Scott W Sparrold

US Patent:

6343767, Feb 5, 2002

Filed:

Mar 3, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/261724

Inventors:

Scott W. Sparrold - Tucson AZ
James P. Mills - Tucson AZ
Richard A. Paiva - Tucson AZ
Thomas D. Arndt - Amado AZ
David J. Knapp - Tucson AZ
Kenneth S. Ellis - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Lexington MA

International Classification:

F41G 700

US Classification:

244 316, 244 315

Abstract:

A missile seeker. The inventive missile seeker includes a dome within which a novel optical arrangement is retained. The optical arrangement includes a first prism mounted for rotation about an optical axis and a second prism mounted for rotation about the optical axis. In the illustrative embodiment, the first and second prisms are Risley prisms. In addition, the illustrative implementation includes a first motor arrangement for rotating the first prism about the optical axis and a second motor arrangement for rotating the second prism about the optical axis. A controller is provided for activating the first and second motors to steer the beam at an angle and nod the beam at an angle. In a specific implementation, the first prism and/or the second prism have at least two surfaces contoured to correct for optical aberration. A teaching is provided to contour the surfaces to correct for astigmatism, coma, trefoil and other non-rotationally symettric abberation. The contour may be effected by laser etching, micro-machining optical thin-film coating or other such technique.

US Patent:

6344937, Feb 5, 2002

Filed:

Mar 3, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/262157

Inventors:

Scott W. Sparrold - Tucson AZ
James P. Mills - Tucson AZ
Richard A. Paiva - Tucson AZ
Thomas D. Arndt - Amada AZ
Kenneth S. Ellis - Tucson AZ
David J. Knapp - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Lexington MA

International Classification:

G02B 504

US Classification:

359837, 359211

Abstract:

A steerable optical arrangement. The inventive arrangement includes a first prism mounted for rotation about an optical axis and a second prism mounted for rotation about the optical axis. In accordance with the inventive teachings, the first prism and/or the second prism have at least one surface contoured to correct for optical aberration. In the illustrative embodiment, the first and second prisms are Risley prisms. In addition, the illustrative implementation includes a first motor arrangement for rotating the first prism about the optical axis and a second motor arrangement for rotating the second prism about the optical axis. A controller is provided for activating the first and second motors to steer the beam at an angle and nod the beam at an angle. At least two surfaces at least one prism is contoured to correct for astigmatism, coma, trefoil and other non-rotationally symmetric aberration. The contour is effected by laser etching, micro-machining or optical thin-film coating of the prisms in the manner disclosed herein.

US Patent:

6552318, Apr 22, 2003

Filed:

Jun 22, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/337816

Inventors:

Blake G. Crowther - Logan UT
Dean B. McKenney - Ormond Beach FL
Scott W. Sparrold - Tucson AZ
Michael R. Whalen - Santa Barbara CA
James P. Mills - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Lexington MA

International Classification:

G01J 120

US Classification:

2502019

Abstract:

A sensor system includes a sensor, and an optical train adjustable to provide an optical beam to the sensor from a selected line of sight that may be varied. The optical train includes a wavefront error-introducing element in the optical train, which introduces a wavefront error that is a function of the selected line of sight. There is further a rigid-body wavefront error-correcting element in the optical train. The rigid-body wavefront error-correcting element has a spatially dependent correction structure with the nature of the correction being a function of the selected line of sight. The adjustment of the optical train to the selected line of sight moves the optical beam to the appropriate location of the rigid-body wavefront error-correcting element to correct for the corresponding introduced wavefront error of the wavefront error-introducing element at that selected line of sight.

US Patent:

7145734, Dec 5, 2006

Filed:

Aug 3, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/909940

Inventors:

Scott Sparrold - Tucson AZ, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

G02B 13/18
G02B 3/02
F41G 7/00
F42G 15/01
F42B 10/00

US Classification:

359708, 244 316

Abstract:

A system includes a dome window and an optical system having a central optical path that passes through the dome window. The optical system includes a refractive optical element having an axis of symmetry which passes through the optical element and which is tilted relative to the central optical path at a location where the central optical path and the axis of symmetry intersect within the optical element.

