Vehicle having scanning imager with fixed camera and multiple achromatic prism pairs

摘要

A vehicle including a scanning imaging system includes a vehicle body having an outer surface, a propulsion source, and an optical window secured to the outer surface of the vehicle positioned on an optical axis for transmitting electromagnetic radiation received from a portion of an area of interest to the scanning imaging system. The scanning imaging system includes a first achromatic prism pair having prisms with different materials that have different refractive properties, and a second achromatic prism pair having prisms with different materials that have different refractive properties, both positioned on the optical axis. A camera fixed in location is optically coupled to form images from the electromagnetic radiation after being bent by the achromatic prism pairs. A motor including a controller independently rotates the first and second achromatic prism pairs about the optical axis for scanning within the area of interest.

主权项

1. A vehicle including a scanning imaging system, comprising:
a vehicle body having an outer surface; a propulsion source within said vehicle body for moving said vehicle, and an optical window secured to said outer surface of said vehicle positioned on an optical axis for transmitting electromagnetic radiation received from an area of interest to said scanning imaging system, wherein said scanning imaging system comprises: a first achromatic and athermal prism pair having prisms comprising different materials that have different refractive properties positioned on said optical axis and are athermal such that a line-of-sight deviation is independent of temperature; a second achromatic and athermal prism pair having prisms comprising different materials that have different refractive properties positioned on said optical axis and are athermal such that a line-of-sight deviation is independent of temperature for receiving said electromagnetic radiation after bending by said first achromatic prism pair; a camera fixed in location optically coupled to receive said electromagnetic radiation and form images from said electromagnetic radiation after said electromagnetic radiation is bent by said second achromatic and athermal prism pair, a third achromatic and athermal prism pair, that are athermal such that a line-of-sight deviation is independent of temperature, having prisms comprising different materials interposed between said second achromatic and athermal prism pair and said camera, and at least one motor including a controller for independently rotating said first and second achromatic and athermal prism pairs about said optical axis for scanning within said area of interest.