Beam steering optical arrangement using Risley prisms with surface contours for aberration correction

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to optical systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to beam steering optical arrangements.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] For many applications, there is a need for a compact, high performance optical arrangement with a steerable beam. Such applications include astronomy, medicine, weaponry and numerous other commercial, industrial and military applications. For such applications, beam steering is typically accomplished with a gimbaled arrangement. Typically, a lens or optical element is mounted to a gimbal. The gimbal is free to rotate about one to three axes. Hence, with a motor, the optical arrangement may be directed to a desired roll angle to steer the beam as necessary.

[0006] Unfortunately, the gimbal and the actuators for same add to the cost and complexity of the system. In addition, for certain applications, it is desirable to effect beam steering with a more compact arrangement than would be afforded by a typical gimbaled arrangement.

[0007] Moreover, in many optical systems, there is a need to correct for optical aberrations. Such aberrations may result from distortion in an input aperture or from some other element in the optical train.

[0008] Hence, a need exists in the art for a compact, efficient, high performance optical arrangement with a mechanism for effecting beam steering and aberration correction.

[0009] The need in the art is addressed by the steerable optical arrangement of the present invention. 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.

[0010] 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 φ and nod the beam at an angle θ.

[0011] At least one surface of at least one prism is contoured to correct for astigmatism, coma, trefoil, oblique and/or focus. The contour is effected by laser etching, micro-machining or optical thin-film coating of the prisms in the manner disclosed herein.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of an optical arrangement constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a simplified diagram of the optical arrangement of FIG. 1 with the front and back prisms being rotated to steer the beam at a nod angle of zero degrees.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a simplified diagram of the optical arrangement of FIG. 1 with the front and back prisms being rotated to steer the beam 26 at a nod angle φ degrees.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a side view of a single wedge utilized in the optical arrangement of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a diagram using vector notation to describe the line-of-sight of the optical arrangement of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing side views of the first and second prisms of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing side views of the first and second prisms of FIG. 1 with surface contours in accordance with the present teachings.

[0019] FIGS. 8, 9, 10aand 10bare diagrams which illustrate conventions used to facilitate an understanding of the teachings provided herein.

[0020] FIG. 11 is a graph which illustrates that aberrations can be generated with counter-rotating phase plates.

[0021] Illustrative embodiments and exemplary applications will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to disclose the advantageous teachings of the present invention.

[0022] While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the present invention would be of significant utility.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of an optical arrangement constructed in accordance, with the teachings of the present invention. The arrangement 10 includes a housing 12 within which a set of wedge-shaped prisms 14 and 16 are disposed. The housing 12 is secured to a stable frame of reference suitable for a given application. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the prisms are Risley prisms. The front and back prisms 14 and 16 are independently rotated by first and second motors 18 and 20 respectively. First and second conic-shaped cylinders 22 and 24 connect the first and second prisms 14 and 16 to the first and second motors 18 and 20, respectively.

[0024] As discussed more fully below, the rotation of the prisms is effective to steer a seeker line of sight (LOS) beam and thereby change the pointing or roll angle θ (not shown in FIG. 1) and the nod angle φ measured with respect to an optical axis 30. The roll angle θ and the nod angle φ are set by the user via an input device 42 and a control circuit 40. The input device 42 may be a microprocessor, ASIC, or other suitable device, The control circuit 40 drives the motors 18 and 20 to rotate the first and second prisms 14 and 16 to steer a beam 26 to the desired roll and nod angles. The LOS is directed by the prisms 14 and 16 to a spherical lens 32. The spherical lens 32 is part of an objective doublet along with an aspherical lens 34. The spherical lens 32 and the aspherical lens 34 are of conventional design and construction.

