초록 ▼

An image tracker (10) that tracks an object (16) targeted for engagement by a laser weapon (12). The tracker (10) includes receiver optics (31) that receive radiation (30) from both a detected target (16) and a laser beam (14) incident thereon, and a polarizing beam splitter (44) that splits the rad

An image tracker (10) that tracks an object (16) targeted for engagement by a laser weapon (12). The tracker (10) includes receiver optics (31) that receive radiation (30) from both a detected target (16) and a laser beam (14) incident thereon, and a polarizing beam splitter (44) that splits the radiation into a first beam of reflected laser radiation (46) and a second beam of detected target radiation (47). The polarizing beam splitter (44) reflects the first beam of reflected laser radiation (46) in a first direction for imaging purposes and linearly polarizes the second beam of detected target radiation (47). A beam polarizer (60) circularly polarizes the second beam of detected target radiation. A micromirror array (66) reflects the circularly polarized detected target radiation back through the beam polarizer (60) to linearly polarize the second beam of detected target radiation (47). Tracker electronics (33) adjust the reflectivity of the micromirror array (66) to ensure that the radiation incident on the array is at or below a predetermined irradiance threshold level. Therefore, the reflected laser radiation does not affect the imaging of the targeted object. The linearly polarized detected target radiation beam is then reflected by the beam splitter (44) in a second direction for imaging purposes. The tracker of the present invention enhances the probability of a target kill, as the actual laser beam hit spot (20) on the target is tracked relative to the target position.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] An image tracker optical system, comprising:receiver optics that receive radiation from both a detected target and a laser beam incident thereon;a polarizing beam splitter that splits the radiation into a first beam of reflected laser radiation and a second beam of detected target r

[ I claim:] [1.] An image tracker optical system, comprising:receiver optics that receive radiation from both a detected target and a laser beam incident thereon;a polarizing beam splitter that splits the radiation into a first beam of reflected laser radiation and a second beam of detected target radiation, the polarizing beam splitter linearly polarizing the second beam of detected target radiation and diffracting the first beam of reflected laser radiation in a first direction for imaging purposes;a beam polarizer that circularly polarizes the second beam of linearly polarized detected target radiation; anda mirror that reflects the circularly polarized detected target radiation back through the beam polarizer to linearly polarize the second beam of detected target radiation, the linearly polarized detected target radiation beam reflected by the beam splitter in a second direction for imaging purposes.