Passive micromirror device for non-imaging wide field of view

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9964746-B2
Application number	US-201514873460-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2015
Priority date	Oct 2, 2015
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

According to one aspect, embodiments herein provide a non-imaging optical system including a focusing optical element positioned within an input optical path to receive electromagnetic radiation, a micro-mirror array including a plurality of micro-mirror pixels positioned within the input optical path, individual micro-mirror pixels of the plurality of micro-mirror pixels being positioned to receive electromagnetic radiation from the focusing optical element and redirect electromagnetic radiation along a redirected optical path, a relay optical element positioned within the redirected optical path to receive and focus electromagnetic radiation from the micro-mirror array, and a single-pixel non-imaging detector positioned to receive electromagnetic radiation from the relay optical element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A non-imaging optical system comprising:
a focusing optical element positioned within an input optical path to receive electromagnetic radiation;
a micro-mirror array including a plurality of micro-mirror pixels positioned within the input optical path, individual micro-mirror pixels of the plurality of micro-mirror pixels being positioned to receive electromagnetic radiation from the focusing optical element and redirect electromagnetic radiation along a redirected optical path, wherein individual micro-mirror pixels of the micro-mirror array are each positioned at a tilt relative to each other such that a shape of the micro-mirror array is curved;
a relay optical element positioned within the redirected optical path to receive and focus electromagnetic radiation from the micro-mirror array; and
a single-pixel non-imaging detector positioned to receive electromagnetic radiation from the relay optical element.

2. The non-imaging optical system of claim 1 , wherein the focusing optical element includes a large aperture focusing lens.

3. The non-imaging optical system of claim 2 , wherein the large aperture focusing lens is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation at an off-set angle relative to the input optical path.

4. The non-imaging optical system of claim 3 , wherein the off-set angle is within a range of 0-10 degrees.

5. The non-imaging optical system of claim 1 , wherein the individual micro-mirror pixels of the micro-mirror array are positioned in a two-dimensional arrangement and tilted according to a first tilt angle in a first direction and a second tilt angle in a second direction.

6. The non-imaging optical system of claim 5 , wherein the two-dimensional arrangement of the individual micro-mirror pixels includes a grid pattern.

7. The non-imaging optical system of claim 1 , wherein a reflective surface of the individual micro-mirror pixels of the micro-mirror array are defined at least in part by a substantially curved surface.

8. The non-imaging optical system of claim 1 , wherein the relay optical element is configured to focus the electromagnetic radiation at a substantially center point of the single-pixel non-imaging detector.

9. The non-imaging optical system of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation includes visible light.

10. The non-imaging optical system of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation includes infrared radiation.

11. The non-imaging optical system of claim 1 , wherein the single-pixel non-imaging detector is defined by a diameter less than 1 mm.

12. A method comprising:
positioning individual micro-mirror pixels of a plurality of micro-mirror pixels of a micro-mirror array at a tilt relative to each of the other micro-mirror pixels such that a shape of the micro-mirror array is curved;
receiving electromagnetic radiation at a focusing optical element positioned within an input optical path;
receiving electromagnetic radiation from the focusing optical element at the micro-mirror array including the plurality of micro-mirror pixels, the plurality of micro-mirror pixels being positioned within the input optical path;
redirecting electromagnetic radiation along a redirected optical path with at least one of the plurality of micro-mirror pixels;
receiving electromagnetic radiation from the micro-mirror array at a relay optical element positioned within the redirected optical path; and
receiving electromagnetic radiation from the relay optical element at a single-pixel non-imaging detector.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein receiving the electromagnetic radiation at the focusing optical element includes receiving the electromagnetic radiation at an off-set angle relative to the input optical path.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the off-set angle is within a range of 0-10 degrees.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein positioning the individual micro-mirror pixels of the plurality of micro-mirror pixels includes tilting at least a first micro-mirror pixel of the plurality of micro-mirror pixels at a first tilt angle in a first direction along a length of the micro-mirror array.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein positioning the individual micro-mirror pixels of the plurality of micro-mirror pixels includes tilting the at least first micro-mirror pixel of the plurality of micro-mirror pixels at a second tilt angle in a second direction along a height of the micro-mirror array.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising positioning at least a first micro-mirror pixel of the plurality of pixels relative to other micro-mirror pixels of the plurality of pixels according to at least one of a power factor and an aspheric condition.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein a reflective surface of the individual micro-mirror pixels of the micro-mirror array are defined at least in part by a substantially curved surface.

19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising focusing the electromagnetic radiation at a substantially center point of the single-pixel non-imaging detector.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation includes one of visible light and infrared radiation.

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Keller Sean D
• Uyeno Gerald P

Classifications

• G01J1/0422

  using light concentrators, collectors or condensers · CPC title

• G02B26/0833

  the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD (G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B) · CPC title

• G01J1/0411

  using focussing or collimating elements, i.e. lenses or mirrors; Aberration correction · CPC title

• G01J1/44

  Electric circuits {(for command of an exposure part G03B7/02)} · CPC title

• G02B19/0028 Primary

  refractive and reflective surfaces, e.g. non-imaging catadioptric systems · CPC title