Spherically constrained optical seeker assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10338187-B2
Application number	US-201715403345-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2017
Priority date	Jan 11, 2017
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

A spherically constrained optical seeker assembly includes a spherical lens having an outer surface, an optical sensor assembly associated with the spherical lens, and a gimbal assembly. The optical sensor assembly is coupled to the gimbal assembly. The gimbal assembly is configured to move the optical sensor assembly to at least one desired position on the outer surface of the spherical lens. A method of manipulating the optical sensor assembly includes positioning the optical sensor assembly with respect to the spherical lens and moving the optical sensor assembly to at least one desired position with respect to the outer surface of the spherical lens by the gimbal assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A spherically constrained optical seeker assembly comprising:
a spherical lens having an outer surface;
an optical sensor assembly associated with the spherical lens; and
a gimbal assembly, the optical sensor assembly being coupled to the gimbal assembly, the gimbal assembly being configured to move the optical sensor assembly to at least one desired position on the outer surface of the spherical lens, the gimbal assembly including two arcuate arms configured to move with respect to one another, a first arm of the two arms including an arcuate body having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first arm extending vertically to provided azimuthal positioning of the optical sensor assembly during operation, and a second arm of the two arms includes an arcuate body having a first end portion and a second end portion, the second arm extending horizontally to provide elevational positioning of the optical sensor assembly during operation,
wherein the optical sensor assembly includes a body and a stem that extends from the body, the body of the optical sensor assembly including a surface having a plurality of feet configured to engage the outer surface of the spherical lens and to extend and retract to focus a sensor of the optical sensor assembly.

2. The optical seeker assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spherical lens and the gimbal assembly are configured to be mounted in a back shell, the back shell including a semi-spherical body having an outer edge that defines a plane of the back shell.

3. The optical seeker assembly of claim 2 , wherein the gimbal assembly and the spherical lens are positioned within the back shell with the optical sensor assembly being positioned behind the spherical lens so that the optical sensor assembly has a field of view through the lens.

4. The optical seeker assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body of the first arm is configured to pivot with respect to a first axis defined by the position of the first and second end portions of the first arm along a plane, and the body of the second arm is configured to pivot with respect to a second axis defined by the position of the first and second end portions of the second arm along the plane.

5. The optical seeker assembly of claim 1 , wherein each foot of the plurality of feet is fabricated from low friction material, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, and is configured to extend or contract.

6. The optical seeker assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body of the optical sensor assembly is configured to support an imaging or non-imaging detector.

7. The optical seeker assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body of the first arm includes an elongated slot formed therein, and the body of the second arm includes an elongated slot formed therein.

8. The optical seeker assembly of claim 7 , wherein the slot of the first arm and the slot of the second arm are each sized and shaped to receive the stem of the optical sensor assembly, the stem of the optical sensor assembly extending through the slot of the second arm and through the slot of the first arm.

9. The optical seeker assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first end portion of the first arm includes a first motor to pivot the first arm with respect to the first axis, and the first end portion of the second arm includes a second motor to pivot the second arm with respect to the second axis.

10. The optical seeker assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first motor and the second motor are controlled by a controller to automatically control the pivoting motion of the first and second arms to position the optical sensor assembly in the at least one desired position.

11. A method of manipulating an optical sensor assembly of a spherically constrained optical seeker assembly, the method comprising:
positioning the optical sensor assembly with respect to a spherical lens of the optical seeker assembly, the spherical lens having an outer surface; and
moving the optical sensor assembly to at least one desired position with respect to the outer surface of the spherical lens by a gimbal assembly,
wherein the gimbal assembly includes two arcuate arms configured to move with respect to one another, a first arm of the two arms including an arcuate body having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first arm extending vertically to provided azimuthal positioning of the optical sensor assembly during operation, and a second arm of the two arms includes an arcuate body having a first end portion and a second end portion, the second arm extending horizontally to provide elevational positioning of the optical sensor assembly during operation, and
wherein the optical sensor assembly includes a body and a stem that extends from the body, the body of the optical sensor assembly including a surface having a plurality of feet configured to engage the outer surface of the spherical lens and to extend and retract to focus a sensor of the optical sensor assembly.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising mounting the spherical lens and the gimbal assembly in a back shell, the back shell including a semi-spherical body having an outer edge that defines a plane of the back shell.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein mounting the spherical lens and the gimbal assembly in the back shell includes positioning the gimbal assembly and the spherical lens within the back shell with the optical sensor assembly being positioned behind the spherical lens so that the optical sensor assembly has a field of view through the lens.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising pivoting the body of the first arm with respect to a first axis defined by the position of the first and second end portions of the first arm along a plane, and pivoting the body of the second arm with respect to a second axis defined by the position of the first and second end portions of the second arm along the plane.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the body of the first arm includes an elongated slot formed therein, and the body of the second arm includes an elongated slot formed therein, wherein the method further comprises positioning the stem of the optical sensor assembly in the slot of the second arm and through the slot of the first arm.

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Burkland Michael K

Classifications

• G01S3/783 Primary

  using amplitude comparison of signals derived from static detectors or detector systems · CPC title

• F41G7/226

  Semi-active homing systems, i.e. comprising a receiver and involving auxiliary illuminating means, e.g. using auxiliary guiding missiles · CPC title

• F41G7/2213

  maintaining the axis of an orientable seeking head pointed at the target, e.g. target seeking gyro · CPC title

• F41G7/2293

  using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves · CPC title

• F41G7/008

  Combinations of different guidance systems · CPC title