OPTICAL PHASED ARRAY FOCUS CONTROL FOR ACTIVE ILLUMINATED SWIR RANGE SELECTION

摘要

Electro-optical sighting systems and methods are provided. One example includes a optical transmitter configured to emit an infrared beam along an optical path toward a target, a beam director positioned in the optical path and having a plurality of optical elements configured to direct the infrared beam and to collect reflected infrared radiation from reflection of the beam from the target, a focal plane array detector configured to receive reflected infrared radiation from the beam director, an optical phased array (OPA) positioned in the optical path between the optical transmitter and the beam director, and a controller operatively coupled to the OPA and configured to direct the OPA to defocus the infrared beam to broaden a field of view of the optical transmitter for active illumination, and focus the infrared beam to narrow the field of view of the optical transmitter for range determination and/or target designation.

主权项

1. An electro-optical sighting system comprising:
a first optical transmitter configured to emit an infrared beam along an optical path toward a target; a beam director positioned in the optical path and having a plurality of optical elements configured to direct the infrared beam and to collect reflected infrared radiation from reflection of the beam from the target; a focal plane array detector configured to receive collected reflected infrared radiation from the beam director; an optical phased array positioned in the optical path between the first optical transmitter and the beam director; and a controller operatively coupled to the optical phased array and configured to direct the optical phased array to defocus the infrared beam to broaden a field of view of the first optical transmitter for active illumination, and focus the infrared beam to narrow the field of view of the first optical transmitter for range determination and/or target designation.