Infrared transparent constructs and methods of making them

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11860040-B2
Application number	US-202117150015-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2021
Priority date	Jan 15, 2021
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

Infrared transparent constructs (e.g., infrared transparent windows) may be shaped as a dome (e.g., for an infrared detector system) and/or other desired geometries, such as portions of IR seeker domes. Electrically conductive tracing(s) may be printed in desired shapes and forms, e.g., in the form of EMI shielding, an FSS grid, an anti-static component, electrical connectors, etc., and integrated into the interior of the construct structure. The electrically conductive tracing(s) may be printed between layers of independent infrared transparent window components that are then engaged together to form a window preform. Additionally or alternatively, the electrically conductive tracing(s) may be printed between printed layers of infrared transparent ceramic or plastic material built up to form the window preform. Once formed, the window preform may be sintered, e.g., in an ultrafast high temperature sintering process (and optionally further treated) to produce the final infrared transparent construct.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An infrared seeker dome, comprising:
a window base component including an interior surface and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, wherein the window base component is comprised of an infrared transparent ceramic material; and
a first tracing comprising an electrically conductive material, wherein the first tracing comprises an embedded tracing portion embedded in the window base component between the interior surface and the exterior surface.

2. The infrared seeker dome according to claim 1 , wherein each of the interior surface and the exterior surface is shaped as a section of a sphere.

3. The infrared seeker dome according to claim 1 , wherein the window base component comprises: (a) a first window component forming the interior surface and a first intermediate surface opposite the interior surface, and (b) a second window component forming the exterior surface and a second intermediate surface opposite the exterior surface, wherein the first intermediate surface faces and contacts the second intermediate surface, and wherein the embedded tracing portion is located between and in contact with the first intermediate surface and the second intermediate surface.

4. The infrared seeker dome according to claim 1 , wherein the window base component comprises a printed component forming the interior surface and the exterior surface, and wherein the embedded tracing portion is a printed structure printed between and spaced from the interior surface and the exterior surface.

5. An infrared transparent window, comprising:
an interior window component having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior window component comprises a first infrared transparent ceramic material;
an exterior window component having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the exterior window component contacts the exterior surface of the interior window component to form a contacting surface portion of the infrared transparent window, and wherein the exterior window component comprises the first infrared transparent ceramic material or a second infrared transparent ceramic material that differs from the first infrared transparent ceramic material; and
a first tracing at least partially located between the exterior surface of the interior window component and the interior surface of the exterior window component, wherein the first tracing comprises an electrically conductive material.

6. The infrared transparent window according to claim 5 , wherein each of the exterior surface of the interior window component and the interior surface of the exterior window component is a non-planar surface.

7. The infrared transparent window according to claim 5 , wherein each of the exterior surface of the interior window component and the interior surface of the exterior window component at the contacting surface portion is shaped as a section of a sphere.

8. The infrared transparent window according to claim 5 , wherein each of the exterior surface of the interior window component and the interior surface of the exterior window component at the contacting surface portion is dome shaped.

9. The infrared transparent window according to claim 5 , wherein the first infrared transparent ceramic material includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide, aluminum oxynitride, magnesium fluoride, and spinel.

10. The infrared transparent window according to claim 5 , wherein the exterior window component comprises the second infrared transparent ceramic material, and wherein the second infrared transparent ceramic material includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide, aluminum oxynitride, magnesium fluoride, and spinel.

11. The infrared transparent window according to claim 5 , wherein a portion of a surface area or a linear length of the first tracing that contacts both the exterior surface of the interior window component and the interior surface of the exterior window component includes at least 50% of the surface area or linear length of the first tracing.

12. The infrared transparent window according to claim 5 , wherein the infrared transparent window comprises an infrared seeker dome.

13. The infrared transparent window according to claim 5 , wherein the first tracing is formed as one of the following: electromagnetic interference shielding, a frequency selective surface grid, or an anti-static component.

14. An infrared transparent window, comprising:
a window base component printed to include an interior surface and an exterior surface as a unitary, one-piece structure, wherein the window base component comprises a first infrared transparent ceramic material; and
a first printed tracing embedded within the first infrared transparent ceramic material and located between the interior surface and the exterior surface of the window base component, wherein the first printed tracing comprises an electrically conductive material.

15. The infrared transparent window according to claim 14 , wherein each of the exterior surface and the interior surface of the window base component is a non-planar surface.

16. The infrared transparent window according to claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the exterior surface of the window base component is shaped as a section of a sphere.

17. The infrared transparent window according to claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the exterior surface of the window base component is dome shaped.

18. The infrared transparent window according to claim 14 , wherein the first infrared transparent ceramic material includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide, aluminum oxynitride, magnesium fluoride, and spinel.

19. The infrared transparent window according to claim 14 , wherein the infrared transparent window comprises an infrared seeker dome.

20. The infrared transparent window according to claim 14 , wherein the first printed tracing is formed as one of the following: electromagnetic interference shielding, a frequency selective surface grid, or an anti-static component.

Assignees

• Science Appl Int Corp

Inventors

• Morris David M
• Timler John P

Classifications

• G01J5/0875 Primary

  Windows; Arrangements for fastening thereof · CPC title

• G01J5/04

  Casings · CPC title