Integrated optical boresighting target

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9612111-B2
Application number	US-201514841549-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2015
Priority date	Aug 31, 2015
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

In some embodiments, the method for boresighting a system under test (SUT) involves radiating, by the SUT, an illuminating signal(s) to a target, where the illuminating signal(s) is radiated onto an external screen of the target. The method further involves detecting, by an external detector(s), the illuminating signal(s) radiated onto the external screen to produce an external detector measurement. Also, the method involves aligning the SUT by using the external detector measurement. In addition, the method involves radiating, by the SUT, the illuminating signal(s) to the target, where the illuminating signal(s) is radiated through an opening located on a side of the target and onto an internal screen of the target. Additionally, the method involves detecting, by an internal detector(s) of the target, the illuminating signal(s) radiated onto the internal screen to produce an internal detector measurement. Further, the method involves aligning the SUT by using the internal detector measurement.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for boresighting a system under test (SUT), the method comprising:
radiating, by the SUT, at least one illuminating signal to a target, wherein the at least one illuminating signal is radiated onto an external screen of the target;
detecting, by at least one external detector, the at least one illuminating signal radiated onto the external screen to produce an external detector measurement;
aligning the SUT by using the external detector measurement;
radiating, by the SUT, the at least one illuminating signal to the target, wherein the at least one illuminating signal is radiated through an opening located on a side of the target and onto an internal screen of the target;
detecting, by at least one internal detector of the target, the at least one illuminating signal radiated onto the internal screen to produce an internal detector measurement; and
aligning the SUT by using the internal detector measurement.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
ceasing, by the SUT, the radiating of the at least one illuminating signal to the target;
applying a signal source to the internal screen of the target;
radiating, by an internal screen of the target, at least one emanating signal towards the SUT, wherein the at least one emanating signal is radiated through the opening located on the side of the target and onto the SUT;
detecting, by at least one subsystem of the SUT, the at least one emanating signal to produce a SUT detector measurement; and
aligning the at least one subsystem of the SUT by using the SUT detector measurement.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the internal screen is one of an IR visualizer or a phosphor screen.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises measuring, by at least one temperature sensor, a temperature of the internal screen.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the signal source is one of heating, with at least one heating unit, the internal screen; cooling, with at least one cooling unit, the internal screen; or illuminating, by an internal light source, the internal screen with light.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the external screen is one of an infra-red (IR) visualizer or a phosphor screen.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one internal detector comprises at least one of a photodiode, a phototransistor, or a photocell.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein when the at least one internal detector comprises at least one photodiode, the at least one photodiode comprises at least one of silicon, ultra-violet (UV) enhanced silicon, InGaAs near infra-red (NIR), InGaAs far infra-red (FIR), or a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein when the at least one internal detector comprises at least one photodiode, the at least one photodiode comprises at least one bandpass filter.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the SUT comprises at least one of a light emitting diode (LED), a laser, a hot filament, or a light-emitting device.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the opening located on the side of the target is a pinhole.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target comprises a housing, and wherein the internal screen is located inside of the housing.

13. A system for a boresighting a system under test (SUT), the system comprising:
the SUT to radiate at least one illuminating signal to a target, wherein the at least one illuminating signal is radiated onto an external screen of the target;
at least one external detector to detect the at least one illuminating signal radiated onto the external screen to produce an external detector measurement;
the SUT further to align by using the external detector measurement, and to radiate the at least one illuminating signal to the target, wherein the at least one illuminating signal is radiated through an opening located on a side of the target and onto an internal screen of the target;
at least one internal detector of the target to detect the at least one illuminating signal radiated onto the internal screen to produce an internal detector measurement; and
the SUT further to be aligned by using the internal detector measurement.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the system further comprises:
the SUT to cease the radiating of the at least one illuminating signal to the target;
a signal source to be applied to the internal screen of the target;
the internal screen of the target to radiate at least one emanating signal towards the SUT, wherein the at least one emanating signal is radiated through the opening located on the side of the target and onto the SUT; and
at least one subsystem of the SUT to detect the at least one emanating signal to produce a SUT detector measurement, and to be aligned by using the SUT detector measurement.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the internal screen is one of an IR visualizer or a phosphor screen.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the system further comprises at least one temperature sensor to measure a temperature of the internal screen.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the signal source is at least one heating unit to heat the internal screen, at least one cooling unit to cool the internal screen, or an internal light source to illuminate the internal screen with light.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the external screen is one of an infra-red (IR) visualizer or a phosphor screen.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one internal detector comprises at least one of a photodiode, a phototransistor, or a photocell.

20. A method for an integrated optical boresighting target (IOBT), the method comprising:
receiving, by the target, at least one illuminating signal radiated from a system under test (SUT), wherein the at least one illuminating signal is radiated onto an external screen of the target;
receiving, by the target, the at least one illuminating signal radiated from the SUT, wherein the at least one illuminating signal is radiated through an opening located on a side of the target and onto an internal screen of the target;
detecting, by at least one internal detector of the target, the at least one illuminating signal radiated onto the internal screen to produce an internal detector measurement;
applying a signal source to the internal screen of the target; and
radiating, by an internal screen of the target, at least one emanating signal towards the SUT, wherein the at least one emanating signal is radiated through the opening located on the side of the target and onto the SUT.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Koresko Christopher D

Classifications

• G02B27/62

  Optical apparatus specially adapted for adjusting optical elements during the assembly of optical systems · CPC title

• G01B11/272 Primary

  using photoelectric detection means · CPC title

• G01S7/4972 Primary

  Alignment of sensor · CPC title

• F41G1/54

  Devices for testing or checking {; Tools for adjustment of sights} · CPC title