The following invention relates to an optical device for use in a system that requires optical zoom or focus abilities, particularly for providing pre-set zoom parameters with a very low energy requirement. There is provided an optical magnification device comprising at least one pair of optically aligned deformable reflectors, wherein each reflector pair has at least two configurations, wherein selection of a first and a second configuration of said deformable reflector pairs provides pre-defined magnification states, such that in any configuration one reflector is substantially concave and the other is substantially convex; at least one controller may cause both the reflectors to move between said at least two configurations.

A bifocal anastigmatic telescope with five aspherical mirrors, comprises: a concave first mirror, a convex second mirror, a concave third mirror and a first detector, which are common to a first and second focal length of the telescope, a first fourth mirror and a first fifth mirror that are associated with the first focal length, and a second fourth mirror and a second fifth mirror that are associated with the second focal length, the first mirror and the second mirror being arranged to form, from an object at infinity, an intermediate image situated between the second mirror and the third mirror, and for each focal length: the fixed positions and forms of the mirrors associated with the focal length being determined from the generalized Korsch equations with 5 mirrors, with the constraint of the first, second and third mirror and of the first focal plane that are common to the two focal lengths, and so as to optimize the image quality in the first focal plane of the telescope in accordance with a predetermined criterion.

A three-aspherical-mirror anastigmat telescope comprises: means for moving the third mirror linearly along the optical axis of the telescope to make the focal length of the telescope change between a minimum focal length and a maximum focal length, a deformable and controllable mirror, means for changing the optical path between the deformable mirror and the detector, the third mirror having a new conicity determined from an initial conicity, the initial conicity determined from the Korsch equations, the new conicity determined so that the telescope has, in the absence of the deformable mirror and for the minimum and maximum focal lengths, aberrations that are compensable by the deformable mirror, the fixed median position of the deformable mirror and the form of its surface, for the minimum focal length and maximum focal length, respectively, being determined so as to correct the compensable aberrations and to optimize image quality in the focal plane of the telescope according to a preset criterion.

A three-aspherical-mirror anastigmat telescope comprises means for moving the third mirror linearly along the optical axis of the telescope so as to make the focal length of the telescope change to a plurality of focal lengths between at least a minimum focal length and a maximum focal length, a plurality of aspherical optical components respectively associated with the plurality of focal lengths, the third mirror having a new conicity determined from an initial conicity, the new conicity being determined so that the telescope has, in the absence of the aspherical components and for the minimum and maximum focal lengths, aberrations that are compensable by the aspherical components, the position and the form of the surface of each aspherical component being determined so as to correct the compensable aberrations of the telescope for the associated focal length and to optimize image quality in the first focal plane of the telescope according to a preset criterion.

An optical system (e.g., a telescope) comprising an optical assembly that reflects and refracts light rays through a single window about an optical path to a detector. A field-of-view switch assembly comprises a mount, having a pair of diverter mirrors, movably coupled to the optical assembly and being selectively movable between a non-bypass position and a bypass position. The diverter mirrors bypass a first field-of-view and translate a second field-of-view (both through the single window) when moved from the non-bypass position to the bypass position to redirect the optical path. The diverter mirrors straddle the optical path in the non-bypass position. A dynamic shutter shields the second diverter mirror and exposes the second diverter mirror when moved between non-bypass and bypass positions. A four-bar linkage mechanism rotates the mount with an on-board motor and a torsional shaft to absorb impact forces. Associated methods are provided for facilitating switching between fields-of-view.

A method to maximize use of the field of view for an imaging system is provided herein. An imaging device can be part of the imaging system and include a detection unit and an alignment unit. The method includes capturing an initial image of an object and then calculating a rotational angle and zoom factor for the object in order to maximize the object's footprint within the field of view. Once the calculations are complete a computer can instruct the detection and alignment units to reconfigure their orientations relative to the object.

An off-axis three-mirror optical system with freeform surfaces comprised an aperture, a primary mirror, a secondary mirror, a tertiary mirror, and a detector. The aperture is located on an incident light path. The primary mirror is located on an aperture side. The secondary mirror is located on a primary mirror reflected light path. The tertiary mirror is located on a secondary mirror reflected light path. The detector located on a tertiary mirror reflected light path. The primary mirror and the tertiary mirror have a same fifth-order polynomial freeform surface expression. The primary mirror reflected light path, the secondary mirror reflected light path and the tertiary mirror reflected light path overlap with each other.

An off-axis three-mirror optical system with freeform surfaces comprised an aperture, a primary mirror, a secondary mirror, a tertiary mirror, and a detector. The aperture is located on an incident light path. The primary mirror is located on an aperture side. The secondary mirror is located on a primary mirror reflected light path. The tertiary mirror is located on a secondary mirror reflected light path. The detector located on a tertiary mirror reflected light path. The primary mirror and the tertiary mirror have a same fifth-order polynomial freeform surface expression. The primary mirror reflected light path, the secondary mirror reflected light path and the tertiary mirror reflected light path overlap with each other.

A molded dichroic mirror and method of manufacture thereof. The dichroic minor may be molded from polysiloxane or lithia potash borosilicate and may be coated to reflect an infrared signal and configured to transmit a radio frequency signal between 33 GHz and 37 GHz.

The following invention relates to an optical device for use in a system that requires optical zoom or focus abilities, particularly for providing pre-set zoom parameters with a very low energy requirement. There is provided an optical magnification device comprising at least one pair of optically aligned deformable reflectors, wherein each reflector pair has at least two configurations, wherein selection of a first and a second configuration of said deformable reflector pairs provides pre-defined magnification states, such that in any configuration one reflector is substantially concave and the other is substantially convex; at least one controller may cause both the reflectors to move between said at least two configurations.