US Patent:

7498558, Mar 3, 2009

Filed:

Aug 18, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/206980

Inventors:

Scott W. Sparrold - Vail AZ, US
Patrick L. McCarthy - Tucson AZ, US
Richard C. Juergens - Tucson AZ, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

H01J 3/14

US Classification:

250216, 359741, 359743

Abstract:

The disclosed system, device and method for spatial homogenization and focusing of electromagnetic radiation over an aperture to reduce the effects of atmospheric scintillation generally includes an optical lens having an at least partially undulating pattern mapped onto a curvilinear surface. Disclosed features and specifications may be variously controlled, adapted or otherwise optionally modified to eliminate or otherwise reduce the effects of atmospheric scintillation as well as other optical aberrations. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention generally provide improved systems and methods for the acquisition, tracking and engagement of military targets with missiles or other guided ordinance.

US Patent:

20020109886, Aug 15, 2002

Filed:

Jan 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/043596

Inventors:

Pierre Barbier - Oviedo FL, US
William Lauby - Mukilteo WA, US
Scott Sparrold - Tucson AZ, US
Eric Davis - Redmond WA, US
Steven Cashion - Redmond WA, US
Nicholas Bratt - Edmonds WA, US
James Herbert - Denver CO, US
Eric Upton - Bellevue WA, US
David Rollins - Woodinville WA, US
Mark Plett - Redmond WA, US

International Classification:

H04B010/00

US Classification:

359/172000, 359/159000

Abstract:

A compact, lightweight free-space optical communication system is mounted to a window, such as to a surface of the window. Mounting can be accomplished using glue, vacuum devices, or other fastener devices or fixtures. The optical communication system has features that compensate for window dynamics and other window characteristics, including fast steering solutions for pointing and tracking, and terminal size and weight factors.

US Patent:

58673075, Feb 2, 1999

Filed:

Nov 13, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/748586

Inventors:

James R. Myers - Tucson AZ
David R. Smith - Tucson AZ
Daniel W. Brunton - Tucson AZ
Stephen M. Jensen - Tucson AZ
Nicholas B. Saccketti - Tucson AZ
Scott W. Sparrold - Tucson AZ
Lawrence A. Westhoven - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

G02B 100

US Classification:

359350

Abstract:

A blur film is made of a polymeric film material transmissive to infrared energy of a selected waveband, which is affixed to a surface of a substrate transmissive to energy of the same selected infrared waveband. The blur film has a texture or a plurality of lenslets thereon, where the surface of each lenslet is a surface of revolution. In a spatial-filter wheel application, the blur film and substrate are affixed to a support, which in turn is rotatably mounted on a drive. The support is structured such that a portion of its circumference is covered by the blur film and a portion of its circumference is not covered by the blur film. The spatial-filter wheel is rotated in front of a detector to produce alternating blurred and direct images on the detector.

US Patent:

62012304, Mar 13, 2001

Filed:

Sep 30, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/164438

Inventors:

Blake G. Crowther - Logan UT
Dean B. McKenney - Tucson AZ
Scott W. Sparrold - Tucson AZ
James P. Mills - Tucson AZ
Douglas M. Beard - Tucson AZ
Daniel C. Harrison - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Lexington MA

International Classification:

G01C 2102

US Classification:

2502036

Abstract:

A programmable optical system that dynamically corrects or induces aberrations into the optical path of a missile seeker. The system is dynamic in that the amount and type of aberration may be changed while the missile is in flight. The dynamic correction is accomplished by means of deformations applied to a low-mass mirror or mirrors in the optical path of the missile seeker. The missile includes an aspheric dome, and the optical system is dynamically compensated for aberrations introduced by the dome as the seeker system is moved through the field of regard.