 5 5 3 , a n d 6 0
a re c o n tem p la ted. Circ ula r segm en ts 44 a re light tra n s- The f un c tio n o f the ? eld len s a ssem bly 5 5 is to im a ge
m ittin g a n d c irc ula r segm en ts 46 a re o p a q ue. As seen in the en tra n c e a p erture ( in this c a se, m irro r 1 6 ) o n detec to r
FIG. 2, the light tra n sm ittin g segm en ts 44 a re in un if o rm 1 4- The detec to r 1 4, a s Sta ted a bo v e, m a y be Im m ersed
a n gula rly sp a c ed rela tio n to ea c h o ther a ro un d the a x is o f in a m edium ha v in g a ref ra c tiv e in dex grea ter tha h 3 1 1 '
the o p tic a l sy stem a n d a re sep a ra ted f ro m ea c h o ther by 40 This is im p o rta n t bec a use it m a kes the Size 0 f the Im a ge
the o p a q ue c irc ula r segm en ts 46 , a s sho w n . Co n seq uen tly , o f the en tra n c e a p erture o n the detec to r sm a ller. This
the gen era lly c irc ula r p a th 48 f o llo w ed by the im a ge o f in c rea ses the ? ux den sity o f the hght Oh the dete t 1 _$
o bj ec ts ly in g o n the o p tic a l a x is w ill ha v e a ltern a tely tha t the Sy stem is m 0 f eS_en S1 tiV e-_ Sin c e the eo lhm a tln g
sp a c ed light tra n sm ittin g \a n d o p a q ue p o rtio n s o f eq ua l len s 20 in c o o p era tio n w ith sp heric a l len s 3 2 c a uses the
len gth. In a dditio n , the size o f the im a ge 49 o n the 45 im a ge o f the en tra n c e a p erture to a p p ea r to be a t in ? n ity ,
retic le c o m in g f ro m a n o bj ec t ly in g o n the o p tic a l a x is, the im a ge o f the c o llec to r m irro r 1 6 o n the detec to r 1 4
is gen era lly eq ua l to the a rc len gth o f a c irc ula r segm en t w ill be sta tio n a ry desp ite the m o v em en t o f the ta rget
44 a lo n g c irc ula r p a th 48 . As a result, there is n o a brup t im a ge a lo n g the ? eld p a th. _ _ _
tra n sitio n a s the im a ge m o v es f ro m the light tra n sm ittin g 5 0 FIG. 1 sho w s a c ro ss sec tio n a l v iew o f the o p tic a l
segm en ts 44 to the o p a q ue segm en ts 46 . Theref o re, the sy stem . The light is c o n sidered to tra v el f ro m -lef t to
in ten sity o f light p a ssin g thro ugh the retic le f ro m the im a ge right. The f o rm ula f o r the o p tic a l sy stem desc ribed
o f o bj ec ts ly in g o n the o p tic a l a x is w ill v a ry gen era lly a bo v e is a s f o llo w s:
Ra dii in In c hes Thic kn ess in In c hes N1 in N1 1 , . N2 5 , v
1 . 5 0 28 1 . 49 8 8 1 . 49 43 5 8 . 6 8
Air ______________________________
Air __. __. _ . _ . _ . t . . _. . . __ _. ___. _
1 . 5 0 2s 1 . 49 8 8 1 . 49 43 5 8 . 6 8
1 . 5 0 28 1 . 49 3 8 1 . 49 43 5 8 . 6 8
1 3 : : 1 8 th "ra ts 1 . a n a n
Air . _. _. _ _a . _. _. _ _ . . . _
1 5 0 28
{ it-1 5 1 l8 ) 5 0 _l i 8 45 8 i 8 41 3 9 6 . ii
7 ' a n ;
edit
its: 1 4
1 Op tic a l c em en t. I I _
Nita , rep resen ts ref ra c tiv e in dex a t 1 . 9 m ic ro n s.
NH, rep resen ts ref ra c tiv e in dex a t 2. 2 m ic ro n s.
N 2. 5 , . rep resen ts ref ra c tiv e in dex a t 2. 5 m ic ro n s. _ _ _ t I v F
. , rep resen ts the disp ersio n n um ber f o r ea c h elem en t in the sp ec tra l regio n [ io iii 1 . L/ . 1 to n o
3 , 29 6 , 443
5 .
