Susan E Jesse

US Patent:

6359681, Mar 19, 2002

Filed:

Aug 9, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/463410

Inventors:

Brien J. Housand - Orlando FL
Gene D. Tener - Orlando FL
Susan J. Jesse - Orlando FL
William A. Pearson - Geneva FL
G. Edward Newberg - Winter Springs FL
John F. Weaver - late of Orlando FL
Timothy A. Hill - Windermere FL
Helmuth Bauer - Orlando FL
Ward D. Robertson - Orlando FL
John J. Donahue - Casselberry FL
Jeffrey L. Cole - Orlando FL
Harvey J. Montgomery - Winter Springs FL
Eric F. Schildwachter - Orlando FL
John R. Booth - Orlando FL

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

G01B 1126

US Classification:

356 401, 250342, 3561413, 359558, 359568, 359601, 318638, 324522, 361 23

Abstract:

In a FLIR/laser based targeting and imaging system, the ability to recognize, detect, locate, and/or track targets in an area of interest is significantly improved by reducing the fixed and dynamic alignment errors between the IR LOS and the laser LOS. Fixed alignment errors are reduced with an improved internal boresight module and corresponding boresight method. Dynamic alignment errors are reduced with an opto-electric subsystem that employs a single pitch bearing and a common pitch/yaw afocal for both the laser energy and the IR energy. A segmented window in the system housing includes a circular EMI grid pattern which significantly reduces the amount of off-axis EMI entering the optical pathways, and improved signal processing techniques are employed to enhance the quality of the IR image after the image has been digitized.