Optical path switching device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9678331-B1
Application number	US-201615009292-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 28, 2016
Priority date	Jan 28, 2016
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

An optical path switching device is configured to selectively direct electromagnetic radiation toward one detector of a plurality of detectors. The switching device includes a platform, a mirror mount rotatably mounted on the platform by a bearing, a mirror coupled to the mirror mount, and an active actuator configured to rotate the mirror mount with respect to the platform a predetermined amount to direct electromagnetic radiation toward a desired detector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optical path switching device configured to selectively direct electromagnetic radiation toward one detector of a plurality of detectors, the switching device comprising:
a platform;
a mirror mount rotatably mounted on the platform by a bearing;
a mirror coupled to the mirror mount; and
an active actuator configured to rotate the mirror mount with respect to the platform a predetermined amount to direct electromagnetic radiation toward a predetermined detector, the active actuator includes a spur drive gear, a motor configured to drive the spur drive gear, a spur driven gear coupled to the bearing of the mirror mount and configured to be driven by the spur drive gear, and several adjustable stops each configured to position the mirror mount and the mirror in a predetermined position.

2. The optical path switching device of claim 1 , wherein the active actuator is configured to rotate the mirror mount and the mirror to direct the reflected electromagnetic radiation to one of five detectors.

3. The optical path switching device of claim 2 , wherein the five detectors include a visible (VIS) camera, a near infrared (NIR) camera, a short-wave infrared (SWIR) camera, a first test camera, and a second test camera.

4. The optical path switching device of claim 1 , wherein a controller is coupled to the active actuator, the controller being configured to manipulate the rotation of the mirror mount and the mirror to direct the reflected electromagnetic radiation to the predetermined detector.

5. The optical path switching device of claim 1 , further comprising a passive actuator configured to adjust an angle of the mirror with respect to the mirror mount.

6. The optical path switching device of claim 5 , wherein the passive actuator includes a bracket secured to the mirror base, the bracket having a rack gear portion.

7. The optical path switching device of claim 6 , wherein the rack gear portion is configured to engage a pinion gear provided on a mirror shaft of the mirror, with the rack gear portion serving as a cam follower and the pinion gear serving as a mirror driver.

8. The optical path switching device of claim 5 , wherein the passive actuator maintains the mirror preloaded against an adjustable stop using a spring.

9. A method of directing electromagnetic radiation from a mirror to a detector of a plurality of detectors, the method comprises:
directing electromagnetic radiation to a mirror supported by a mirror mount coupled to a platform;
rotating the mirror to change a direction of electromagnetic radiation directed by the mirror to direct electromagnetic radiation toward a predetermined detector; and
stopping the rotation of the mirror by one stop of several adjustable stops each configured to position the mirror mount and the mirror in a predetermined position.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein an active actuator is configured to rotate the mirror mount with respect to the platform a predetermined amount to direct electromagnetic radiation toward the predetermined detector.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the active actuator includes a spur drive gear, a motor configured to drive the spur drive gear, and a spur driven gear coupled to the bearing of the mirror mount and configured to be driven by the spur drive gear.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the active actuator is configured to rotate the mirror mount and the mirror to direct the reflected electromagnetic radiation to one of five detectors.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising adjusting an angle of the mirror with respect to the mirror mount.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein a passive actuator is configured to adjust an angle of the mirror with respect to the mirror mount.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the passive actuator includes a bracket secured to the mirror base, the bracket having a rack gear portion.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the rack gear portion is configured to engage a pinion gear provided on a mirror shaft of the mirror, with the rack gear portion serving as a cam and the pinion gear serving as a mirror driver.

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Miller Kirk A

Classifications

• G02B7/1827

  Motorised alignment · CPC title

• G02B26/0816 Primary

  by means of one or more reflecting elements · CPC title

• G02B13/146

  with corrections for use in multiple wavelength bands, such as infrared and visible light, e.g. FLIR systems · CPC title

• H04N5/2254

  Electricity · mapped topic