With this a rra n gem en t, ea c h tim e a p ulse o f light p a sses
. : thro ugh o n e o f the light tra n sm ittin g p o rtio n s 44 o f the
retic le, it w ill light up the im a ge o f the c o llec to r m irro r
1 6 o n : the detec to r c a usin g the detec to r to em it a c o r
resp o n din g : p ulse, Co n seq uen tly , the o utp ut sign a l o f
the . detec to r w ill ha v e the sa m e gen era l sha p e a s the
v a ria tio n o f the light in ten sity p a ssin g thro ugh the retic le.
This, m ea n s, ; tha t. f o r ta rgets o n the. a x is o f the o p tic a l
I . sy stem ; the o utp ut o f the detec to r 1 4 w ill be a gen era lly
. ? x ed f req uen c y sin e w a v e. On the o ther ha n d, ta rgets
o f f lthey io p tic a l a x is w ill c a use a f req uen c y v a ria tio n in
the llo utp utio f the detec to r ( see FIG. 4) , a n d the p a r
tic ula r f req uen c y v a ria tio n w ill be c ha ra c teristic o f the
p o sitio n o f the o bj ec tin rela tio n to the a x is o f the o p tic a l
sy stem :
Suita ble a n a ly zers a n d serv o m ec ha n ism s a re c o n n ec ted
to the . v ehic le bein g, guided, to a lter its c o urse in re
sp o n se to . the in f o rm a tio n c o n ta in ed in the f req uen c y o f
the detec to r o utp ut sign a l. In this w a y , the c o urse o f
t the v ehic le is a ltered to brin g the v ehic le ba c k o n ta rget.
It isun o tedt tha t the sup p o rt 1 3 . f o r the o p tic a l sy stem
1 0
1 5
20
6
a n d rea r p la n a r m a j o r surf a c es ea c h o f w hic h is in c lin ed
a t a n a n gle rela tiv e to sa id o p tic a l a x is, a sp heric a l c o r
rec tin g len s c em en ted o n the f ro n t p la n a r m a j o r surf a c e
o f the tra n sp a ren t p la te f o r c o rrec tin g a berra tio n s in tro
duc ed by sa id p la te, a retic le p o sitio n ed o n sa id o p tic a l
a x is a dj a c en t the rea r p la n a r m a j o r surf a c e o f sa id p la te
a n d p o sitio n ed so the im a ge o f a n o bj ec t in the ? eld o f
v iew o f the o p tic a l sy stem is sha rp ly f o c used thereo n ,
m ea n s f o r ro ta tin g sa id tra n sp a ren t p la te a n d sa id
sp heric a l c o rrec tin g len s to c a use the im a ge o n sa id
retic le to m o v e in a gen era lly c irc ula r p a th, sa id retic le
ha v in g a t lea st o n e o p en in g in p a rt o f the gen era lly c ir
c ula r p a th o f the im a ge m o v in g thereo n , a n d a ? eld len s
m o un ted o n the o p tic a l a x is to the rea r o f sa id retic le
to f o c us the im a ge o f the en tra n c e a p erture o n the in f ra
red detec to r so tha t a n y in f ra red light p ulse p a ssin g
thro ugh the retic le illum in a tes the im a ge o f the en tra n c e
a p erture o n the in f ra red detec to r a n d p ro duc es a c o r
resp o n din g o utp ut sign a l in the detec to r.
2. An o p tic a l sy stem ha v in g n um eric a l da ta substa n ~
tia lly a s f o llo w s:
Ra dii in In c hes Thic kn ess in In c hes N1 3 ] : NM, NM . : 1
1 . 5 0 % 1 . 49 8 8 1 . 49 43 5 8 . 6 8
Air ______-
Air ______________________________
1 . 5 0 28 1 . 49 8 8 1 . 49 43 5 8 . 6 8
l. 1 . 49 8 8 1 . 49 43 5 8 . 6 8
it ____________________________-_
1 . 8 3 0 1 1 . 8 45 8 1 . 8 41 3 9 6 . 1 4
1 . 5 0 28 1 . 49 8 8 l. 49 43 5 8 . 6
( l) ( 1 ) ------------------ n
1 . 8 5 0 1 1 . 8 45 8 1 . 8 41 3 9 6 . 1 4
1 21 1 . 1 2, . 1 8 7 Air
1 1 1 2. 1 3 - - 1 . 8 5 0 1 1 . 8 45 8 1 . 8 41 3 9 6 . 1 4
1 21 3 . 1 4, . All ____________________________-
1 1 1 4. 1 5 , - 1 . 8 5 0 1 1 . 8 45 8 1 . 8 41 3 9 6 . 1 4
1 21 5 . 1 1 1 , . All ______________________________
? rm s, . 1 . 8 5 0 1 1 . 8 45 8 1 . 8 41 3 9 6 . 1 4
tl' hli, . 0 0 ( 1 ) ------------------ -
tisn n , - 1 . 5 0 28 1 . 49 8 8 1 . 49 43 5 8 . 6 8
1 Op tic a l c em en t. _
NW. rep resen ts ref ra c tiv e in dex a t 1 . 9 m ic ro n s.