[0025] The aspherical lens 34 directs the LOS 26 along the optical path to an eyepiece consisting of first and second lenses 36 and 38. The eyepiece subsequently directs the field of view to an integrated detector assembly 39 and ultimately to an output device 44.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a simplified diagram of the optical arrangement of FIG. 1 with the front and back prisms being rotated to steer the LOS 26 at a nod angle of zero degrees.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a simplified diagram of the optical arrangement of FIG. 1 with the front and back prisms being rotated to steer the LOS 26 at a nod angle of φ degrees. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, and in accordance with the present teachings, the line-of-sight of the optical system is stabilized and steered by counter-rotating the wedges 14 and 16. The roll and nod angles α and φ are related to relative angles of the wedges as follows.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a side view of a single wedge 14 or 16. The following equations relate the wedge angle A, the deviation angle D and index of refraction ‘n’ as follows. Equation [1] relates deviation angle D and index of refraction (n) to wedge angle A for a single wedge for the case where the angle of incidence at the first surface is zero as, illustrated in FIG. 4:

[0029] A=arcsin(sin)φ)/(n−1))  [1]

[0030] hence

[0031] sin A=(sin(φ)/(n−1))  [2]

[0032] and

[0033] (n−1) sin A=sin(φ)  [3]

[0034] therefore

[0035] φ=arcisn ((n−1)sin A)  [4]

[0036] where D is the deviation angle, A is the wedge angle, and n is the index of refraction Thus, a wedge made of germanium having an index of refraction of 4 and a wedge angle of 6.5° yields a deviation angle D of 20° and a high dispersion (Abbe Number of 100) Likewise, a wedge made of silicon having an index of refraction of 3.4 and a wedge angle of 8.2° yields a deviation angle D of 20° and a low dispersion (Abbe Number of 225).

[0037] FIG. 5 is a diagram using vector notation to describe the line-of-sight of the optical arrangement of the present invention. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, to achieve a nod motion, the wedges are counter-rotated equal and opposite directions. With two wedge. 14 and 16, the deviation angle of each wedge D₁and D₂are related to the nod angle φ by equation [5] below:

[0038] φ=2 sin θsin⁻¹((n−1)sin A)  [5]

[0039] where θ is the rational angle of each wedge (in opposite direction).

[0040] The relationship between the wedge angles, indices of refraction, wedge roll angles and the nod and roll angles φ and α are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,735,108 issued Nov. 10, 1929 to H. N. Cox entitled OPTICAL ADJUSTING DEVICE; U.S. Pat. No. 3,253,525 issued May 31, 1966 to F. J. Merkel entitled VARIABLE OPTICAL WEDGE; U.S. Pat. No. 3,507,565 issued Apr. 21, 1970 to L. W. Alvarez et al. ENTITLED VARIABLE-POWER LENS AND SYSTEM; U.S. Pat. No. 3,378,326 to Alvarez and U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,548 to issued May 20, 1975 to S. L. Linder entitled VARIABLE OPTICAL WEDGE FOR IMAGE STABLILIZATION AND OTHER PURPOSES the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0041] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing side views of the first and second prisms of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing side views of the first and second prisms of FIG. 1 with surface contours in accordance with the present teachings. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, each prism has a wedge or trapezoidal geometry from a side view. The first prism 14 has a first surface 13 and a second surface 15. The second prism 16 has a first surface 17 and a second surface 19. The second surface 15 of the first prism faces the first surface 17 of the second prism 16. In accordance with the present teachings, the second surface 15 of the first prism and the first surface 17 of the second prism 16 (hereinafter the ‘correction surfaces’) are contoured to correct for optical aberrations such as astigmatism, coma, trefoil, oblique and focus. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the correction surfaces may be etched in accordance with the surface descriptions provided below using photolithography, laser etching, micron-machining, optical thin-films or other any suitable technique known in the art.

[0042] FIGS. 8, 9, 10aand 10bare diagrams which illustrate conventions used to facilitate an understanding of the teachings provided herein. Table I below is a surface deformation table with provides surface descriptions which may be used to correct for the optical aberrations mentioned above along with tilt or nod.

[0043] The Zernike terms Z4, Z5, Z7 and Z13 can be generated along with Z3, Z6, Z8 and Z10, respectively, by rotating both plates together.

[0044] FIG. 11 is a graph which illustrates that aberrations can be generated with counter-rotating phase plates.

[0045] Thus, the present invention has been described herein with reference to a particular embodiment for a particular application. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the present teachings will recognize additional modifications applications and embodiments within the scope thereof.

[0046] It is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover any and all such applications, modifications and embodiments within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly,