ZONE SCANNING INFRARED IMAGER Russian patent published in 2005 - IPC

FIELD: IR-imaging.

SUBSTANCE: IR imager has objective, rotating multifaced prism, image transfer device and linear photo-receiving array. Objective has frontal meniscus turned with its convexity to object and afocal meniscus turned with its convexity to image and disposed close to plane of objective intermediate image. Entrance pupil of objective is disposed at front focal plane of frontal meniscus. Prism has skewed faces. Thickness of the prism along optical axis is thinner for smaller angles of skew than for larger angles. Axis of rotation of prism is disposed behind the plane of real intermediate image of objective. Device for transferring image has collimating and focusing components. Radiuses of curvature of frontal R1, R2 and afocal R3, R4 meniscuses along beam path are equal to: R1=(0,9-1,1)f'_l, R2<1.5 f'_l,R3=(0,95-1,05)^.((n-1)d₃)/(1-β₀)n), R4=β₀ R3, where f'_l is focal length of frontal meniscus, n is refraction factor of material of meniscuses, d₃ is longitudinal thickness of afocal meniscus, β₀ is linear magnification of afocal meniscus.

EFFECT: improved quality of image; simplified scan drive; improved frequency of frame scan.

4 cl, 12 dwg