N21 , . rep resen ts ref ra c tiv e in dex a t 2. 2 m ic ro n s.
N 2; . rep resen ts ref ra c tiv e in dex a t 2. 5 m ic ro n s.
. rep resen ts the disp ersio n n um ber f o r ea c h elem en t in the sp ec tra l regio n f ro m 1 . 9 ; ; to 2. 5 g.
is p iv o ta lly m o un ted by a n y suita ble m ea n s ( n o t sho w n )
3 , o n y p iv o t p o in t 7 0 , a t the c en tero f c urv a ture o f the irdo m e
( see FIG. 1 ) . This p erm its a la rge ? eld o f v iew to be
sea rc hed w itho ut o p tic a l c o up lin g o r the in tro duc tio n o f
o bj ec tio n a ble a berra tio n s. Altho ugh the irdo m e is sho w n
I a s gen era lly sp heric a l, it serv es a s a n o p tic a l w in do w .
Co n seq uen tly , it c o uld ha v e o ther sha p es, p ro v ided the
sha p es, do n o t in tro duc e o bj ec tio n a ble a berra tio n s.
This in v en tio n is to be lim ited o n ly in a c c o rda n c e w ith
the sc o p e o f the a p p en ded c la im s, sin c e o thers skilled in
the. a rt m a y dev ise o ther em bo dim en ts still w ithin the
lim its o f the, c la im s.
I c la im :
LllAn in f ra red tra c kin g hea d c o m p risin g in c o m bin a
tio n 1 , a n ~o p tic a l sy stem a n d a n in f ra red detec to r, sa id
o p tic a l. sy stem c o m p risin g a sp heric a l p o sitiv e m irro r, a
thic k ' Isp heric a l n ega tiv e m irro r p o sitio n ed in f ro n t o f the
p o sitiv e. m irro r, 21 c o llim a tin g len s p o sitio n ed betw een
the p o sitiv e a n d n ega tiv e m irro rs to c o llim a te the p rin c i
p a lra y s p a ssin g thro ugh the c en ter o f sa id o p tic a l sy stem
, so tha tthe p rin c ip a l ra y s. a re m a de p a ra llel to the a x is
. o f sa id o p tic a l sy stem , a tra n sp a ren t p la te m o un ted o n
the. a x is Of Sa id o p tic a l sy stem , sa id p la te ha v in g f ro n t
45
5 0
5 5
6 0
6 5
Ref eren c es Cited by the Ex a m in er
U NITED STATES PATENTS
2, 1 6 5 , 0 7 8 7 / 1 9 3 9 To ulo n ____________-_ 8 8 -5 7
2, 7 3 0 , 0 1 3 1 / 1 9 5 6 Ma n dler _____________ 8 8 -5 7
2, 8 5 8 , 45 3 1 0 / 1 9 5 8 Ha rris ____________. . _ 8 8 -2. 3
2, 8 6 5 , 25 3 1 2/ 1 9 5 8 Thielen s _____________ 8 8 -5 7
2, 9 3 1 , 9 1 2 4/ 1 9 6 0 Ma c leish ________ 25 0 -23 3 X
2, 9 42, 1 1 8 6 / 1 9 6 0 Geda n c e _________25 0 -23 3 X
2, 9 6 4, 6 3 6 1 2/ 1 9 6 0 Ca ry ________________ 8 8 -5 7
2, 9 6 7 , 246 1 / 1 9 6 1 Ostergren __________ 25 0 -20 3
2, 9 6 7 , 247 1 / 1 9 6 1 Turc k _____________ 25 0 -20 3
2, 9 7 0 , 220 1 / 1 9 6 1 Bo uw ers ____________. . 8 8 -5 7
FOREIGN PATENTS
1 , 1 9 9 , 43 8 6 / 1 9 5 9 Fra n c e.
J EWELL H. PEDERSEN, Prim a ry Ex a m in er.
BENJ AMIN A. BORCHELT, ARTHU R M. HORTON,
Ex a m in ers.
P. G. BETHERS, S. W. ENGLE, E. S. BAU ER,
Assista n t Ex a m in ers.